Islam Books

Book SynopsisWe pay a great deal of attention to pursuit of knowledge, but overlook its constant companion: ignorance. Where our world is inundated with information, from 24-hour news and social media and the internet of things, what we do not know can be just as important as what we do. Agnotology—the study of ignorance—is a rising field of inquiry, and set to become increasingly important as reforms to education and knowledge creation rattle the foundations of traditional disciplines. Ignorance has rapidly proliferated in the early twenty-first century. Since US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld penned his famous memo on known knowns, unknown knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns, it has become a key, yet unseen, factor in global decision-making—in politics, business, and various complex networks exemplified by Covid-19. In this issue, ignorance is given its long overdue analysis, and its role in our chaotic times examined. About 'Critical Muslim': A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centres on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

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Book SynopsisHistory is not just a subject taught in school. It is the lived reality of tradition that informs and, at times, colonises our present. So, any project that wishes to see us smoothly into the future must begin with a thorough analysis of the past. History is also not as simple as we once thought: the reality of inequalities and bias that plague the present condition also run backward into our past, white-washing and leaving out certain details, even telling blatant lies. Revisionism and postmodernism further complicate the matter. In this issue, the rich and contentious history of Islam will be critically analysed; along the way, insight will be provided into the larger human story. As various articles debunk old narratives and illuminate lost perspectives, the hope is that lessons from the past can be properly considered, so that the same blunders that have toppled civilisations are not doomed to repeat themselves. About 'Critical Muslim': A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centres on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

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Book SynopsisIs our existence in the world a set of separate moving parts to which we must continuously adapt? Or is life a series of transitions as we evolve our understanding of what goes on around and within ourselves in order to realise an authentic self? Transitions can be sought or imposed, external and internal; deemed either a threat to social cohesion or a sign of progress. All around us is continual change—in the climate, the seasons, our bodies as we age, and from era to era since time began. Are transitional phases important moments in themselves, merely marking the end of one set of conditions as another takes over? Much has been made of Islam and Muslims being in a state of transition, whether assessing Islam’s compatibility with modernity or with modernisation. This issue examines what it means to transition, what we can expect when we are in transition, and whether transitions are inevitable, for better or worse.

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Book SynopsisThere is more to Scotland than the intensifying debate on independence. This is a rich land, with a rich culture and past that defy commonly held stereotypes of the Scottish people. But their nation also played a central role in the British Empire and has links to slavery. There are Muslims in far-flung places, and their influence on Scottish identity and culture is increasing.In this issue, we explore the history and diversity of Scotland, relate the chronicles of Scotland's Muslims, get high on Scottish poetry, trace the influence of Scots on Muslim novelists, and unpack the politics of Scotland's minority languagespeakers.About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poet

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Book SynopsisA formidable array of judicial talent considers all aspects of Islamic criminal procedure with the firm emphasis on its practical application today in modern states. Where do Islamic courts operate in the modern world? What training does an Islamic judge receive? How does an Islamic court deal with a criminal case? What proof and evidence does it accept? What law and practice do the Islamic judges apply to transgressions by Westerners in Saudi Arabia, whether they be accused of murder, adultery or drinking alcohol? This book attempts to answer all these and many more crucial questions of Islamic law as they affect the different nations of the Islamic World.Table of ContentsWhere do Islamic courts still operate in the modern world? What training does an Islamic judge receive? How does an Islamic court deal with a criminal case? What proof and evidence does it accept? What penalties may an Islamic judge impose in criminal matters? What law and practice do the Islamic judges apply to transgressions by Westerners in Saudi Arabia, whether they be accused of murder, adultery or drinking alcohol? This book attempts to answer all the above crucial, basic yet difficult questions of Islamic law. A formidable array of judicial talent considers all aspects of Islamic criminal procedure with the firm emphasis on its practical application in modem states today. Controversial cases are dealt with and explained from an Islamic point of view with the aim of informing a Western audience of the objectivity and fair process inherent in the Islamic system.

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Book SynopsisThe Fatimids ruled much of the Mediterranean world for over two centuries. From the conquest of Qayrawan in 909 to defeat at the hands of Saladin in 1171, the Fatimid caliphate governed a vast area stretching, at its peak, from the Red Sea in the East to the Atlantic Ocean in the West. Their leaders - the Ismaili Shi`i Imam-caliphs - were distinctive in largely pursuing a policy of tolerance towards the religious and ethnic communities of their realm, and they embraced diverse approaches to the practicalities of administering a vast empire. Such methods of negotiating government and diversity created a lasting pluralistic legacy. The present volume, edited by Farhad Daftary and Shainool Jiwa, brings together a series of original contributions from a number of leading authorities in the field. Based on analyses of primary sources, the chapters shed fresh light on the impact of Fatimid rule. The book presents little explored aspects of state-society relations such as the Fatimid model of the vizierate, Sunni legal responses to Fatimid observance, and the role of women in prayer. Highlighting the distinctive nature of the Fatimid empire and its legacy, this book will be of special interest to researchers in mediaeval Islamic history and thought.Table of ContentsList of Contributors Note on Transliteration and Abbreviations Introduction Farhad Daftary and Shainool Jiwa 1. The Early Ismaili Imamate: Background to the Establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate Farhad Daftary 2. The Baghdad Manifesto (402/1011): A Re-Examination of Fatimid-Abbasid Rivalry Shainool Jiwa 3. Was the Fatimid Amir al-Juyush in fact a Wazir? Paul E. Walker 4. `Leading from the Middle’: Al-Qadi al-Nu'man on Female Prayer Leadership Simonetta Calderini 5. Al-Turtushi and the Fatimids Maribel Fierro 6. Transmitting Sunni Learning in Fatimid Egypt: The Female Voices Delia Cortese 7. The Fatimid Legacy and the Foundation of the Modern Nizari Imamate Daniel Beben Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis2019 Choice Outstanding Academic title I.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies Why is the term shari?a-the mention of which conjures up images of a politicised religion in many parts of the world-understood in the ways that it is today? For Muslims and non-Muslims alike, much is read into this term, often with scant regard for its historical, cultural or theological underpinnings. The politics of identity has a profound effect on contemporary life, both secular and religious, and this includes our understandings of the shari?a. Yet at the core of this concept, for Muslims, is the quest for a moral compass by which to navigate a path through life (Qur'an, 45:18), informed deeply by revelation and its interpretation by the Prophet Muhammad as well as his closest Companions. Built on this foundation is an ongoing human endeavour to grasp and lend expression to that teaching-elaborately in law, but no less so in devotional, ethical and customary practices in diverse Shi?i and Sunni Muslim communities, including in the West. Popular myths about the shari?a - that it is divine law, that it is contained in a single code recognised by all Muslims, that it is about controlling behavior, that it `defines' Islam - are challenged in this volume by leading scholars, with a view to illuminating how we arrived here and where we might be headed. The claims of the modern state as the custodian of the shari?a are put into perspective, alongside the vital role of a pluralist civil society. From bioethics, human development, family law and finance to constitutional and human rights issues, this fifth volume in the Muslim Heritage Series offers an accessible account of the ideals and realities of the shari?a. As such, it will appeal not only to specialists in the humanities and social sciences, but also to the general reader with an interest in global affairs and informed citizenship.Trade ReviewEach essay includes helpful suggestions for further reading. This book opens the way to a new inquiry: Shari'a as the linking of divine will and human good. It makes for excellent reading and thinking ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Successfully [conjoins] the rich, sometimes turbulent, development of Islamic history, juristic tradition, philosophy and Islamic thought in an accessible and excellent manner, notwithstanding the different specialties/approaches of the authors ... I would recommend this collection to other students and specialists in the humanities and social sciences, and for the general reader to gain insight into the prospective role and application of the Shari'ah in the modern world. * The Muslim World Book Review *Table of Contents1. Introduction: A Multifaceted Venture – Amyn B. Sajoo; 2. Foundations – Khaled Abou al Fadl; 3. Recovering the Ethical – Ebrahim Moosa; 4. Sustaining and Enhancing Life – Karim H. Karim; 5. Spiritual Refinement – Sa’diyya Shaikh; 6. Women’s Equality – Ziba Mir-Hosseini; 7. Family Law to Finance – Mohamed Keshavjee & Raficq Abdulla; 8. Bioethics – Amyn B. Sajoo; 9. Legitimizing Authority – Amaan Merali; 10. Democratisation and Shari?a: The Indonesian Experience - Carool Kersten; 11. Shari?a in the Western Landscape – Nicholas Ahrony & Rex Ahdar; 12. Secularism and the Shari?a: Lessons from an Ontario Debate – Jennifer Selby.

