Islam Books

Book SynopsisWithin the framework of the Forum A. & A Leysen, several experts from in and outside the Muslim world contributed to this book. In Islam and Europe: Crises Are Challenges they discuss how dialogues between Islam and the West, with a focus on Europe, can be achieved. The various authors (legal scholars, political theorists, social scientists, and psychologists) explore in these collected essays such interrelated questions as: How much diversity is permissible within a liberal pluralistic democratic society? How strong are the implications of citizenship? What are equitable accommodations of contested practices? They argue for an adequate understanding of how Western Muslim communities in Europe experience their minority position and what needs to be done to improve their participation in European society. The second part of this volume is a collection of papers written around the work of Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, who also makes his own contribution to the book. The Catholic University of Leuven awarded An-Na'im an honorary doctorate in 2009 on the theme of multiculturalism, intercultural relations and diversity. An-Na'im is recognized the world over as a leading expert in the area of religion and law, and as a human rights activist. Islam and Europe: Crises Are Challenges reinforces our sense that a better knowledge and awareness of the growing diversity of our society, and striving for harmonious relations between Islam and the West, are among the most important challenges of our time. With contributions by: Ahmed Aboutaleb, Durre S. Ahmed, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, Shaheen Sardar Ali, Mohamed Benzakour, Jean-Yves Carlier, Marie-Claire Foblets, Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Fouad Laroui, Bettina Leysen, Rashida Manjoo, Bhikhu Parekh, Mathias Rohe, Cedric Ryngaert, Prakash Shah. Other publication: Islam and Europe, Challenges and OpportunitiesTable of ContentsForeword and Acknowledgements:Islam and the Requirements of Liberal Democratic PrinciplesMarie-Claire FobletsPart I - The Islamic Challenge: Faith, Gender and PoliticsIntroductionary SpeechAhmed AboutalebIslam and Politics: Towards Post-Islamism?Fouad LarouiHuman Rights and IslamBhikhu ParekhPenetrations: A Psycho-Cultural view of Modernity, Fundamentalisms and IslamDurre S. AhmedPart II - The Islamic Challenge: Islam and the Secular StateAcknowledgmentsBettina LeysenAn-Na`im and His Work Toward an Islamic Reformation: A Short IntroductionJean-Yves Carlier'European Islam or Islamic Europe': The Secular State for Negotiating PluralismAbdullahi Ahmed An-Na`imThe 'Secularization' of Shari'a in IranZiba Mir-HosseiniResurrecting Siyar Through Fatwas? (Re)constructing 'Islamic International Law' in a Post-(Iraq) Invasion WorldShaheen Sardar AliThe Indian Dimension of An-Na`im's Islam and the Secular StatePrakash ShahEuropean Foreign Policy and the Universality of Human RightsCedric RyngaertCompromising of Gender Equality Rights - Through the Recognition of Muslim Marriages in South AfricaRashida ManjooIslam and the Democratic State under the Rule of Law - and Never the Twain Shall Meet?Mathias RoheToward the Triumph of ReasonMohammed BenzakourList of Contributors

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Book SynopsisModern Islamic Thinking and Activism focuses on Islamic thinking, activism, and politics in both the West and the Middle East. The reader will apprehend that Islam is not the monolithic religion so often depicted in the media. The Islamic world is more than a uniform civilization with a set of petrified religious prescriptions and an outdated view on political and social organization. The contributions show the dynamics of "Islam at work" in different geographical and social contexts. By treating Islamic thinking and Islamic activism on a practical level, Modern Islamic Thinking and Activism includes innovative research and fills a significant gap in existing work. Contributors: Erkan Toguslu (KU Leuven), Thierry Limpens (KU Leuven), Eric Geoffroy (University of Strasbourg), Jonathan Benthall (UCL, London) Thomas Michel (Georgetown University), Egbert Harmsen (Leiden University), Ihsan Yilmaz (Fatih University), Emilio Platti (KU Leuven), Roel Meijer (Radboud University)Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Contemporary Islamic Activism and Muslims Erkan Toğuşlu and Johan LemanPart I: Modern Islamic Thinking 2. Fethullah Gülen, Tariq Ramadan and Yusuf al-Qaradawi: The pluralisation of Islamic Knowledge Erkan Toğuşlu 3. Tariq Ramadan and Abdullahi An-Na'im's Islamic gender reform in the Brussels Moroccan community Thierry Limpens 4. The Contribution of Sufism to the Construction of Contemporary Europe's Islam Eric GeoffroyPart II: Secularism, Islam and Public Sphere: Turkey and Egypt 5. Post Secularism, Post-Islamism and Islam in the Public Sphere Ihsan Yılmaz 6. The Arab Revolutions and Islamic Civil Society Emilio Giuseppe Platti 7. