Book Review: Lost Islamic History by Firas Alkhateeb

Alkhateeb, Firas. Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past. London: C. Hurst & Co. (Publishers) Ltd, 2014.
Total Pages: 240.

Lost Islamic History traces the chronological developments of Islamic history from the pre-Islamic period. Unlike other historical accounts of Islam, the author has used very easy language. The story-like manner of the narration and the writing style of the author make the book a very engaging read.

Firas Alkhateeb is a researcher, author and historian of the Islamic world, based in America. Alkhateeb is pursuing his PhD in Islamic thought from the University of Illinois. The author has studied the Islamic sciences with scholars of Islamic tradition in Turkey and Chicago.

The book has been divided into twelve chapters. The book features the Umayyads, Abbasids, Ottomans, Muslim Spain as well as the savannah kingdoms of West Africa, Mughals, European colonies in Muslim areas and the later emergence of nation states of the Muslim world. Primarily, the author has brought to notice the work of various Muslim thinkers and rulers which are otherwise overlooked in the books of Islamic history. Moreover, the role of Islam in socio-cultural developments and scientific learning has also been highlighted.

Overall, Lost Islamic History is a comprehensive yet slim book. An engrossing read, it is recommended for students and researchers to explore the lesser-known features of Islamic historical developments, or for anyone looking for a general introduction to the topic.