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Book SynopsisThe Place of the Mosque: Genealogies of Space, Knowledge, and Power extends Foucault’s analysis, Of Other Spaces, and the “ideological conflicts which underlie the controversies of our day [and] take place between pious descendants of time and tenacious inhabitants of space.” This book uses Foucault’s framework to illuminate how mosques have been threatened in the past, from the Cordóba Mosque in the eighth century, to the development of Moorish aesthetics in the United States in the nineteenth century, to the clashes surrounding the building of mosques in the West in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Akel Kahera uses Foucault’s genealogy to elaborate on and study the subjects that are caught in the emergence of a battle—the social and political will to power, the networks of power, and the rituals of power—within the interstitial space. In going beyond individual buildings to broader geographical and genealogical dimensions of the power struggles, The Place of the Mosque reconciles the public space experience, governmentality, and micro powers, paving the way for a new philosophical language. Expanding architectural and urban regional approaches, Kahera shows the biopolitical significance of the problem of space.Trade ReviewThe Place of the Mosque wrestles with Michel Foucault’s ideas on space, while weaving together local and global notions of place, as it interrogates today’s public spectacles, from the Great Mosque of Córdoba near Madrid to the Ground Zero Mosque in Manhattan. Animating the book is the question: who defines place? What makes this query so intriguing is how its answers revolve around the interlocking dimensions of space, knowledge, and power. Like a forensic scientist, Akel Kahera expands our discussion about mosque space by unpacking various sites, assigning them a genealogy, and determining their birth history, traumatic relations, and lifestyle markings. It is a fresh and contemplative approach. Kahera is even cheeky enough to allow musings on the mosque from the great poet, Muhammad Iqbal, which foreground his point that the mosque is a ubiquitous presence in the world. And it is this fact that makes works like this one so essential to read. -- Zain Abdullah, author of Black Mecca: The African Muslims of Harlem

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Book SynopsisMuslim Identities: An Introduction to Islam (Second Edition) presents a fully updated introduction to the religion of Islam and the various social groups who define themselves as Muslim. Unlike other such works, it presents both insider and outsider accounts with the aim of striking a unique balance between overly apologetical and overly Orientalist perspectives. With the first edition described as a “truly outstanding book”, and “the very best introduction currently available in English for non-Muslims seeking a sound approach to Islam” (Journal of Islamic Studies), this new edition offers both students and general readers a comprehensive and balanced introduction to the world’s second-largest religion.Table of ContentsPreface to Second Edition Introduction: Religious Studies and the Academic Study of Islam Part I. Origins Chapter 1. Arabia Prior to the Advent of Islam Chapter 2. The Making of the Last Prophet Chapter 3. The Quran: The Foundation Part II. Identity Formations Chapter 4. The Spread of Islam Beyond the Arabian Peninsula Chapter 5. Early Sectarianism and the Formation of Shiʿism Chapter 6. Legal Developments and the Gradual Emergence of Sunni Islam Chapter 7. Sufism: The Mystical Strain in Islam Part III. Beliefs and Practices Chapter 8. The Maintenance of Muslim Identities: Beliefs and Schools Chapter 9. The Performance of Muslim Identities Part IV. Modern Variations Chapter 10. Encounters with Modernity Chapter 11. Constructing Muslim Women Chapter 12. Islam and “the West” Chapter 13. The Inconvenient Muslim: From Majority to Minority Glossary

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Book SynopsisHannah Arendt spoke of the banality of evil--the normalisation of the unutterable, simply because that was how things were in any given place and time. Is evil really so disappointing? We expect evil to be dramatic, unfathomable and remarkable; the workings of a twisted genius, a fallen angel, Iblis. But what if the mediocre perpetuate it, the followers, the weak, the masses? What defines evil? What is the devil's greatest trick in our contemporary world? Some even claim evil no longer exists--if it ever did. The greying morality of postmodernism begs the question of whether one can even be good.

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Book SynopsisSaliha, translated, means 'virtuous'. A question becomes timeless not because it lacks an answer, but also because it requires revisiting as contexts change. So, in our ever- changing, post-normal world, the time is ripe to ask: What does it mean to be a good person or to bring out the good in others or society? Whereas 'virtues discourse' largely revolves around ethics dominated by Ancient Greek and modern or contemporary Western thought, this issue seeks a more critical analysis of Islamic and other non-Western virtues. We will explore other, less-often-heard, harder-to- name virtues, fit for the present era.

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Book SynopsisThis introduction to Islam for Western readers explores the fundamental religious beliefs held by Muslims for nearly 1400 years. It covers the four dimensions of Islam - practice, faith, spirituality and the Islamic view of history, as outlined in the Hadith of Gabriel. Interweaving teachings from the Koran, the sayings of the Prophet, and the great authorities of the tradition, the book introduces the essentials of each dimension. It then goes on to describe how each has been manifest in Islamic institutions throughout the course of history.

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Book SynopsisExploring the beliefs, history and politics of the ordinary people of Muslim countries, Grieve cuts through the complexities as he examines all aspects of Islam. He also addresses the big issues: can Islam support true democracy? Is true democracy what the West really wants for Muslim countries or are we merely seeking a cover of legitimacy for a policy of 'might is right'?Paul Grieve is an unbeliever - he is not a born-again Muslim, a proselytizer or a frustrated desert romantic. His aim is to inform. The result is an accessible but never simplistic guide that challengesstereotypical views, from women and banking to war and Malcolm X. Complete with advice for visitors to Muslim countries, and with carefully chosen primary sources, maps and illustrations, this is the ideal summary for the reader looking for an unbiased overview of the religious and political world issues that have become part of our everyday lives.Trade ReviewA sympathetic and sensitive treatment of a difficult subject: exploratory as well as explanatory; well-informed, confidently narrated and well-written. -- David Gardner, Middle East Correspondent * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the richness of Pakistan's religious landscape, giving attention to a number of topics: Shia flagellation processions, Urdu-language pulp fiction, streetside rituals involving animals (pariah-kites and fortune-telling parrots), and the use of sorcery to contend with the jinns that are believed to infest cities such as Lahore. Uniting these topics is an investigation of how Islamist politicians seek to eradicate sectarian diversity and repress localized forms of Muslim folk practices in the name of a standardized, uniform, and globalized version of Islam. The book looks at forms of resistance to this Islamist globalization, such as collaborative efforts by Christian, Hindu, and Muslim human-rights activists to repeal Pakistan's notorious blasphemy law and assert the worth of religious pluralism.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Pluralism and Religious Identity in Pakistan.Chapter 1. My Fortune-Telling Parrot Triggers Trouble in Lahore: Street Rituals and the Legacy of Religious PluralismChapter 2. Being Hindu in Pakistan: Legacy and Survival.Chapter 3. Pakistani Christians and the Prospects for Inter-Religious Resistance to the Blasphemy Laws.Chapter 4. Ritual and Communal Identity: Shia-Sunni Relations in PakistanChapter 5. Spurting Blood and Attempts to Regulate Ritual: Pakistani Shias and Iran's Bid for Leadership of Global IslamChapter 6. Raw Meat Skyward: Pariah-Kite Rituals in Lahore.Chapter 7. Jinns and Sorcery in Lahore: Textual Sources and Personal Experiences.Chapter 8. A Comparison of Muslim and Hindu Perspectives on the Realm of the Jinns.Chapter 9. Lahori Pulp Fiction: The World of Khofnak Dijast ("Fright Digest").Chapter 10. The Politics of Jogging: Women's Issues in Pakistan.Chapter 11. The Greco-Buddhist Past: The Peshawar Museum and Pakistan's Pre-Islamic Heritage.Chapter 12. The Hazards of Being a Free-Thinker: Prince Dara Shikoh and the Prospects for Pluralism in 21st-Century Pakistan.

