Islam Books

Book SynopsisThis text provides a detailed historical study of Islam under post-war Soviet Communism. Yaacov Ro'i describes and analyzes all aspects of Islam which relate to the Soviet domestic scene, with the purpose of demonstrating how and why it survived in the face of Soviet repression and secularization. The first part of the book deals with establishment Islam - the four spiritual directorates, the registered prayer houses and religious personnel. The second focuses on unofficial Islam: those groups and personnel which operated without any official registration. The third section surveys the Islamic practice and observation of fasts, festivals and rites of passage. The final part of the volume is devoted to the political - regime policy, its implementation in different regions, and the implications of Islam's survival for the national consciousness of Muslim ethnicities.Table of ContentsPart 1 The setting: Soviet religious policy and legislation; the dimensions of Islam. Part 2 The Establishment of Islam: the spiritual directorates; the registered mosques and clergy. Part 3 Unofficial "Parallel" Islam: the unregistered groups and clergy; the sects and brotherhoods. Part 4 The social aspect - the practise of Islam: the Muslim religious movement; rites and rituals - the collective dimension; rites and rituals - the family and individual. Part 5 Islam and the regime: official policy; the local organs of government; Islam and nationalism.

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Book SynopsisDespite its centrality to the political life of India and Pakistan, the few reliable works of history that have appeared on Kashmir insist ahistorically on the existence of a unique Kashmir cultural identity. This text questions the notion of any transcendent cultural uniqueness and "Kashmiriyat".Trade Review'Languages of Belonging is a quantum leap forward in Kashmir studies and will make one of the best histories of A"regionalA" identities and economies in India yet produced.' -Professor C.A. Bayly, Cambridge University

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Book SynopsisIn his seminal work "The Clash of Civilisations", Harvard professor Samuel P. Huntington claimed that conflict between cultural blocs, or civilizations, will dominate the future. More controversially, he predicted that future conflicts will occur on the borders between Western and Islamic civilisations. The statements of Osama Bin-Laden seem to support his views: 'This battle is not between al-Qaeda and the US,' he said in October 2001. 'This is a battle of Muslims against the Global Crusaders. 'This specially commissioned set of essays sets out critically to examine the border zones of Islamic civilisation, be they geographical, cultural or virtual. The contributors explore the local dynamics in these zones to test whether or not they support or contradict Huntingdon's thesis of an emerging global confrontation between Islamic civilisation and its neighbours, be they Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or godless.Among the borders discussed are those where Muslims are the majority (Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Somalia,Pakistan, Turkey), those with very large Muslim minorities (Philippines, Nigeria, India) and those where new faultlines have been created, either through migration (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain) or technology (the internet). A commonthread running through the book is whether the rise of international Salafi jihadism can be traced to countries on the faultline between Islam and the non-Islamic world. The contributors conclude by arguing that many of the border regions of Islamic civilisation are influenced by mechanisms far more complex than those highlighted in "The Clash of Civilisations", suggesting that poverty and institutional failure, both often the result of war, tend to heighten religious awareness and practice, but that the effects of these phenomena differ from those suggested by Huntington.Trade ReviewUsing Samuel Huntington's thesis as a springboard for each chapter the volume has unity and consistency that is rare in an edited volume. . . Of particular insight is the section on Islam in Africa--too often an ignored continent in general books on political Islam. The chapter by Elena Arigita is also noteworthy, bringing together Spain's Islamic past with the security-conscious present. * International Affairs *

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Book SynopsisFrom the early nineteenth century onwards the Nizari Ismailis were transformed from a minor and obscure sect surrounded by ill-informed historical legend, into a small but highly organised temporal and religious movement with global political and economic influence. Much of this remarkable change in fortune can be traced to the hitherto little known diplomatic interaction between the British Empire, and later the British Commonwealth, and the Nizari Ismailis, from 1839 to 1969.Marc van Grondelle's book, based on painstaking archival research, examines the processes and interactions which led to the modernisation and successful co-optation by the British government of this comparatively small branch of Shi'a Islam. The author poses several key questions regarding the wider developing relationship between movements in contemporary Islam and 'The West'. In these increasingly polarised times, his discussion of the effective co-optation of a Muslim group to the mutual benefit of both the former and British foreign and colonial policy is timely and suggestive. He investigates the processes and actions that shaped the Ismails' relationship with London, and the social and political conditions that shaped this realignment.Trade Review'In the course of an earlier research project Marc van Grondelle stumbled upon a variety of archival sources concerning the relationship between the British Government and the Agha Khans,the leaders of the Ismaili movement. Perhaps these archives are not complete; perhaps parts of them are still secret. Nevertheless they are of great importance to Islamic scholarship-if only because it is not to be excluded that similar archives with similar material about other Islamic movements exist, in London, Washington and elsewhere. If so, such material has to be exploited as soon as possible. A... Readers of this book will get a surprisingly frank view of the inner workings of the former British imperial bureaucracy, and, even more important, they will be rewarded with a number of unexpected insights into how to conduct diplomacy when relations with potentially disruptive religious movements are at stake. Van Grondelle has made an important contribution to Islamography.' * Johannes J.G.Jansen, Houtsma Professor of Islamic Thought, University of Utrecht *