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Democratic Experience in Egypt Roel MeijerPart III: Contemporary Islamic Social Activism 8. Social Work, Poverty, Inequality and Social Safety Nets: Voluntary Welfare Organizations Jonathan Benthall 9. Tradition and Modernity in Social Islam: The Case of Muslim NGOs in Jordan Egbert Harmsen 10. Fighting Poverty with Kimse Yok Mu Thomas MichelConclusion 11. Translocality and Hybridization in Current Modern Islamic Activism Erkan Toğuşlu and Johan LemanAbout the authors

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Book SynopsisWhile Muslims in Indonesia have begun to turn towards a strict adherence to Islam, the reality of the socio-religious environment is much more complicated than a simple shift towards fundamentalism. In this volume, contributors explore the multifaceted role of Islam in Indonesia from a variety of different perspectives, drawing on carefully compiled case studies. Topics covered include religious education, the increasing number of Muslim feminists in Indonesia, the role of Indonesia in the greater Muslim world, social activism and the middle class, and the interaction between Muslim radio and religious identity.Trade Review"Contrary to Islam in many other countries, Islam in Indonesia has always had the reputation of being moderate and tolerant. This timely book addresses the issue of this alleged special nature of Indonesian Islam from a theoretical perspective, and presents case studies which both confirm as well as contradict this liberal image, thus showing the complexity of Islam in this country with more than 200 million Muslim inhabitants." -- Dr. Nico J.G. Kaptein, Leiden Institute for Area Studies, Leiden UniversityTable of ContentsIslam in Indonesia - 2 Contents - 6 Introduction - 8 1 Comparing different streams of Islam Wrestling with words and definitions - 16 2 Defining Indonesian Islam An examination of the construction of the national Islamicidentity of traditionalist and modernist Muslims - 26 3 Indonesia in the global scheme of Islamic things Sustaining the virtuous circle of education, associations and democracy - 50 4 Distinguishing Indonesian Islam Some lessons to learn - 64 5 Islam, state and society in democratising Indonesia A historical reflection - 76 6 The politics of piety in the Pondok Pesantren Khusus Waria Al-Fattah Senin-Kamis Yogyakarta Negotiating the Islamic religious embodiment - 92 7 The Indonesian Muslim feminist reinterpretation of inheritance - 110 8 Managing familial issues Unique features of legal reform in Indonesia - 124 9 A new generation of feminists within traditional Islam An Indonesian exception - 140 10 Religious pluralism and contested religious authority in contemporary Indonesian Islam - 162 11 Islam and humanitarian affairs The middle class and new patterns of social activism - 174 12 Dakwah radio in Surakarta A contest for Islamic identity - 196 13 Muslim fundamentalism in educational institutions A case study of Rohani Islam in high schools in Cirebon - 216 14 Majlis Tafsir Al-Qur’an and its struggle for Islamic reformism - 228 Glossary - 242 About the editors and contributors - 250 Bibliography - 254 Index - 276

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Book Synopsis SHORTLISTED for the ICAS Book Prize 2013 http://www.icassecretariat.org/icas-book-prize-2013-shortlists Much nuance and variability have been lost in the process of the reductivist analysis of Islam post 9/11 and, as this study amply demonstrates, we are all the poorer as a result. This exhaustive examination of the rise and spread of the Tablighi Jama’t, arguably the world’s largest Islamic missionary movement, locates it in the larger perspective of global Islam and developments in the Muslim societies. Combining an overview of the history and current socio-political perception of the Tablighi Jama'at with a more analytical and philosophical approach to fundamental questions of identity, subject-positioning and representation, the author creates a comprehensive resource of interest to all scholars and students of Islam. Drawing on exhaustive research and records of conversion narratives of the new members of Tablighi Jama’at, cited here at length, the author creates a unique perspective on this complex phenomenon from both an internal and external viewpoints. Ahmad-Noor locates the spiritual framework of the movement in the context of its perception in the eyes of the political and religious authorities of the countries where it has a following, as well as the Western ‘securocrat’ approach.Trade Review"This is an excellent, original study of an important transnational Islamic movement, based on a long-term acquaintance with the movement and a considerable period of participating observation in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Thailand. The existing authoritative literature on the Tablighi Jama’at is rather limited: besides the standard work by M. Khalid Masud, the major contributions were made by Barbara Metcalf, Dietrich Reetz, and Yoginder Sikand, whose work focuses on the Tabligh in South Asia. There is now a rapidly growing literature on the Tabligh in other parts in the world, but this study by Farish Noor stands out as unique in its scope and depth. No one else has ever carried out extensive fieldwork and been able to study the movement from within as he does in this book. For this reason, this study represents a major step ahead in our understanding of the Tabligh." -- Martin van Bruinessen, Chair for the Comparative Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies, Utrecht University "Farish Ahmad Noor is an extraordinary thinker: cosmopolitan, Asian, Muslim, humanist, truth-teller. Here we get him at his best, looking at the rise and spread of one of the most important missionary Muslim organizations, the Tablighis. Highly recommended!" -- Omid Safi, Professor of religious studies and Islamic studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "This is a truly impressive piece of work that will appeal to a wide audience and will be the definitive work on this complicated subject for a very long time." -- Abdullah Drury, University of Waikato, New Zealand

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Book SynopsisThe Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS is the biggest opposition party in Malaysia today and one of the most prominent Islamist parties in Southeast Asia. This work recounts the historical development of PAS from 1951 to the present, and looks at how it has risen to become a political movement that is both local and transnational, tracking its rise from the Cold War to the age of the War on Terror, and its evolving ideological postures - from anti-colonialism to post-revolutionary Islamism, as the party adapted itself to the realities of the postmodern global age. PAS's long engagement with modernity and its nuanced approach to the goal of state capture is the focus of this work, as it recounts the story of the Islamist party and Malaysia by extension.Download the Table of Contents and IntroductionTrade Review'One of the major strengths of the volume is simply the huge amount of new information presented here about the historical origins of PAS, its important political leaders and personalities, and insider information regarding internal conflicts between moderates and hardliners ... Noor’s great contribution is to provide context for this new intriguing political development in contemporary Malaysia, appreciating that Islamism in Malaysia is a dynamic movement, not monolithic or unchanging.' - Trevor. W. Preston, Centennial College, Toronto, Canada, Pacific Affairs: Volume 90, No. 2 - June 2017. 'Noor's book is perhaps the most comprehensive study of Malaysia's Pan-Islamic Party to date, and as such it is a must-read not just for Malaysianists but for all interested in Islamist political parties.' -Jason Abbott, University of Louisville, South East Asia Research 23 (2), June 2015 'Noor has provided us with a beautifully-written overview of the history of PAS, from its humble beginnings as a spin-off of UMNO in the 1950s through the 13th General Election in 2013.' - Kevin W. Fogg, University of Oxford, Aseasuk News no, 57 Spring 2015 'Farish's richly documented work relate the shifts in PAS's counter-hegemonic discourse and practice - passing through leftist and Malay communalist phases to various styles of Islamism - to the wider political context, both national and international. This is without a doubt the best study of PAS that has appeared to date, and at the same time a social and political history of independent Malaysia seen from the margins. It is essential reading not only for those who wish to understand Malaysian politics, but also for students of contemporary Islamist movements. PAS is one of the most important religio-political movements in the Muslim world today, comparable to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistan's Jama'at-e Islami and Turkey's succession of Islamist parties, but with a history and character of its own. This book deserves a place beside the best studies of those better-known movements.' - Prof Martin van Bruinessen, Utrecht University