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Book SynopsisIn light of the ongoing public debate that focuses on differences between Islam and the West, this book suggests a change of perspective. It departs from the observation that both western Orientalists and Islamist activists have defined Islam similarly as an all-encompassing religious, political and social system. In shifting from differences to similarities, it leaves behind the increasingly circular debate about the true nature of Islam in which the Muslim religion has been represented either as intrinsically hostile to or as principally compatible with modern culture. Instead, it associates the evolution of a particularly essentialist image of Islam with a complex process of cross-cutting (self)-interpretations of Muslim and Western societies within an emerging global public sphere. Putting its focus on the life and work of a number of paradigmatic individuals, the book investigates the intellectual encounters and discursive interdependencies among western and Muslim intellectuals. In a historical genealogy it deconstructs the essentialist image of Islam in uncovering its conceptual foundations in the modern transformation of European and Muslim societies from the nineteenth century onwards. Thereby, the changing infrastructure of the global public sphere has facilitated the gradual popularization, trivialization, and dissemination of a previously elitist discourse on Islam and modernity. In this way, the idea of Islam as an all-encompassing system has been turned into accepted knowledge in the Western and Muslim worlds alike.Trade Review'Through an analysis of classical Islamic studies and emergent social sciences, Dietrich Jung carefully unpicks and disposes of the whole legacy of the notion of a unified, coherent and integrated Islam, showing its manifest and profound differences across cultures and time. The book is equally critical of the New Orientalism in both the academy and the media which persists with the notion that Islam is the principal stumbling block for societies on the way to modernization and democracy. He uncovers the tragedy of our post- 9/11 world in which the New Orientalists in the West converge with the ideas of Political Islam in which the dominant quest is to discover the True Islam. Finally Dr Jung guides us through an interpretation of how Islamic movements have to be understood in a global public that is being created by many different forms of modernity. Orientalists Islamists and the Global Public Sphere is the definitive modern work on the history and pitfalls of Orientalism - both old and new.' Bryan S.Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, The Graduate Center, CUNY 'Modern Western scholars claim that there are many "Islams". But Western public opinion and many Islamist thinkers believe that there is only one all-encompassing Islam. This belief has had, and has, fateful consequences for both Muslims and the West. Jung's book traces the emergence of this understanding in the interactions between Islamic thinkers and Orientalists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is a contribution to the intellectual history of the globalizing world of the first importance.' Prof Francis Robinson CBE, Sultan of Oman Fellow, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Professor of the History of South Asia, Royal Holloway University of London 'The character of Islamic studies has been in question ever since the publication of Edward Said's Orientalism in 1978. This astonishing book, brilliant, knowledgeable and elegant, goes beyond heated polemics by means of sophisticated use of social theory so as to present a complete, balanced and convincing account of the formation of contemporary understandings of the Islamic world. Jung is at his most brilliant in showing the cognitive interactions between Muslim scholars and occidental scholars of Muslim society, allowing him to cast light on a vast range of figures, from Goldziher, Robertson Smith, Durkheim and Renan to Abduh, Iqbal, Ziya Gokalp and Islamist thinkers like Mawdudi and Said Qutb.' John Hall, James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology, McGill University, Montreal 'Orientalists, Islamists and the Global Public Sphere is an insightful, compelling, and thorough new account of the history of Islamic studies, east and west, that is must reading for social theorists and intellectual historians interested in Islam.' Richard C. Martin, Professor of Islamic Studies and History of Religions, Emory University, Atlanta, GeorgiaTable of ContentsPreface I. The Problem: Islam as a Holistic System II. Edward Said's Orientalism and His Critics III. Globalization, World Society and the Global Public Sphere: Understanding Multiple Modernities IV. State, Science and Religion: Modern Europe Between Positivism and Christian Apology V. Islam as a Problem:A" The Formation of Islamic Studies VI. Orientalist Constructions, Islamic Reform and Islamist Revolution VII. Epilog

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Book SynopsisBy the end of the ninth century the Prophet Muhammad had emerged as an incomparable exemplar shared by all Muslim communities. Prophecy and Power offers a rigorous comparative study of both the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an. The book ranges across various issues: the comparative study of 'prophecy'; Qur'anic comparison as a modality of change; the Prophet as exemplar and foil; and an experiment in comparison between Muhammad and Alinesitouie.Table of ContentsPreface Bruce B. Lawrence Prologue: Inviting Prophets and Entertaining Comparisons 1. Opening a Black Box: Rethinking the Comparative Study of 'Prophecy' 2. Comparatively Speaking: Qur'anic Comparison as a Modality of Change 3. Beyond Compare: Muhammad as Exemplar and Foil 4. An Experiment in Comparison: Muhammad and Alinesitoue (edited by Robert M. Baum, University of Missouri) Postscript Lindsay Jones, The Ohio State University

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Book SynopsisThis title offers a concise introduction to the contemporary challenges and key issues facing Islam. This new introduction aims to present Islam through the lens of contemporary issues. Illustrated with examples and case studies taken from lived religion, each chapter looks at Islam in a modern context, and modern issues relevant to the religion. After an initial chapter providing an overview of the Islamic faith, its history and basic theological tenets, Ron Geaves moves through key contemporary themes: Islam and diversity, ethics and morality, gender, fundamentalism, and the relationship between Islam and the West. Concluding with a final section looking at the future for Islam, its relevance in modern times, the future for the religion in question and what it can contribute to society in terms of inter-religious dialogue and harmony between different communities. These useful guides aim to introduce religions through the lens of contemporary issues, illustrated throughout with examples and case studies taken from lived religion. The perfect companion for the student of religion, each guide interprets the teachings of the religion in question in a modern context and applies them to modern day scenarios.Trade Review"Primarily drawing on Muslim sources, Geaves discusses a range of contemporary issues, some contentious. Aware of Islam's diversity, he consistently avoids generalizations. Specialist and beginners alike will be interested in Geaves' contention that the West should listen to Muslim voices. Despite regrettable acts by some, he argues, most Muslims want to engage in constructive dialogue. Muslim criticism of Western materialism, social injustice and equality merits serious discussion. So does Muslim insistence that values have a place in public discourse. Geaves is equally clear that Muslims do not always translate ideals into practice. What emerges is balanced, sensitive, informed and insightful. Avoiding caricature and calumny, Geaves resists the opposite - apology for an idealized Islam. Focusing on Islam as a lived experience, Geaves is concerned with Muslim realities, not romanticized versions. I am delighted to recommend Islam Today as a positive contribution to literature on Muslim life and thought. Hopefully, it will achieve what it sets out to do - improve Muslim-non-Muslim understanding." - Professor Clinton Bennett, The State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, USATable of Contents1. Islam: the basics; 2. Islam and diversity; 3. Islam and ethics and morality: The challenge of textual interpretation; 4. Islam and Gender; 5. Islam and Fundamentalism; 6. Islam and the West; 7. Islam: the future; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisRevive Your Heart is a call for spiritual renewal and an invitation to have a conversation with one of the world’s most recognizable voices on Islam, Nouman Ali Khan.This collection of essays is disarmingly simple, yet it challenges us to change. To revise our actions, our assumptions and our beliefs so we can be transformed from within, as well as externally.It aims to help modern Muslims maintain a spiritual connection with Allah and to address the challenges facing believers today: the disunity in the Muslim community, terrorists acting in the name of Islam, and the disconnection with Allah.These challenges and more are tackled by Nouman Ali Khan, with his profound engagement with the Qur'an, in his trademark voice that is sought out by millions of Muslims on a daily basis.Trade Review"In this approachable work of tafsir (exegesis of the Qur’an), Khan (Divine Speech) wields his mastery of the Arabic language to teach about Islam on a practical, everyday level. Khan’s essays are charming and simple in their prose, and simultaneously deep in substance."—Publishers Weekly "profound explanations of disarmingly simple words and phrases is by far the book’s greatest strength, as it opens up the world of the Qur’an in a way few other sermonic texts do."—Publishers Weekly "an excellent resource for people who want to learn the actual message and the essence of Islam"—Quake Books "each chapter of the book is hugely relevant in this day and age and looks at key hurdles we’re facing in our faith, ways to overcome it and use it to strengthen us."—Reading in Between the Lines "An Instant Connection! Can I just say that it felt almost as if Nouman Ali Khan was talking to me as I read the book."—Step Inside My Handbag "will tug at your heart-strings."—Islamic Voice "If you enjoy his lectures, you will enjoy this."—AboutIslam.net "one to enjoy digesting and pondering upon."—ProductiveMuslim.com "opens up another world of detail that we, or at least I, usually miss out on . . . eye-opening"—islamwich.com "A stunning collection of spiritual lectures that are both current and thought-provoking."—Pardon My WritingsTable of ContentsPart I: Connecting to Allah through Du[a1. A Prayer for Desperate Times2. Du’a and disappointmentPart II: Creating a Cohesive Muslim Community3. Criticism4. Assumptions5. LeadershipPart III: Our Financial Dealings6. How We Earn7. Money MattersPart IV: Some Contemporary Issues8. Thoughts on Paris9. It’s a Girl!10. Nasihah in Brief: The Dangers of Listening to MusicPart V: Focusing on the Akhirah11. Putting Life in Perspective12. Small Beginnings13. Nasihah in Brief: The Afterlife

