Martyrdom in Islam.(Book review)

Martyrdom in Islam. By David Cook. (New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Pp. xiv, 206. $75.00.)

The role of martyrdom in Islam has taken center stage in recent years due to the burgeoning terrorist tactic of "self-designated martyrdoms," often referred to as "suicide arracks." Current popular portrayals of martyrdom operations suggest that martyrdom has always played a pivotal role in Islam and is more pronounced in Islam than in other religious traditions. David Cook counters this popular image by demonstrating that martyrdom historically has not played a prominent role in Islamic thought and practice, outside of the Shii tradition.

Cook ambitiously seeks to provide a broad vision of martyrdom and its meaning and practice in the Islamic tradition, combining historical analysis, global coverage ranging from Africa to Southeast Asia, and a thematic approach to the definition of the martyr in the Sunni, Shia, and Sufi traditions in order to locate martyrdom both within Islam and in comparison to other religious traditions, notably Judaism and Christianity. Cook's analysis is based largely on Arabic language sources and translations of primary materials, permitting inclusion of short excerpts from various pieces so as to allow the reader direct experience of the primary sources; this is sure to appeal to historians. The writing is engaging, and Cook cleverly chooses his excerpted tidbits for their dramatic impact. At the same time, the analysis is frequently piecemeal, rather than systematic, often covering major thinkers or sources in a few paragraphs. Examples include discussion of Sayyid Qutb's understandings of jihad and martyrdom in a mere three ...