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Book SynopsisMuslims in Europe and the preservation of their religious-ethnic particularities. Everyday Life Practices of Muslims in Europe explores how Muslims give meaning to Islam on a day-to-day basis. The contributions look at concrete practices, identities, memories, and normalities in daily Muslim life and provide insights to the complexities of identities. They examine Muslims' use of and construction of spaces, daily practices, forms of interaction, and modes of thinking in different areas, resulting in a thorough analysis and framework of Muslims' day-to-day life through topical chapters on food, space, entertainment, marriage, and mosque, covering both extent of hybridity and preservation of religious-ethnic particularities. This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content). Contributors: Rachel Brown (Wilfrid Laurier University), Mohammed El-Bachouti (UPF), Valentina Fedele (Università della Calabria), Diletta Guidi (École Pratique des Hautes Études), Ossame Hegazy (Bauhaus, University, Weimar), Ajmal Hussain (Aston University), Jana Jevtic (Central European University), Elsa Mescoli (University of Liège), Wim Peumans (KU Leuven), Sumeyye Ulu Sameto?lu (EHESS), Leen Sterck,Thijl Sunier (VU University Amsterdam), Erkan To?u?lu (KU Leuven)

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Hui ethnic diversity in China. As yet very little academic research has been done into the Hui people, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group in China. With particular attention to the Yunnan district community, this collection of contributions skilfully presents a wealth of information on Hui Muslims and introduces readers to the issues of Hui ethnic diversity in China. Reviewing the many aspects of the religious, educational and cultural life of Hui Muslims in China, the authors provide an ethnography in which becomes clear how traditional institutions and everyday life are adapted to local customs with respect to the Islamic identity. At the same time, the relationship between the China Republic and the Hui, an official minority of China, is discussed thoroughly. This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content). Contributors: Lesley R. Turnbull (New York University), Liang Zhang (Yunnan University), Ross Holder (Trinity College Dublin), Aaron Glasserman (Columbia University), Frauke Drewes (University of Münster), Chuang Ma (Yunnan Open University), Yu Feng (Yunnan University), Suchart Setthamalinee (Puyap University)Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Identity, Interaction and Islamic Practice: Hui Muslims in China Gui Rong, Yunnan UniversityPart I: State Policies and Muslims2. Bridging Worlds: A Comparative Study on the Effects of Ethno-Religious Policies on China's Muslims Ross Holder, Trinity College3. Making Muslims Hui: Ethnic Bias in the New Curriculum of the China Islamic Association Aaron Glasserman, Princeton University4. Collective Feature, Identity Construction and Cultural Adaptation: Interaction between Hui Muslim Society and the State Gui Rong, Yunnan UniversityPart II: Relations between Hui and non-Muslims 5. Changes of Intermarriage Circle of the Pashi Dai (Muslims in Dai Society): A Case Study in the Hui Village in Manluan Chuang Ma, Yunnan Open University6. Being Chinese and Being Muslim -; Portrayals of the Hui Minority by Muslims, Non-Muslims, and the MediaFrauke Drewes, Munster University7. The Diversity of Chinese Muslim Identities: A Special Hui in YunnanFeng Yu, Yunnan University & Suchart Setthamalinee, Payap UniversityPart III: Hui Identity and Islam8. Localizing Transnationalism in Post-Reform China: Sino-Islamic Identities among Hui-Muslim Women in YunnanLesley Turnbull, New York University9. Qingzhen: Embodiment of Islamic Knowledge and Lifestyle: A Case Study on Tongdao Street, Huimin District of Hohhot CityLiang Zhang, Yunnan University10. Role of Ethnic Community of Hui Students in Internal Unity in the Context of UrbanizationHacer Z. Gönül, Peking UniversityConclusion 11. Being Hui Muslim in ChinaErkan Toguslu, KU Leuven & Hacer Z. Gönül, Peking University