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Book SynopsisGlobal jihadism has been on policy agendas for more than two decades. Since the 9/11 attacks, both transnational jihadi entities such as Al-Qaeda and national or regional militant groups have attracted a great deal of media and scholarly attention. In recent years, policy agendas have increasingly come to include a focus on countering militant jihadi ideologies. Despite this, studies of global jihadism that take the impact of ideas seriously are at a relatively early stage and have yet to fully capture the richness of their social contexts and intellectual universes. Departing from the security studies approaches that have characterised much writing about jihadi groups, this volume aims to engage policy-makers and specialists alike by bridging existing disciplines and areas of study to create a framework for beginning to understand jihadi movements through the study of their ideologies, intellectual histories, political engagements and geographies. The contributors to the volume come from a range of academic disciplines (including history, anthropology, political science, religious studies and area studies), as well as from the worlds of diplomacy and policy research. In addition to studies of globalised contexts and ideologies, the volume also includes detailed studies of jihadi currents of thought and responses to them in Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, India, Pakistan, Egypt, South-East Asia and Europe.Trade Review'If you want to understand the origins, ideological and political worldviews of what is popularly referred to as transnational jihadism, then Jeevan Deol and Zaheer Kazmi's Contextualising Jihadi Thought is the book to read. A masterful and accessible global perspective that will be welcomed by academic experts, policymakers and students alike.' * John L. Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University and author of The Future of Islam *'This is a complex text that aims at understanding transnational jihadist networks through the study of their ideologies, intellectual histories, political engagements and geographic contexts. It includes richly detailed case studies of local militant groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, India, North Africa, South-East Asia and the UK. A breath of fresh air in a subject area dominated by narrow and simplistic commentaries, which take the ideological narratives of jihadist factions at face value.' * Fawaz A. Gerges, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, and author of The Rise and Fall of Al-Qaeda *'Jeevan Deol and Zaheer Kazmi have brought together an extremely impressive team of contributors to write one of the best available books on jihadi ideology. This is essential reading for any serious student of al-Qaida and the jihadi movement.' * Thomas Hegghammer, Director of Terrorism studies, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) *'A truly valuable contribution to the understanding of jihadi discourse and rationale, bringing into light new analysis and interpretation of these movements, in a legitimate and largely successful attempt to "de-exoticise" them.'- * Professor Jean-Pierre Filiu, Sciences Po, Paris, author, The Arab Revolution *

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Book SynopsisFrontier of Faith examines the history of Islam, especially that of local mullahs, or Muslim clerics, in the North-West Frontier, a largely autonomous zone straddling the boundary of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Haroon's book is also highly relevant to the present, given that it deals with the area said to be the hiding place of Al Qaeda and its local allies. The Tribal Areas was established as a strategic buffer zone for British India, but the impact of colonial rule was minimal. The autonomy that resulted emphasized the role and importance of the local mullahs, who jealously protected the powers they accrued to themselves. After Partition in 1947 the Tribal Areas maintained its status as an autonomous region, and for the next fifty years the mullahs contributed to armed mobilizations, in return for which nationalist actors protected their vested interest in regional freedom of manoeuvre. Thus the Frontier became the hinterland of successive, contradictory jihads in support of Pashtun ethnicism, anti-colonial nationalism, Pakistani territorialism, religious revivalism, Afghan anti-Soviet resistance, and latterly anti-Americanism. Frontier of Faith is thus essential reading for all those wishing to understand the Pakistan-Afghanistan borderlands today and the role played there by the mullahs and their allies.Trade Review'An ambitious attempt to draw on different disciplines and sources of information to illuminate the history of the tribal territories of the North West Frontier. ... a stimulating mixture of history and anthropology.' -- Dr David Page, author of Prelude to Partition: The Indian Muslims and the Imperial System of Control, 1920-1932'Haroon offers a fascinating street-level view of frontier life and politics.' -- Basharat Peer, The Nation

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Book SynopsisIn the inaugural issue of Critical Muslim: Ziauddin Sardar tries to understand the significance of what just happened in the Middle East, Robin Yassin-Kassab spends some quality time in Tahrir Square, Ashur Shamis dodges the bullets of Gaddafi's henchmen, Abdelwahab El-Affendi traces the roots of the uprisings, Anne Alexander tunes into the digital revolution, Fadia Faqir joins women protestors, Shadia Safwan asks how long could Assad last, Jamal Mahjoub contemplates futures of the Sudan, Jasmin Ramsey joins the activists in Tehran, and Jerry Ravetz ponders the significance of Ibn Khaldun to the Arab Spring. Also in this issue: Rachel Holmes visits the Palestinian Festival of Literature, S. Parvez Manzoor asks if Turkey is a good model for the Muslim world, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad is overwhelmed by leaks, Taus Makhacheva takes 'Affirmative Action', Aasia Nasir accuses Pakistan and Merryl Wyn Davies's 'last word' on Saudi women drivers. Plus a new short story from Bilal Tanweer and revolutionary poetry from Nizar Qabbani, Tawfiq Zayyad, Abul-Qasim al-Shabi, Ayat al-Qormezi and Naomi Foyle.

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Book SynopsisIn the issue of Critical Muslim: Ziauddin Sardar argues why Islamic reform is necessary, Bruce Lawrence sees Muslim cosmopolitanism as the future, Parvez Manzoor declares jihad on the idea of 'the political', Samia Rahman gets to the root of Muslim misogyny, Michael Muhammad Knight explains his taqwacore beliefs, Soha al-Jurf has problems with orthodoxy, Carool Kersten suggests that critical thinkers and reformers are often seen as heretics, and Ben Gidley on what keeps Muslims and Jews apart and what can bring them together. Also in this issue: Stuart Sim takes a sledgehammer to the 'profit motive', Andy Simons argues that Jazz is just as Muslim as it is American, Robin Yassin-Kabbab meets the new crop of Iraqi writers in Erbil, Said Adrus visits a Muslim cemetery in Woking, Ehsan Masood confesses he spent his youth reading the extremist writer Maryam Jameelah, Iftikar Malik dismisses pessimism about Pakistan, Hassan Mahamdallie explores what it means to be an American, Jerry Ravetz discovers the Arabic Maimonides, Vinay Lal assesses the legacy of Edward Said, and Merryl Wyn Davies takes a train to 9/11. Plus a brilliant new story from Aamer Hussein and four poems by the celebrated Mimi Khalvati.

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Book SynopsisIn the third issue of Critical Muslim: AbdelWahab El-Affendi on Islamophobia and Orientalism in the age of liberal paranoia, Arun Kundnani on English Defense League and the rise of the far right in Europe, Vinay Lal on Hindus who love Hitler, Gordon Steffey on Christian fundamentalism, Fanar Haddad on the sectarian schisms in the Arab world, Gary McFarlane on Tottenham Riots, Farouk Peru on self loathing Muslims, Claire Chambers on 'Four Lions', Peter Clark on Bernard Lewis and Peter Moray on Irshad Manji. Plus a short story by Suhel Ahmed, six poems by Stephane Chaumet, Anita Sethi's dangerous bus ride through Iran, Ten Top Techs for Muslim and Ziauddin Sardar on his pet hate: the beards of Islam.

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Book SynopsisZiauddin Sardar questions the question mark that is always placed in front of Pakistan, Robin Yassin-Kassab asks why Pakistan has not imploded, Taimur Khan breaks bread with the gangsters and bookies of Karachi, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad revisits Peshawar, Mahvish Ahmad tracks down the separatist in Quetta, Ehsan Masood watches Pakistani television, Merryl Wyn Davies deconstructs 'imaginariums' of Pakistan, Aamer Hussein discusses Pakistani modern classic fiction, Bina Shah asks if there is boom in Pakistani literature, Bilal Tanweer listens to 'Coke Studio', Muneeza Shamsie discovers the literary secrets of her family, Taymiya R. Zaman overcomes her fear of talking about Pakistan, Ali Maraj assesses Imran Khan, Shazia Mirza tells rude jokes in Lahore, and a fake novel by Ibn-e-Safi is spotted in Bahwalnagar. Plus a new translation of an old short story by A R Khatoon, a new story by Yasir Shah, poems by Ghalib, John Siddique and Zehra Nigah, Atia Jilani's Quranic art, photographs by Ayesha Malik, and 'Ten Things We Love About Pakistan'. About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