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Book SynopsisWashington Irving was the first American man of letters to receive international recognition. He in fact spent almost a third of his life in Europe, including several years in Spain attached to the American Legation. He travelled about that country from 1826-9, working in the libraries of Madrid and Seville, and for a time living in the Alhambra. From these studies Irving compiles a vast store of information concerning the dominance of the Moors in Spain, and also prepared extensive notes dealing with the foundation of the Islamic faith.Twenty years passed before Irving was able to collate all his writings into a single body of work. The resultant Mahomet and His Successors, published in two volumes in 1849-50, was well received in both America and Europe, providing as it did an excellent introductory study of the life of the Prophet and the founding of Islam.The work remains of interest to the general reader and will now also attract the student of Islamic historical literature for whom this republished work, in facsimile of the 1868 edition, will be especially welcome.

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Book SynopsisReinhart Dozy was born at Leyden in the Netherlands in 1820 and at an early age showed a great thirst for knowledge couple with a precocious scholarly acumen. At the age of twenty-five he published his first book, a lexico-geographical work on Arab dress, thereafter devoting his life largely to the study of the Arabic language and Arabian history, visiting the major libraries of Europe and discovering many forgotten texts. Moslems in Spain is the culmination of this exhaustive research and it is still held to be a standard authority on the history of Moorish dominance in Spain.First published in 1861 as Histoire de Musulmans d-Espagne, this work remains for many years untranslated despite its undoubted importance. This edition, translated by Francis Griffin Stokes and first published in 1913, is here republished in facsimile complete with annotations and a biographical introduction.

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Book SynopsisThis work is a highly readable introduction to Shaykh Mufid, the leading Shi'i scholar of his time, and it examines his contributions in the fields of jurisprudence, theology, and sacred history in clear and straightforward language.Trade Review"The series combines academic rigour and accuracy with jargon-free language. The book mades fascinating reading and helps to better understand the differences between Sunni and Imami theology and jurisprudence." * Islam and Christianity *Table of ContentsPreface 1 INTRODUCTION The Sunni–Shi‘i Divide Imami Shi‘ism: an Outline of Main Developments 2 THE TIMES AND CAREER OF MUFID The Buyids Imamism under the Buyids Other Religious Groups The Career of Mufid 3 THE IMAMATE: THE HISTORICAL ARGUMENTS The Mainstream Historical Tradition The Imamate of ‘Ali The Other Imams 4 THE IMAMATE: THE RATIONAL ARGUMENTS The Necessity of the Imamate The Imams’ Infallibility The Imams’ Knowledge The Imams and the Qur’an The Imams’ Miracles The Imams after Death Unacceptable Exaggeration The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam 5 THEOLOGY Mu‘tazili Theology Sunni Theology Early Imamism between Reason and Revelation Mufid and the Role of Reason The Dogmas of Imamism 6 JURISPRUDENCE The Principles of Imami Jurisprudence The Jurist as Deputy of the Imam Ritual Practices and Laws Specific to Imamism: Emblems of Communal Identity 7 CONCLUSION Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisFazlallah Astarabadi was a 14th-century Islamic religious leader who believed that the world was about to come to an end. This book is the first comprehensive study of Astarabadi's life and thought and also offer a history of his movement. It emphasizes the diversity of medieval Islam by describing an apocalyptic movement founded on the idea that the cosmos contains embedded secrets that become manifest through extraordinary human beings.Trade Review"This is an excellent introduction" * International Journal of Middle East Studies *Table of ContentsPreface 1 EARLY LIFE Birth and Childhood Religious Wandering Dreams in Khwarazm Sabzavar The Rise to Social Prominence 2 ENLIGHTENMENT Marriage Dream Interpretation in Tabriz Enlightenment Accepting the Mission Political Ambitions 3 DEATH Timur-i Lang Arrest Last Will and Testament Execution 4 COSMOS AND HUMANITY The Macrocosm The Microcosm Cosmic Time 5 APOCALYPSE, LANGUAGE, AND SALVATION Religious Linguistics The Science of Letters From Arabic to Persian Operations on Letters Letters and Physical Reality Abbreviations and New Characters The Wages of Apocalypticism 6 SHRINE AND SUCCESSORS The Shrine A Split Community The Second Coming Major Disciples Attack on Mirza Shahrukh (1427) Uprisings in Isfahan and Tabriz Attempt to Convert the Ottoman Mehmet the Conqueror Summary 7 LEGACY Iran India The Ottoman Empire Modern Interpretations Orhan Pamuk’s The Black Book APPENDIX: Hurufi Literature Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThis accessible biography treats al-Ma'mum (786-833) as the product of his age, which was a formative period in the development of Islamic law and theology. It presents him in his many facets: rebel, rationalist, scientist, poet, politician, warrior, inquisitor, and self-proclaimed defender of the faith. Drawing on contemporary sources, some friendly and others hostile, it offers a comprehensive portrait of a fascinating figure in Islamic history.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements 1 INTRODUCTION Al-Ma’mun Attacks the Pyramid The Scholar-Caliph The World Inherited by Islam Muslims: A Divided Minority The Coming of the Abbasids The Problem of the Sources 2 EDUCATION Parents, Step-parents and Foster Parents Topography and Domestic Space Elementary Education Grammar Poetry History and Hadith Learning to Think The Legacy of Iran The Question of the Law An Inscrutable Personality? 3 THE FIRST SUCCESSION CRISIS The Succession to al-Rashid Al-Ma’mun Left in the Lurch A New Force in Khurasan The Civil War The Siege of Baghdad The Death of al-Amin and the Crisis of Legitimacy 4 THE SECOND SUCCESSION CRISIS Al-Rida’s Claim to the Imamate The End of the World? An Appeal to Iranian Muslims? The Proto-Sunni Response A Reversal of Policy? Al-Ma’mun’s Return to Baghdad Al-Ma’mun’s Later pro-Alid Policies Later Shiite Responses The Pilgrimage to Mashhad 5 SCIENCE AND RATIONALISM The Ancient Scientific Legacy The Translation Movement Measuring the Earth Greek Medicine in Baghdad The Book of Ingenious Devices Breakthroughs in Mathematics The Map of the World Hostility to the Literalists 6 DEFENDER OF THE FAITH Recentralization and the New Military The Byzantine Campaigns The Dome of the Rock Provoking the Literalists The Inquisition The Scholars Resist The Death of al-Ma’mun The Inquisition After al-Ma’mun The Historical Significance of the Inquisition Epilogue Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this pioneering biography, Christopher Melchert examines the forefather of the fourth of the four principal Sunni schools of jurisprudence, the Hanbali. Upholding the view that the Qur’an was uncreated and the direct word of God, Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780-855) thought that the holy text should be read literally, rejecting any possibility for metaphorical or revisionist interpretation. Showing that even in his own lifetime, ibn Hanbal’s followers were revising his doctrines in favour of a more commodious Islam, Melchert assesses the importance of ibn Hanbal’s teachings and analyses their relevance in modern Sunni Islam.Table of ContentsIntroduction CHAPTER 1: LIFE Religious knowledge Family man Ahmad’s character The Inquisition The end CHAPTER 2: HADITH The character of hadith The age for collecting hadith Writing down hadith Ahmad’s quest for hadith The Musnad Hadith criticism CHAPTER 3: LAW The spectrum of opinion in the ninth century Hanbali literature Ahmad’s jurisprudence The Hanbali school of law CHAPTER 4: CORRECT BELIEF Who is in, who is out? What Ahmad believed Rejected theological parties Politics Ahmad the fundamentalist? Sunni theology after Ahmad CHAPTER 5: PIETY Ahmad and the renunciant tradition An ideal within the range of most men Ahmad’s practice CONCLUSION Bibliography Suggestions for further reading