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Book SynopsisScholarly analysis of evolving jihadist organisation, strategies, and operation Jihadist militants keep being a global threat. Many observers suggest that a transformation is likely to happen in their organisation, operation, mobilisation and recruitment strategies particularly after the territorial decline of the "Caliphate" of the "Islamic State." This volume explores different aspects of the future trajectories of militant jihadism and the prospective transformation of this movement in and around Europe. The authors analyse the changing jihadist landscape and networks, and the societal challenges posed by both returned foreign terrorist fighters and those who have not returned to their countries of origin. Other topics of discussion are cyber jihadism, jihadist financing, women's position in and relevance for contemporary jihadism, the role of prisons in relation to radicalisation and militancy, and the changing theological dynamics. Based on recent empirical research, Militant Jihadism offers a solid scholarly contribution to various disciplines that study violence, terrorism, security, and extremism. Ebook available in Open Access. This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content). Contributors: Mohamed-Ali Adraoui (Georgetown University), Laith Alkhouri (Flashpoint), Nadim Houry (Arab Reform Initiative), Adolfo Gatti (Lumina Analytics), Stef Janssens (MYRIA), Johan Leman (KU Leuven), Serafettin Pektas (Researcher), Anita Peresin (Office of the National Security Council of the Republic of Croatia), Teun van Dongen (Independent Security Expert), Arturo Varvelli (ISPI).Table of ContentsNote on translation and transliteration Introduction Johan Leman & Serafettin Pektas1. Salafism, Jihadism and Radicalisation: Between A Common Doctrinal Heritage and The Logics of Empowerment Mohamed-Ali Adraoui2. The Libyan Jihadist Outlook: Origins, Evolutions and Future Scenarios Arturo Varvelli3. The “Unreturned”: Dealing with the Foreign Fighters and Their Families who Remain in Syria and Iraq Nadim Houry4. Cyber Jihadism: Today and Tomorrow Laith Alkhouri5. The Role of Women in Post-IS Jihadist Transformation and in Countering Extremism Anita Perešin6. The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same: The Post-Caliphate Jihadist Modus Operandi in Europe Teun van Dongen7. Jihadists in Belgian Prisons Johan Leman8. Urban Terrorist Sanctuaries in Europe: The Case of Molenbeek Adolfo Gatti9. Migrant Smuggling Networks and Jihadist Terrorism Johan Leman & Stef Janssens10. Prospects for Counter-Theology against Militant Jihadism Serafettin PektasConcluding Considerations Johan Leman & Serafettin PektasAbout the Authors

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Book SynopsisPathways to Contemporary Islam: New Trends in Critical Engagement highlights that the current tensions in Islam and the Muslim world are the result of historical dynamics as opposed to an alleged incompatibility between religious tradition and modernity. The emphasis on pathways indicates that critical engagement and contestation have always been intrinsic to the history of Islam. The aim of the book is to elaborate the contemporary pathways and analyse the trends that contest the Islamic intellectual tradition, the relationship between religion and politics, and the individual and collective practice of religion. The collection of essays analyses the current efforts of critical re-engagement with the Islamic intellectual tradition and underlines the historical diversity of Islamic orthodoxies that led to the establishment of various pathways in the practice and role of religion in Muslim societies.Table of ContentsForeword Preface and Acknowledgements Notes on the Contributors List of Abbreviations Introduction Constructing Pathways to Contemporary Islam Mohamad Nawab Section 1 Chapter 1: Pathways to Modern Islam Ali Allawi Chapter 2: A Theoretical Pathway to Contemporary Islam Iulia Lumina Section 2 Chapter 3: A New Approach to Islamic Intellectual Tradition Ali Unsal Chapter 4: The Best and Most Trying of Times: Islamic Education and the Challenge of Modernity Robert Hefner Chapter 5: The Function of Myths in the Justification of Muslim Extremism Syed Farid Alatas Section 3 Chapter 6: Building Trust in the Democratic Process: the Role of Islamists in Tunisia's Post-Arab Spring Transitional Politics Saleena Saleem Chapter 7: The Failure of Political Islam Revisited Olivier Roy Chapter 8: Regaining the Islamic Centre? A Malaysian Chronicle of Moderation and its Discontents Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid Section 4 Chapter 9: Enhancing Dialogue Between Religious Traditions. An Islamic Perspective x Osman Bakar Chapter 10: The Ethical in Shari'a Practices: Deliberations in Search of an Effective Paradigm Ebrahim Moosa Chapter 11: The New Horizons of Piety: Religiosity and Moral Agency in the Modern World Sahar Amer Index