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Book SynopsisIn Western popular imagination, the Caliphate often conjures up an array of negative images, while rallies organised in support of resurrecting the Caliphate are treated with a mixture of apprehension and disdain, as if they were the first steps towards usurping democracy. Yet these images and perceptions have little to do with reality. While some Muslims may be nostalgic for the Caliphate, only very few today seek to make that dream come true. Yet the Caliphate can be evoked as a powerful rallying call and a symbol that draws on an imagined past and longing for reproducing or emulating it as an ideal Islamic polity. The Caliphate today is a contested concept among many actors in the Muslim world, Europe and beyond, the reinvention and imagining of which may appear puzzling to most of us. Demystifying the Caliphate sheds light on both the historical debates following the demise of the last Ottoman Caliphate and controversies surrounding recent calls to resurrect it, transcending alarmist agendas to answer fundamental questions about why the memory of the Caliphate lingers on among diverse Muslims. From London to the Caucasus, to Jakarta, Istanbul, and Baghdad, the contributors explore the concept of the Caliphate and the re-imagining of the Muslim ummah as a diverse multi-ethnic community.Trade Review'Contemporary publicity about the caliphate conceals both its historical complexity and its regional diversity. How to exhume skeletons of the past while also silencing sirens from the present? With scholarly aplomb, the dispassionate contributors of this extraordinary volume reveal the benefits, but also the limits, of the cultural capital that informs the social imaginary of multiple Muslim audiences when they evoke, or hear others evoke, the caliphate.' -- Bruce B. Lawrence, Professor of Islamic Studies Emeritus, Duke University'This is a book of exceptional scope and erudition that is nevertheless accessible and very timely. By bringing together such a wealth of regional expertise it succeeds admirably in living up to the promise of its title. More than that, these essays throw new light on the many ways in which even a mythical caliphate can exercise a powerful hold on contemporary political imaginations.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor of Middle East Politics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London'This volume is a fascinating treatment of the subject of Islamic Caliphate on which much ink has been spent, particularly in the highly charged and politicised environment of recent times in studies of global Islam.' -- Dr Zaheer Kazmi, St Antony's College, Oxford University'This collection of erudite and topical studies demonstrates that the caliphate's appeal as a symbol of Muslim unity is as enduring as it is widespread. From the Arab lands to Southeast Asia, from majority to minority Muslims, the idea has taken diverse forms and encountered inhibiting political conditions, but it retains a powerful resonance that should not be ignored.' -- James Piscatori, Durham University'This is an illuminating and timely set of essays showing how visions of a golden age have been continuously marshalled and contested, from once colonised lands across Asia, to the former Ottoman realm and, now, in the increasingly diverse west itself. While caliphs abound, it seems that global consensus on the caliphate itself is yet to emerge.' -- Michael Laffan, Professor of Southeast Asian History at Princeton University

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Book SynopsisWhile in the West 'the Caliphate' evokes overwhelmingly negative images, throughout Islamic history it has been regarded as the ideal Islamic polity. In the wake of the 'Arab Spring' and the removal of long-standing dictators in the Middle East, in which the dominant discourse appears to be one of the compatibility of Islam and democracy, reviving the Caliphate has continued to exercise the minds of its opponents and advocates. Reza Pankhurst's book contributes to our understanding of Islam in politics, the path of Islamic revival across the last century and how the popularity of the Caliphate in Muslim discourse waned and later re-emerged. Beginning with the abolition of the Caliphate, the ideas and discourse of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, al-Qaeda and other smaller groups are then examined. A comparative analysis highlights the core com- monalities as well as differences between the various movements and individuals, and suggests that as movements struggle to re-establish a polity which expresses the unity of the ummah (or global Islamic community), the Caliphate has alternatively been ignored, had its significance minimised or denied, reclaimed and promoted as a theory and symbol in different ways, yet still serves as a political ideal for many.Trade ReviewAnyone trying to understand the current happenings in the Middle East could do worse than refer to the work. What they will find is a narrative that does not use western liberal democracy as the yardstick. * Huffington Post *Reza Pankhurst describes . . . a long tradition in Islamic thought that views the Islamic State as an ideal, final fusion of religion and politics that will restore Muslim prestige. . . . As Pankhurst argues, the Western concept of liberal democracy seems to have limited appeal in Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa -- as the widespread support for Islamist parties in the elections held after the Arab Spring demonstrated. * London Review of Books *A timely consideration of how the idea of the Caliphate has animated and inspired Muslim intellectuals and activists over the past century, and how it is used by various groups today. . . . A worthwhile read. * Hurriyet Daily News *This is a learned and forcefully argued book, a must-read for those seeking to understand mobilisation for the Caliphate over the last century. -- John Chalcraft, Reader in the History and Politics of Empire, London School of Economics and Political ScienceAn authoritative blend of historical fact married with current Islamic political thought, this book offers an excellent insight on the institution of the caliphate in Islam. Gripping, extremely learned, but accessible, this book is a must-read. -- Shahrul Hussain, Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Markfield Institute of Higher Education, LeicestershireReza Pankhurst provides a unique and probing examination of modern thinking on the caliphate. ... This detailed analysis of the ways in which the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and al-Qaeda as well as smaller groups reformulate and use the concept today is both judicious and informed. It provides the most reliable guide avail- able to an idea and political symbol that holds attraction for many Sunni Muslims while inciting anxiety, even fear, among others, including many non-Muslims and Shi'a. -- Professor James Piscatori, Durham UniversityOver the course of the past decade, interest in the institution of the Caliphate has been revived among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to an extent not seen since the tumultuous 1920s. But until now, no scholar has tried to examine systematically how the Caliphate has actually animated and inspired Islamic intellectuals and activists, or how alternative conceptions of the Caliphate have been formulated and fought over. Against this backdrop, Reza Pankhurst's new book provides a carefully crafted and well documented treatment of the diverse ways in which the Caliphate has figured in the global politics of Islam over the past ninety years. Scholars and other readers interested in the possibilities for a truly transnational Islamic ummah should make sure to read this very illuminating and instructive book. -- John T. Sidel, Sir Patrick Gillam Professor of International and Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political ScienceReza Pankhurst's deftly argued, thought-provoking book addresses the significant yet neglected topic of the Islamic Caliphate, focusing on the attempts of Muslim thinkers and activists to resuscitate the institution following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920s. What stands out is the author's ability to situate the contributions of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Al-Qaeda, and other advocates of the Caliphate within the context of normative Islam, rather than weigh them against the yardstick of liberal democracy. This important book, which examines the Caliphate on its own terms, will challenge the way scholars and other observers of political Islam conceive their subject. -- John Calvert, Associate Professor of History, Creighton University and author of 'Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism'In the wake of the Arab Awakening and the sustained re-imagination of political possibilities in the Middle East, 'The Inevitable Caliphate?' is especially relevant reading. From Rabat to Riyadh Arabs have re-asserted the right to think about political alternatives, demonstrating the grassroots popularity of Islamic frameworks of legitimacy and laying the groundwork for a renewed and far-reaching conversation about Islamic governance paradigms. Ideas about the caliphate - as precedent, as social contract, as imagined community - are bound to shape and be shaped by these debates. -- Alia Brahimi, Research Officer at the University of Oxford, and Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science'The Inevitable Caliphate?' is a much-needed contribution to our understanding of the modern Caliphate as a political concept and goal. Reza Pankhurst has written a timely and useful book. It is a must-read for scholars, students and anyone who is interested in the post-1924 debate over the restoration of the Caliphate. -- Emmanuel Karagiannis, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia, Greecea refreshingly original contribution to this misunderstood subject . . . [providing] a detailed and clear-sighted description and analysis of the origins of the three major Islamic movements, their ideological development and political posturing. -- Mahan Abedin, Visiting Fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, religion.info

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Book SynopsisIn Advice for the Sultan Neguin Yavari excavates multiple, conflicting strands of Islamic political thought from the medieval past to the present, reassessing these ideas and their impact over the longue duree. Her aim is to revise our understanding of the relation- ship between modern history and the current master narratives of both Western and Islamic histories of political thought. She does this by re-examinating Islamic advice literature, bringing it to life in novel ways. Yavari argues that if read laterally and closely, it promotes secular values such as reason and moderation as the most effective safeguard against political instability and divine rebuke. Related questions raised in this book include, can Islamic political thought be folded into the discipline of intellectual history? How do we write the history of political thought when its end-product is not seen as the march of a manifest destiny, or progressive secularisation, or the promotion of liberal values, such as is the case with the Islamic world today? Is it possible to read texts for context if the values adumbrated in them do not take hold in society, or to study those that produce political communities that differ radically from those that emerged in eighteenth- and the nineteenth-century Europe?Trade ReviewThis will be an important and even path-breaking book on Muslim political thought, one that is conceptually sophisticated and rigorous in its scholarship. -- Faisal Devji, University of Oxford, author of, inter alia, Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity (Hurst)Advice for the Sultan is a startlingly fresh exploration of the interconnectedness of classical and early medieval mirrors for princes, and a subtle reconstruction of context from text, to reveal the "hidden political messages" that lie at the heart of Nizam al-Mulk's higher purpose. -- John Gurney, Wadham College, OxfordThis novel reading of the rich and complex tradition of political thought offers the intriguing experience of discovering how common values, intentions and judgments connect contemporary political horizons with the Islamic past. -- Stefan Leder, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Martin Luther University and Director of the Orient-Institut BeirutThis is an important and stimulating re-examination of the enormous range of royal Advice literature in the pre-modern Middle East. Neguin Yavari makes a convincing case for a new, nuanced contextual approach. This marks a signal contribution to the study of the history of Islamic political thought. -- Antony Black, Emeritus Professor, Politics and International Relations, University of Dundee[This] is an admirably thorough account of the [Islamicate] advice literature that the author has studied for years, but is outstanding and relevant well beyond its field in its attempts to rethink how intellectual history outside of the West should be pursued. ... Yavari ... explores the texts' rhetorical strategies to get at the thought behind them. By engaging robustly with structure and rhetoric across centuries of material, she offers a compelling portrait of a tradition of political philosophy and its forms of literary expression, providing an unprecedented synthetic analysis of what authors within this tradition were trying to convey to their readers. She strikes the right balance of historical contextualisation with rhetorical analysis, providing a model for how we might approach other pre-modern systematic disciplines such as philology, which map awkwardly onto modern academic disciplines. -- Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

