... , especially in the Bible and the Koran, both of which are celebrated in a wide construct as being among the main sources of religious literature. The Bible and the Koran hold explanations for the origin of man, the belief of monotheism (belief in one God), and the purpose for living a sinless life. These notions are widely examined through the forms of narratives and parables. Both ... the direct figures in the stories.3 On the other hand, the Koran is based on the revelations and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad, and his message is taken in the literal sense because it came directly f...

• Word Count: 2532
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... as a key point man. Also accused of being a key JI leader with alleged links to Al-Qaeda is 64-year-old Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who runs an Islamic boarding school in Central Java. Bashir denies any terrorist links, but he has praised bin Laden and is believed to support efforts to create a pan-Islamic state encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines. Indonesian ... " as saying that "dozens" of Al-Qaeda members had fled from Afghanistan and were regrouping safely in Indonesia. "Some have come by air, but most have sneaked into Pakistan, then traveled several th...

• Word Count: 1222
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to paradise. ''It wasn't a civilized thing to do,'' said Ibrahim, a 21-year-old education student. ''I felt very sorry about it.'' What if bin Laden really was behind the attacks, aiming to expel American forces from Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf? Still wrong because of the death of civilians (unless, interjected Ibrahim, the shy smile returning, he was really doing it for Palestine). What if, contrary ... that mattered most to Arabs. Here's but a sample, from a columnist in Al Arabi, a weekly that speaks for the remnant of the old Arab nationalists: ''I cannot restrain my joy. For ...

• Word Count: 7424
• Approx Pages: 30
• Grade Level: High School

... block of granite. Modernization came to different Muslim nations a different times. A key event was Napolean's invasion of Egypt in 1798. Napolean planned to use Egypt and the Suez as a base from which to disrupt and attack British sea lanes, and to attack the Ottoman Empire. The was the beginning of the trend of Middle Eastern nations becoming pawns in struggles between other nations, particularly western nations. French brought science ... a way of striking back at the encroachment of a new world upon their old one. They are wrong, but their sin is not that of the terrorists, unless t...

• Word Count: 3937
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School

... the northeast shore of the Red Sea. This dry hilly area, called the Hijaz, was dominated by a number of different tribes in the latter half of the sixth century, when Mohammed was born. It was also the location of an important trade route between the Mediterranean world to the west and the "Asian" world to the east. In fact, as wars between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire blocked the northern trade routes, the route through the ... trade and continued in pursuit of their hectic lifestyle and acts of vendetta and blood feuds. With the emergence of Islam, instead of continuing in t...

• Word Count: 2595
• Approx Pages: 10