Alms for Jihad

Alms for Jihad. Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World
This is a book written by J. Miilard burr and Robert O. Collins (Cambridge University Press, 2006).

I was so curious to read this book but dissappointed after I finished reading the preface and introduction of the book. In deed, this book is not "an attempt to give kind of learned discourse" on Islamic philanthropy, nor "provide an extensive analysis of each of the regions where Islamic charities have supported terrorists." This book is a kind of a collection of records, archives, CIA investigation reports, and courts testimonies of the American government in looking at Islamic philanthropy. Well I do not mind to see these records and archives are analysed structurally and regionally, it is a good effort though. However, it is really an "American" style to see the Islamic world through the politics of terrorism.

The writers are right in saying that the phenomenon of alms for jihad is only some cases of thousands or even millions Islamic charities all over the world. This is the book about. About the some cases of using alms for conservative and radical meaning of jihad: terrorism.

I still want to finish reading this book actually. But my apetite has gone because I find that the writers misunderstood (do not read much) about Islamic modernism movements of the 20th century. Then I realized the book does not refers to many sounds analysis of Islamic movements and ideologies.