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Book SynopsisAamer Hussein takes love to its logical conclusion, Robert Irwin traces the origins of the ghazal (love lyric ), Christopher Shackle recites epic Panjabi poems of sacred love and lyrical death, Imranali Panjwani mourns the massacre of Karbala, Martin Rose is taken hostage by Saddam Hussain, Jalees Rahman reflects on Nazi doctors who took delight in deathly experiments, Ramin Jehanbegloo is incarcerated in the notorious Evin prison, Hamza Elahi visits England's Muslim graveyards, Shanon Shah receives valuable guidance on love and sex from the 'Obedient Wives Club', Samia Rahman sets out in search of love, Khola Hasan has mixed feelings about her hijab, Sabita Manian promotes love between India and Pakistan, Boyd Tonkin discovers that dead outrank the living in Jerusalem , Alev Adil takes 'a night journey through a veiled self' and Irna Qureshi's mother finally makes a decision on her final resting place. Also in this issue: Parvez Manzoor throws scorn on a nihilistic, revisionist history of Islam, Naomi Foyle reads the first novel of a British Palestinian, Ahmad Khan explores the colonial history of The Aborigines' Protection Society, a short story by the famous Fahmida Riaz, Syrian scenarios by Manhal al-Sarraj, poems by Sabrina Mahfouz and Michael Wolf, Rachel Dwyer's list of Top Ten Muslim Characters in Bollywood and Merryl Wyn Davies's 'last word' on love and death at the movies.

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Book SynopsisZiauddin Sardar sides with the philosophers of al-Andalus in their struggle with orthodox theologians, Robin Yassin-Kassab goes on a poetic journey, Nazry Bahrawi reveals how the Andalusi philosophers tamed the secular, Gema Martin Munoz is dismayed by the works of the Spanish Orientalists, Emilio Gonzalez-Ferrin argues that al-Andalus is not just a time past also a time present, Matthew Carr explores the plight of Muslims who were forced to convert to Christianity, David Shasha describes the achievements of Sephardic Jews, Cherif Abderrahman Jah tunes into the musical legacy of al-Andalus, Brad Bullock seeks to empower women, Marvine Howe meets the new Muslims of Iberia, Jordi Sarra del Pino wows to resist Spain's new Reconquista, Alev Adil and Aamer Hussein receive nine postcards from Andalusia, Boyd Tonkin is captivated by a book festival in Granada, Zara Amjad and Gulzar Haider reimagine the Cordoba Mosque as a sacred space for all religions, and Merryl Wyn Davies gets the shivers while listening to the Spanish tenor Jose Carreras belting out 'Granada'. Also in this issue: Vinay Lal explores Gandhi's attitude to Palestine, Barnaby Rogerson reprimands the Muslim aversion to dogs, four poems by the enchanting Rowyda Amin, a short story by John Liechty, and a dozen luminaries of al-Andalus we should all admire.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first work available in any language to extensively document and critically discuss traditions of 'Alid piety and their modern contestations in the region. The concept of 'Alid piety allows for a reframing of our views on the widespread reverence for 'Ali, Fatima and their progeny that emphasises how such sentiments and associated practices are seen as part of broad traditions shared by many Muslims, which might or might not have their origins in a specifically Shi'a identity. In doing so, it facilitates the movement of academic discussions out from under the shadow of polemical sectarian discourses on 'Shi'ism' in Southeast Asia. The chapters include presentations of new material from previously unpublished early manuscript sources from Muslim vernacular literatures in the Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, Acehnese and Bugis languages, as well as rich new ethnography from across the region. These studies engage with cultural, intellectual, and performative traditions, as well as the ways in which 'Alid piety has been transformed in relation to more strictly sectarian identifications since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.Trade Review'This path-breaking work makes an important contribution to understanding the complexities of religion in a part of the Muslim world that is still only peripherally studied. Highlighting the intensive and extensive contacts between the Lands below the Winds and the so-called Islamic heartlands in the Middle East, this volume will advance both these fields of academic inquiry. The editors have ensured a comprehensive coverage and a welcome counternarrative to writings in Southeast Asian languages on Shi'ism which have become ideologically polarised. Against the background of growing sectarian tensions in the wider Muslim world, this book is also timely and will help map the intricacies of the relationship between Southeast Asia's Sunni and Shi'i Muslims in the past and the present.' - Carool Kersten, Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and the Muslim World at King's College London and author of Islam in Indonesia: The Contest for Society, Ideas and Values

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Book SynopsisCritical Muslim's Syria issue approaches the diversity of this rich culture as it is reborn through revolution, tortured by repression, and traumatised by war. Thomas Pierret illuminates the varying positions of Syria's Muslims and Islamists; Rasha Omran writes about being an Alawi revolutionary; Robin Yassin-Kassab investigates the revolution's artistic and cultural shifts; Firas Massouh appraises the role of workers and the left inside Syria; Louis Proyect castigates leftists in the West; Nader Attasi examines the successes of the revolutionary committees and the failures of opposition political elites; Hassan Hassan recounts the rise, fall and rise again of the Muslim Brotherhood's Syria branch; Razan Ghazzawi questions her atheism under fire; Omar Hossino presents the town of Selemmiyeh as a non-sectarian model; Ross Burns asks what's become of Syria's unparalleled archeological heritage. Plus poetry from Golan Hajji, prose from Zakkariya Tamer and Lina Sergie Attar, an appreciation of Adonis's verse, satire from Karl Sharro, and 'the story of the bra'.Trade Review'Show[s] that the voices [of Syrians] are loud and alive and cannot be silenced. Some of the depictions and accounts of the horror in Syria are by Syrians, others by people knowledgeable and involved, but - the power of human resistance to oppression stands out.' - Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisZiauddin Sardar argues that free thinkers are essential for any culture to survive and thrive; Aziz al-Azmeh outlines how Abbasid Culture established freethinking humanism; Oliver Leaman highlights the significance of the twelfth century Andalusian philosopher ibn Rushd; Ebrahim Moosa seeks meaning in the ethics of the tenth century blind poet and atheist, Al-Maarri; Robert Irwin examines the thought of the controversial Sufi Al-Hallaj; Abdelwahab El-Effendi explores the 'Second Islam' of the executed Sudanese thinker, Mohamed Taha; Aamer Hussein suggests that we need to embrace the ideas of the poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal; Eva Hoffman looks at the notion of free thought in the work of the Noble Laureate Czeslaw Milosz; Nazry Bahrawi is impressed by the 'heretical' interpretations of the Egyptian scholar Nasir Hamid Abu Zaid; Alev Adil vexes lyrical about Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet; and Johan Siebers is convinced that we need to free ourselves from all ideologies.

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Book SynopsisWahhabism is an Islamic reform movement found mainly in Saudi Arabia. Closely linked to the Saudi monarchy, it enforces a strict code of morality and conduct monitored by mutawa (religious police), and governs every facet of Saudi life according to its own strict interpretation of Shariah, including gender segregation. Wahhabism also prohibits the practice of any other faith (even other forms of Islam) in Saudi Arabia, which is also the only country that forbids women from driving. But what exactly is Wahhabism? This question had long occupied Valentine, so he lived in the Kingdom for three years, familiarising himself with its distinct interpretation of Islam. His book defines Wahhabism and Wahhabi beliefs and considers the life and teaching of Muham-mad ibn Abd'al Wahhab and the later expansion of his sect.Also discussed are the rejection of later developments in Islam such as bid'ah; harmful innovations, among them celebrating the prophet's birthday and visiting the tombs of saints; the destruction of holy sites due to the fear of idolatry; Wahhabi law, which imposes the death sentence for crimes as archaic as witch- craft and sorcery, and the connection of Wahhabism with militant Islam globally. Drawing on interviews with Saudis from all walks of life, including members of the feared mutawa, this book appraises of one of the most significant movements in contemporary Islam.Trade Review'Dr Valentine has written an arresting study that combines the curiosity of the travel writer, the tenacity of a good journalist, and the rigour of the academic ... provides not only an exhaustive account of Wahhabism's founder, history and spread, doctrines, and practices, but also communicates something of the texture of its lived reality.' -- Church Times'Valentine, a British Methodist pastor and teacher who taught in Saudi Arabia, has written a useful book about the desert kingdom ... The author explores important topics, including the mutawwa, or religious police, and provides useful historical context, discussing the origins of "Wahhabism," its alliance with the House of Saud, and the oil discoveries that changed everything.' -- The Jewish Voice'A thoughtful and comprehensive overview of Wahhabi Islam and its influence on public life in Saudi Arabia. The author's mix of analyses and anecdotes makes for an interesting and easy read ... Partly a travelogue, Force and Fanaticism also gives powerful impressions of life in the Kingdom, especially among ordinary people.' -- Middle East JournalAdmirable and comprehensive. Simon Valentine lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for three years and devoted much time and energy to mastering Wahhabi literature. He provides and invaluable guide to this history, beliefs and practices of Wahhabism. Erudite and well researched, this book -- both informative and controversial -- offers much food for thought, and self-critical reflection for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.' -- Ziauddin Sardar, author of Mecca: The Sacred City'A very useful primer on the religious and philosophical thought behind the Saudi regime which achieves a skilful blend of scholarly writing and colourful travelogue. Fascinating.' -- Christopher Davidson, author of After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies