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Book Synopsis-- With a foreword from Jan Jaap de Ruiter. Translation and Afterword by Adi S. Bharat. -- In Homosexuality, Transidentity, and Islam: A Study of Scripture Confronting the Politics of Gender and Sexuality, Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed systematically analyses the entirety of Islamic scriptural sources that relate to the question of gender and sexuality in relation to their historical contexts. Through an approach that is certainly more politically engaged than that of most Islamic thinkers of our time, he clarifies key theological concepts that may seem esoteric to the uninitiated. In doing so, he makes a compelling case for the compatibility of sexual and gender diversity within Islam. Zahed also examines the historical and contemporary socio-political impacts of inclusive and exclusive (or, quite simply, homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic) interpretations of scripture. This important study dynamically examines the connections between scripture, interpretation, and the politics of gender and sexuality.Table of ContentsForeword Introduction I - The Qur'anic Ethics of "Nature": Gender, Sexuality, and Diversity 1a. Human Nature: Mirroring the Will of God 1b. Condemnation of "immoral" practices II - Distressing Qur'anic Verses? 2a. The Original Sodomy: Forbidding Ritual Rape 2b. The Absence of Female Homosexuality in the Qur'an 2c. Positive Identification of Gender Minorities in the Qur'an III - The Prophet: A Living Incarnation of Qur'anic Ethics 3a. Was the Prophet Homophobic and Transphobic? 3b. The Status of Mukhanathun: "Effeminate," Trans, or Gay Men? 3c. The First "Sodomite": Neither Gay nor Trans, but a Rapist IV - Islamic Apocrypha Advocating the Stoning of "Sodomites" 4a. The Sectarian Ideology of Fatwas Associating "Sodomy" With Apostasy 4b. A Former Mukhannath's Internalized Homophobia and Misogyny 4c. What the Different Islamic Schools of Thought Advocate V - Post-colonial Orientalisms VI - "Abnormals": from cultural diversity to dogmatic uniformity VII - Towards a Structural Reevaluation of Cultural Values VIII - Panarabist Literary and Identity Censorship IX - Orientalist Shi'ism and Literary Homo-eroticism X - Homonationalism and Performative Sexual Categorization XI - A "Crisis" of Categories, Geopolitics or Civilization Conclusion Afterword Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIs it possible to be religiously exclusive and socially inclusive? How do we deal with those outside of our own religious community who have completely different and sometimes conflicting views on what should be considered true and right behaviour? What if a religious tradition orders the expulsion or killing of those who leave the faith community and adopt another worldview? This book focuses on biblical texts concerning exclusivity and apostasy, studying different interpretations of such texts. It starts with the Jewish and Christian tradition of the Hebrew Bible, continues with texts from the New Testament, and explores diverse social studies to find ways of understanding the relationship between exclusion and inclusion today. Part of this exploration is the interaction with Jewish and Islamic voices. The collection ends with a systematic and missiological reflection on the issues Christian churches and other religious communities must address today.Table of ContentsExclusion versus Inclusion: Searching for Religious Inspiration (Bernhard Reitsma) A Humble Exclusivism? Reconstructing Exclusivism under Justificationist Rather than Bivalent Parameters (Dirk-Martin Grube) Apostasy in Terms of Moral Deviance (Robert Ermers) Apostasy: A Social Identity Perspective (Jack Barentsen) Deuteronomy 17:2–7 within the Context of Tanakh (Joep Dubbink and Klaas Spronk) Otherness and Exile: Jesus’s Attitude towards Apostates and Outsiders (Henk Bakker) Discerning the Body in 1 Corinthians 10: The Physical Negotiation of Exclusion and Inclusion by Paul as a Theologian of the Body (Peter-Ben Smit) The Dynamics of Exclusion and Inclusion in 1 Peter (Jacobus [Kobus] Kok) Hebrews, Deuteronomy, and Exclusion in the Early Church (Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte) ‘Idolatry’ in Rabbinic Discussion: To Destroy, to Bury or Something Else? Some Observations on the Subject of ‘Idolatry’ in Rabbinic Questions and Answers on the Internet (Leo Mock) Al-wal.’ w’ al-bar.’ (Loyalty and Disavowal); Reconstructing a ‘Creed’ in the Muslim Hermeneutics of ‘Otherness’ (Yaser Ellethy) Apostasy in Islam: An Overview of Sources and Positions (Razi H. Quadir) Exclusionary Texts in ‘A Common Word’ (Gé Speelman) Canaan and the New World: Native Americans Engage the Legacy of Exclusionary Readings (Eleonora Hof) The Pela as a Model for Inclusive Peacebuilding (Simon Ririhena) Gender-Related Inclusionary and Exclusionary Practices within Evangelical Churches in the Netherlands (Laura Dijkhuizen and Jack Barentsen) Religious Exclusivism, Social Inclusion: Missiological Reflections (Dorottya Nagy) Religious Exclusivism, Social Inclusion: Theological Reflections (Bernhard Reitsma and Erika van Nes-Visscher)

