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Nonviolence and Peace Building in Islam: Theory and Practice . By Mohammed Abu-Nimer. University Press of Florida2003. Pp. 233. $55.00. ISBN: 0-813-02595-8.

Don't be put off by the prosaic title of this book. It's the kind of label university presses like and academic professors propose so that their works will be adopted for course use. And this is altogether reasonable. But Mohammed Abu-Nimer's title does not begin to indicate the rewards of this treasure house of research and wisdom. In fact, I have added it to a list that the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy in Washington, DC, is recommending to the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy to be translated into Arabic, Persian, Urdu and other major languages of the Muslim world. It is that good and that important. There is simply no other work that combines a profound treatment of the fundamental human values in Islam, as conceived by the Prophet Muhammad and found in the Koran and traditions of the Prophet, and the art and science of nonviolent peace building and conflict resolution practice in Muslim societies. Abu-Nimer tells us his goal early on. The use of the sacred scriptures in this study is mainly intended to support the assumption that Islam is a lived religion and tradition that promotes peace building and the nonviolent settlement of conflicts. I will endeavor to show how such practices can be extended further in modern Islamic culture. Neither defensive, apologist, nor proselytizing Islamic faith, this study seeks to actively promote peace-building and nonviolence strategies and values rooted in indigenous Islamic cultural and religious contexts, focusing on the identification of Islamic values, rituals, stories, and worldviews. (3)