Needless to say...

Needless to say, in a single book of this size it is not possible to deal with all the relevant issues, but I have sought to deal at least with the most significant ones Preface ix in an effort to open a spiritual and intellectual space for mutual understanding.

I also point to principles enabling Muslims and Westerners alike to live in peace and harmony with each other and to join hands against all those from both sides who seek to fan the fire of hatred and to precipitate clashes of civilizations and nations. I wish to thank Stephen Hanselman of Harper San Francisco for his many suggestions for the book, Katherine O’Brien for helping to prepare the manuscript for publication, and Joseph Lumbard for proofreading the manuscript.

May this humble effort serve as a small step toward bringing about better understanding between people of good will in the West and in the Islamic world. Bethesda, Maryland March 2002 Dhu’l-hijjah a.h. 1423…