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Book SynopsisThe overtly secular state of Singapore has unapologetically maintained an interventionist approach to governance in the realm of religion. Islam is particularly managed by the state. Muslim activists thus have to meticulously navigate these realities – in addition to being a minority community – in order to maximize their influence in the political system. Significantly, Muslim activists are not a monolith: there exists a multitude of political and theological differences amongst them. Islam in a Secular State: Muslim Activism in Singapore analyses the following categories of Muslim activists: Islamic religious scholars (ulama), liberal Muslims, and the more conservative-minded individuals. Due to constricting political realities, many activists attempt to align themselves with the state, and call upon the state to be an arbiter in their disagreements with other factions. Though there are activists who challenge the state, these are by far in the minority, and are typically unable to assert their influence in a sustained manner. The author draws upon his own experiences as a researcher and as someone who was involved in some of the discourses explored in this book.Table of Contents1. Introduction: The State, Islam, and Muslim Activism in Singapore 1.1 Background of Project and Wider Relevance 1.2 Singapore's Political Context 1.3 Islam in Singapore 1.4 Arguments in Brief 1.5 Case Selection and Methodology 1.6 Outline of Book 2. Muslim Activism: A Survey across the World 2.1 Muslim Activism: Theological Positions 2.2 Brief Literature Review 2.3 Moving Forward: Understanding Activism in Singapore 3. Argument: Political Opportunities and Muslim Strategies 3.1 Ulama, Liberals, and Conservatives 3.2 Agent VS Structure 3.3 Political Opportunities and Agency 3.4 Main Argument 4. The Ulama: Pragmatism and Political Acquiescence 4.1 The Ulama: Roles and Responsibilities 4.2 Different Groups of Ulama in Singapore 4.3 Political Acquiescence of Ulama 4.4 Case Studies 4.5 Conclusion 5. Liberal Activists: Playing by the System and Making Gains 5.1 'Liberal' Muslims: Complexities of the Category 5.2 Liberal-Conservative Divide amongst Muslims 5.3 Choosing the Battles to Fight: Playing by the Rules 5.4 Gains Made in the Public Domain 5.5 Conclusion 6. The Conservative Dilemma: To Challenge or to Accept State Proclamations? 6.1 Conservative Muslims: Understanding the Category 6.2 (Potential) Areas of Clashes with the State 6.3 Strategic Advance and Retreat of Conservatives: Pragmatism in Practice 6.4 Ceding the Public Space to Liberals 6.5 Conclusion 7. Conclusion 7.1 Revisiting the Argument 7.2 Relevance of Study beyond Singapore 7.3 Implications for Civil Society 7.4 Future Areas for Research Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Muslim Brotherhood is often represented in mainstream media as a theocratic organisation that preaches Qur’an-based violence and is out to grab power in the West. As this book shows, such representations are wrought with prejudice and oversimplification; the organisation is in reality much more dynamic and diverse. Its goals, ideology and influence have never been static and vary greatly amongst its descendants in both Europe and the Middle East. Joas Wagemakers introduces the reader to this fascinating organisation and the major ideological and historical developments that it has gone through since its emergence in 1928.Trade Review"In this book, Joas Wagemakers, one of the world’s leading scholars on contemporary Islamic movements, masterfully synthesizes the complex history and legacy of the Muslim Brotherhood in a way that is both comprehensive and concise. A tour de force." Stéphane Lacroix, Associate Professor, Political Science, Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) "A world-leading scholar on Salafism, Islamism and Jihadism, Wagemakers has set out to write an accessible textbook on the Muslim Brotherhood movement for the broader audience, a task he very much succeeds in doing. This highly accessible and balanced account of one of the most important Islamist movements of today is a very welcome contribution to the library on contemporary Islamism. Lucid, eloquent, and packed with insight and astute reflections, this book offers the best available overview of the Muslim Brotherhood movement today."Brynjar Lia, Professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Oslo and author of The Muslim Brothers in Egypt, 1928-42 (Ithaca, 1998). “Combining breadth and accuracy, this book is the most comprehensive and erudite overview of the Muslim Brotherhood’s history to date. Wagemakers masterfully condensed an impressive amount of material into an account that spans the Brotherhood’s many facets over one hundred years and across fifteen countries.” Thomas Pierret, Senior