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Book SynopsisOne of the most interesting consequences of the Arab awakening has been the central role of Salafists in a number of countries. In particular, there seems to have been a move away from traditional quietism towards an increasing degree of politicisation. The arrival on the political scene of Salafist parties in Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen, as well as the seemingly growing desire of Salafists in other Arab countries to enter institutional politics through the creation of political parties, high- lights quite clearly the debates and divisions on how to react to the awakening within Salafist circles. This book examines in detail how Salafism, both theologically and politically, is contending with the Arab uprisings across a number of countries. The focus is primarily on what kind of politicisation, if any, has taken place and what forms it has adopted. As some of the contributions make clear, politicisation does not necessarily diminish the role of jihad or the influence of quietism, revealing tensions and struggles within the complex world of Salafism.Trade Review‘This book, a first-rate appraisal of Salafism during and after the Arab Awakening, challenges stereotypical ideas, and, in so doing, stimulates much-needed debate in the study of Islam and politics . . . essential reading for policy-makers and academics.’ 'Salafism After the Arab Awakening fills a major gap by offering a comparison of Salafi politics after the Arab Spring and should certainly be read widely. Great, detailed articles from renowned scholars in the field.' * Will McCants, director of the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World at the Brookings Institution and author of 'The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State' *'Edited volumes rarely become must-reads, but this is an exception. Packed with original research by top scholars in the field, it is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of political Islam after the 2011 revolutions.' * Thomas Hegghammer, Director of terrorism research at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment in Oslo and author of 'Jihad in Saudi Arabia' *'This hugely important study of Salafism, which considers how the tradition has reacted and responded to the tumultuous events of recent years, could hardly be more timely. By surveying the different constructions of contemporary Salafism, readers are left with a rich overview of how this unique and opaque religious tradition continues to evolve. Cavatorta and Merone have also assembled a formidable stable of contributors, making this work an essential reference for anyone interested in modern Salafism.' * Shiraz Maher, author of 'Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea' *'This volume brings together the leading international scholars on Salafism and its intersection with Jihadi ideology and political movements. It will certainly be an indispensable reference for anyone interested in these issues, book-ending Roel Meijer's pre-Arab Spring Global Salafism volume.' * Jonathan AC Brown, Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown University and author of 'Misquoting Muhammad' *

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Book SynopsisHassan Mahamdallie argues that racism is twenty-first century's main problem, Shannon Shah detects racial overtones within Islam, Robert Irwin examines race and racism in the Arabian Nights, Hugh Kennedy uncovers the ninth century Zanj slave uprisings, Sejad Mekic looks for signs of hope in Bosnia, Sadiyya Shaikh explores religious imaginaries of ibn Arabi, Avaes Mohammad evokes parallel lives in Blackburn, Gary MacFarlane revisits the Christian fundamentalism of abolitionist John Brown, Ziauddin Sardar has unsavoury encounters in Saudi Arabia, and Naima Khan accuses South Asian Muslims of looking down on Africans. Also in this issue: Ruth Waterman's photographs of Bosnia, an epic poem on Bhopal, poetry by Dorothea Smartt, a short story by Aiysha Jahan, race relations in Trinidad and our list of ten political organisations that promote Islamophobia.

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Book SynopsisZiauddin Sardar explores the limits of power, Barnaby Rogerson is enchanted with the notion of governance in the life of Prophet Muhammad, Bruce Lawrence deconstructs the idea of AoIslamic State', Kecia Ali surveys sexual politics of Muslim groups, Abdelwahab El-Efendi travels to AoLondonistan', Ehsan Masood is awe struck with the power of military/business complex, Mohamed Bakari get involved with the struggle for power in Turkey, and Boyd Tonkin highlights the power of words. Also in this issue: Nader Hashemi on the geo-politics of the 'Arab Spring', Aamer Hussain reads the fiction of the Turkish Sufi novelist Samiha Ayverdi, poems, short story, and our list of ten most powerful women in Islam.

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Book SynopsisSamia Rahman argues there is more to the Muslim world than extremism, Anne Alexander wonders at the rise and rise of ISIS, John Sweeney suggests we are living in an age of extremes, Raza Ali struggles with reactionary love for the Prophet, Andrew Brown takes a sledge hammer to the New Atheists, Elma Bahira learns to talk to idolatrous statues, Deena Dajani examines the ironies of a rational defence of satire, Sunny Hundal exposes the fanatics hijacking Sikhism, Benedikt Koehler thinks early Islam gave birth to capitalism that spawned wealth inequality, Farouk Peru asks Muslims to confront the enemy within, Samir Younes is appalled at the ubiquity of mean thought in the arts, Rahul Jayaram relates the story of the man who hid in an aeroplane bathroom, and Naufal Mukumi recounts his journey from unaccompanied refugee to renowned pianist.

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Book SynopsisHassan Mahamdallie walks the streets of Detroit - the city America allowed to die, Ziauddin Sardar visits the 'first city' at the crossroads of Asia, Boyd Tonkin is shocked at the new gleaming cultural capitals of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Robert Irwin unearths Basra during the Abbasid period, Kevin Ovenden looks at modern-day Athens in turmoil, Judy Cox sees London through the visions of William Blake and Nazry Bahrawi takes in the nostalgia and popular culture of Singapore. Also in this issue past and present explorations of Lahore, Melbourne, Istanbul, a photo essay on the dreams of the migrant workers of the Gulf and the last word column by Myriam Francois-Cerrah.

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Book SynopsisThe military victories of ISIS have overturned the geopolitical map of the Middle East. Media attention has focused on ISIS' savage treatment of its enemies and its ability to attract foreign fighters. However, in order to explain its success, a dispassionate account of its innovations in insurgency, ideology and governance is needed. The first effort to build an 'Islamic state' in Iraq was defeated by US and Iraqi forces in 2011. That the second attempt, dating from 2014, has been more successful calls for explanation. Hashim argues that by focusing their ideology first and foremost on extreme anti-Shia sectarianism -- rather than on Western 'infidels' -- ISIS' founders were able to present themselves as the saviours of what they saw as the embattled Sunni 'nation' in Iraq. This enabled them to win the support of Sunni communities. Moreover, ISIS' stunning ability to take major cities is a result of its innovative tactics. It sows terror in advance of its attacks by using targeted assassinations to kill key city leaders, and its decentralised regional command structure facilitates an unusual degree of coordination between small assault units. Meanwhile, it is making a serious effort to engage in state-building and population control.Trade Review'Pulling together speeches, other documents, and first-hand journalistic accounts, Hashim describes in detail the genesis of the group in Iraq ... assembl[ing] interesting statistics on how they governed.' -- The New York Review of Books'This a powerful account of the unique circumstances that bred and nurtured ISIS. Using primary sources and deep personal experience, Ahmed S. Hashim has brilliantly explained the ideology, organisation, war-fighting, and state-building enterprises of ISIS. I believe his book will become the definitive source on the ISIS group’s creation, evolution, and the Iraqi experience and personalities that differentiate it from other jihadist groups.' -- Michael W. S. Ryan, Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, and author of 'Decoding Al-Qaeda’s Strategy: The Deep Battle against America''Ahmed Hashim continues to produce timely and profound insights on the landscapes of global terror. The Caliphate at War is essential reading on the genesis, structure and operations of ISIS, the most violent and destructive of all the contemporary jihadist movements.' -- Ali Allawi, author, 'The Occupation of Iraq' and Minister of Trade, Defence and Finance, Iraq, 2003-2006'Ahmed Hashim has written a detailed and coherent account of the origins of the Islamic State and the reasons for its rise and fall. This is an excellent book for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the divisions in Iraqi society and why they will continue to foster such movements, even following the demise of the Caliphate.' -- Richard Barrett CMG OBE, former Director of Global Counter Terrorism Operations for the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)'Pulling together speeches, other documents, and firsthand journalistic accounts, Hashim describes in detail the genesis of IS in Iraq, including the rift between the upstart caliphate and al-Qaeda, the first global jihadist movement.' -- New York Review of Books

