Author | Michael Cook |
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Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Publication date | 2000 |
Pages | 719 |
ISBN | 978-0521130936 |
Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought is a 2000 non-fiction book by Michael Cook. It discusses the evolution of the Islamic concept of enjoining good and forbidding wrong (al-amr bi-ma’ruf wa nahi ‘an al-munkar). The book is a winner of Albert Hourani Book Award[1] and Farabi Award.[2]
The 700-page book is divided into five sections and 20 chapters.[3] It was translated into Persian in 2005 and received widespread attention in Iran, where it went through three printings by 2008. The Persian editions sold more copies than the English editions did. Indonesian and Arabic translations of the book are also available.[2] An epitome of Michael Cook's book was published by the Cambridge University Press in 2003 under the title Forbidding Wrong in Islam. According to Cook, while the first title is organized around "schools, sects, and individuals", the epitome version focuses on the thematic questions.[4]
Cook argues that despite this topic being understandable in almost every culture, very few have given it such accurate attention.[3] Michael Cook analyzes the differences between Islamic and Western conceptions of wrong as well as a suggested course of action. Islam has laws and procedures to prevent wrongdoing, but the West prefers to wait until a wrong has been committed before acting. It is a fundamental difference between Islam and the West. When anything goes wrong, Cook describes the Western approach as "rescue", but the Islamic viewpoint is "forbidding wrong".[4]
Michael Cook, Princeton's Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies, has been awarded a Farabi International Award by Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology for his book "Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought."
Cook received the award, which recognizes achievement in the humanities, at a ceremony in Tehran in January.
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