Researcher, IREMAM, CNRS/Aix-Marseille UniversitéTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Glossary Note on Transliteration Introduction Part I: Ideology Chapter 1: The General Ideology of the Early Muslim Brotherhood Chapter 2: The Political Ideology of the Early Muslim Brotherhood Part II: History Chapter 3: Repression Chapter 4: Participation Chapter 5: Power Part III: Descendants Chapter 6: Radicals Chapter 7: Liberals Chapter 8: Europeans Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhy this book? What can it add to the many works that have already explored Islam as a history, a doctrine, a law, and a code of ethics? The bulk of Islamic thought nowadays is either a repetition of and rumination about what the ancients have already said, or the tackling of partial issues that falls short of a comprehensive view and a theoretical framework. All too often ideology replaces real knowledge. This work attempts to introduce the characteristics of the Mohammedan Mission, with the aspiration to be faithful to its essential purposes and to historical truth at the same time. The author thus illustrates the different ways in which people have understood the Mission and the reasons that led them to those various interpretations. The book presents several alternative interpretations that actually existed but did not enjoy widespread acceptance and popularity.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One Chapter One The Theoretical and Historical Background Chapter Two The Mohammedan Mission Chapter Three The Characteristics of the Mohammedan Mission Chapter Four The Issue of Legislation (Tashric) Chapter Five The Seal of Prophecy Part Two Introduction to Part Two The Mission in History Chapter Six The Prophet’s Caliphate Chapter Seven Institutionalizing Religion Chapter Eight Theorizing for the Institution Epilogue Index

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Book SynopsisWhy this book? What can it add to the many works that have already explored Islam as a history, a doctrine, a law, and a code of ethics? The bulk of Islamic thought nowadays is either a repetition of and rumination about what the ancients have already said, or the tackling of partial issues that falls short of a comprehensive view and a theoretical framework. All too often ideology replaces real knowledge. This work attempts to introduce the characteristics of the Mohammedan Mission, with the aspiration to be faithful to its essential purposes and to historical truth at the same time. The author thus illustrates the different ways in which people have understood the Mission and the reasons that led them to those various interpretations. The book presents several alternative interpretations that actually existed but did not enjoy widespread acceptance and popularity.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction; Chapter I. The Theoretical and Historical Background; Chapter II. The Mohammedan Mission Chapter; III. The Characteristics of the Mohammedan Mission; Chapter IV. The Issue of Legislation (Tashric); Chapter V. The Seal of Prophecy; Chapter VI. The Prophet's Caliphate; Chapter VII. Institutionalizing Religion; Chapter VIII. Theorizing for the Institution; Index

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Book SynopsisThis is the only English translation of the esteemed Rav Kook’s book on repentance and self-improvement Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook’s seminal work on repentance, Oros HaTeshuvah, is recognized as a classic of Jewish thought but has, because of its difficult language and its theological depth, remained inaccessible to many. This book presents readers with the original Hebrew text of Oros HaTeshuvah with a new translation into English, as well as expert commentary in English from Rabbi Moshe Weinberger. Weinberger draws on his extensive knowledge of Jewish philosophical and inspirational literature to provide profound, moving, and fresh insights into the text, richly explicating the ideas in Oros HaTeshuvah in an accessible and clear but not superficial manner. Readers will come away with a firm grasp on the profound truth at the heart of Kook’s classic work: that teshuvah—repentance—is not a somber process of self-deprivation but a joyful journey back to God and to the core of each individual. This volume covers chapters 14 through 17 of Oros HaTeshuvah and is the final volume in this series.Trade Review" Song of Teshuvah is unreservedly recommended for synagogue, college, and university library Judaic Studies collections in general, and Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook supplemental studies reading lists in particular." http://www.midwestbookreview.com/wbw/oct_18 JudaicStudies

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