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Book SynopsisShanon Shah investigates the connections between geography and identity; Jasper M. Trautsch explains the invention of the West; Nazry Bahrawi asks if the collapse of Western civilisation is imminent; Gordon Blaine Steffey explores what a post- Western world might look like; Natasha Ezrow analyses US imperialism in Latin America; Elma Berisha compares Europe with Southeast Asia; Jalal Afhim explores the emergence of China; Shiv Visvanathan problematises the rise of India; Julia Sveshnikova critiques Russia's supposed comeback; Michael Perez is proud to be American, Muslim, male and feminist; Sughra Ahmed argues that young British Muslims carve their identities out of Britain's tradition of dissent; Amir Hussain suggests that Islam is a Western religion after all; Julian Bond and Fatimah Ashrif celebrate Christian-Muslim friendship; and Samia Rahman relates the remarkable story of an Uzbek pianist in London. About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

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Book SynopsisAfter formally announcing his conversion to Islam in the late 1880s, the Liverpool lawyer William Henry Abdullah Quilliam publicly propagated his new faith and established the first community of Muslim converts in Victorian Britain. Despite decades of relative obscurity following his death, with the resurgence of interest in Muslim heritage in the West since 9/11 Quilliam has achieved iconic status in Britain and beyond as a pivotal figure in the history of Western Islam and Muslim-Christian relations. In this timely book, leading experts of the religion, history and politics of Islam offer new perspectives and shed fresh light on Quilliam's life and work. Through a series of original essays, the authors critically examine Quilliam's influences, philosophy and outlook, the significance of his work for Islam, his position in the Muslim world and his legacy. Collectively, the authors ask pertinent questions about how conversion to Islam was viewed and received historically, and how a zealous convert like Quilliam negotiated his religious and national identities and sought to indigenise Islam in a non- Muslim country. Jamie Gilham is Honorary Research Associate in the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is the author of Loyal Enemies: British Converts to Islam, 1850-1950.Trade Review'Victorian Muslim is an admirable work of collective scholarship, for its multiplicity of voices is entirely suitable to the slow exploration of Quilliam, a man for our times.'‘"Victorian Muslim" [asks] questions such as: how did Britons receive Quilliam, did Quilliam subvert or follow Victorian norms, and what effect did British imperialism have on his Islamic mission? These are engaging and fruitful questions that have produced excellent works. This collection of essays is among the best.' -- ReOrient‘This book reflects the rich and rewarding outcomes that arise when two established scholars – building on their earlier research – go on to assemble a group of eminent and authoritative scholars who write about a subject – or rather a person – of both historic and contemporary significance. This accomplished project has resulted in an illuminating and masterful volume that makes an important contribution to the study of Muslims in Britain, past and present.’ -- Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Islam-UK Centre, Cardiff University‘This is a timely collection of essays exploring the life and legacy of the Victorian British Muslim, Abdullah (William) Quilliam. In these essays, historical analyses and contemporary concerns coalesce to inform discussion about the compatibility of Islam and British values and traditions. The volume resists offering easy answers or minimizing the complexities involved in the current debate on pluralism, belonging and identity.’ -- Clinton Bennett, State University of New York at New Paltz, and author of 'Victorian Images of Islam'

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Book SynopsisA perennial frontier for Islamic orthodoxy, Bangladesh is witnessing an alarming rise in Islamist-inspired assassinations and terrorist attacks. In July 2016, the world's attention fell upon a café in a leafy Dhaka neighbourhood as the barbarity of a distant 'Caliphate' was visited on this corner of South Asia. Twenty-nine died in the assault on the Holey Bakery, affixing an unbidden nightmare to the image of a supposedly tolerant Muslim nation. Joseph Allchin probes Bangladesh's recent and distant past as he investigates how it has become the latest front in world extremism. Delving into the local and global differences between political actors, he exposes the continued influence of the country's independence struggle on today's allegiances, and scrutinises the careers of two long-term rivals: current prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and Khaleda Zia, who held the office in 1991-6 and 2001-6. This unerring investigation examines the relationship between radical Islam and the Bangladeshi political class, laying bare the extremist forces that bedevil the country's present and future.Trade Review‘An important contribution on an under-explored topic [which] must be recommended for all south Asia watchers and observers of Islamist militancy the world over.’ -- International Affairs‘["Many Rivers, One Sea"] displays an acute understanding of the sources, evolution and growth of Islamist politics in Bangladesh over the course of the past several decades … telling anecdotes combined with an attention to historical detail make Allchin’s book a truly compelling read.’ -- India Today‘[Allchin] lays out in vivid, if not bloody, detail, the persistence in contemporary Bangladesh of violent extremism in the name of Islam. He has produced one of the best compilations of terror in Bangladesh in English and between two covers.’ -- South Asia Journal‘This is a remarkable book … a notable contribution to the literature on Islamic extremism.’ -- Asian Affairs Journal‘Allchin’s grippingly written account of the rise and modus operandi of [Bangladeshi] militant movements is sobering, and will add to the political challenges the country faces.’ -- Survival: Global Politics and Strategy'Combining an investigative reporter's probing eyes and an academic's rigour, Allchin goes behind the scenes of ongoing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, contextualising events within the domestic, regional and global political trends in a manner seldom found in media coverage and public discourse. A compelling and captivating narrative.' -- Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor of Politics and Government, Illinois State University'A penetrating look at the background behind Bangladesh's explosion of Islamist violence, by a journalist who knows the country better than his peers do. Essential reading for students of South Asian extremism.' -- Ellen Barry, Chief International Correspondent, The New York Times'An original and thought-provoking book. Drawing on his long and unique relationship with the country, Allchin digs deep beneath surface understandings to explore the complex factors behind Bangladesh's changing faces.' -- David Lewis, Professor of Social Policy and Development, LSE

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Book SynopsisThis issue of Critical Muslim focuses on Bangladesh, with articles exploring its history, culture, politics and future trajectories. There will be essays on female victims of the War of Independence, progressive Bangladeshi Muslim intellectuals, women in politics, the rise of extremist groups, the impact of climate change on the country, stories of those who struggle on the margins, the role of artists in times of panic, and the joys of singing and dancing in Bengali. Plus the best of contemporary Bangladeshi short fiction and poetry.

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Book SynopsisThe rise of populism in the US and Europe is the focus of this issue of Critical Muslim. It will explore issues and trends that led to Brexit and the emergence of President Trump. There will be essays on American populism, the emergence of far right movements in France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, the impact of rising Islamophobia on Muslim communities in the US and Europe, the characteristics of charismatic leaders, the skills of demagoguery, fake and not-so-fake news, populist Muslim preachers, and the representation of 'white trash' in films. Plus reviews, fiction, poetry and our list of top ten demagogues.

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Book SynopsisWith the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, a major turning point in all former Soviet republics, Central Asian and Caucasian countries began to reflect on their history and identities. As a consequence of their opening up to the global exchange of ideas, various strains of Islam and trends in Islamic thought have nourished the Islamic revival that had already started in the context of glasnost and perestroika -- from Turkey, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and from the Indian subcontinent; the four regions with strong ties to Central Asian and Caucasian Islam in the years before Soviet occupation. Bayram Balci seeks to analyse how these new Islamic influences have reached local societies and how they have interacted with pre-existing religious belief and practice. Combining exceptional erudition with rare first-hand research, Balci’s book provides a sophisticated account of both the internal dynamics and external influences in the evolution of Islam in the region.Trade Review‘[Islam in Central Asia and the Caucasus Since the Fall of the Soviet Union] is an ambitious yet concise account of the evolution of Islam in the Muslim-majority former Soviet republics, namely the five Central Asian states and Azerbaijan. … [the book is] a valuable resource for both students and scholars of the region.’ -- Europe-Asia Studies'An important contribution to the field of contemporary Islamic studies in this region.' -- Reading Religion'A sophisticated account of the evolution of Islam in Central Asia and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Balci's nuanced analysis reveals a region marked by great diversity and innovativeness.' -- Adeeb Khalid * Professor of Asian Studies and History, Carleton College *'Sheds new light on little-known but powerful movements, namely Saudi and Indian Wahhabism, Tablighi Jamaat and the Gülen movement.' -- Thierry Zarcone

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Book SynopsisWhat are values and how do we define them? Are there specific Islamic values? Do universal core values exist? How do we pass on appropriate values to future generations? This issue of Critical Muslim tackles these questions, with contributions from Rowan Williams, Kabir Helminski, Jeremy Henzell-Thomas, Charles Butterworth, Boyd Tonkin, Alex Moore, Mohammed Hashas and others.

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