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Book SynopsisAshraf `Ali Thanawi (1863-1943) was one of the most prominent religious scholars in Islamic history. Author of over a thousand books on different aspects of Islam, his work sought to defend the Islamic scholarly tradition and to articulate its authority in an age of momentous religious and political change. In this authoritative biography, Muhammad Qasim Zaman offers a comprehensive and highly accessible account of Thanawi’s multifaceted career and thought, whilst also providing a valuable introduction to Islam in modern South Asia.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments A Note on Transliteration, Abbreviations, and Other Conventions INTRODUCTION Contestation in the religious sphere Contrasting trajectories 1 LIFE The intellectual milieu of Deoband A madrasa career A spiritual crisis? At the Sufi lodge The Khanaqah’s scholars Overlapping communities 2 MUSLIM NATIONHOOD Indian politics in the early twentieth century Thanawi and the Khilafat Movement Muslim separatism in India The prophet and the king 3 COLONIAL LAW Apostasy in British India The Consummate Stratagem The fight against custom Conflicting authorities 4 SUFISM IN A TIME OF CHANGE The Sufi and the jurist The rhetoric of reconciliation Ambiguity and flexibility Training the wayfarer A shared language 5 THE AMBIGUITIES OF A LEGACY Sufism Law Politics Thanawi and the Deobandi scholarly tradition Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSHAH ʻABBAS (1571–1629) is the most well-known king of Iran’s Safavid dynasty (1501–1722), ruling at the height of its power and prestige. When Shah ‘Abbas came to power his country was in chaos. Yet within eleven years he had regained territory lost to his enemies, moved his capital city and begun a transformation of Iranian society. Few aspects of life were unaffected by his policies and the new capital he built, the spectacular Isfahan, is still referred to as nisf-i jahan, or “half the world”, by Iranians today. In this wide-ranging profile, Sholeh A. Quinn explores Shah ʻAbbas’s rise to power and his subsequent interactions with religious movements and artistic developments, reaching beyond the historical narrative to assess the true impact of the man and his politics. Thought provoking and comprehensive, this account is ideal for readers interested in uncovering the life and thoughts of a man who ruled during a period described by many as a golden age for the arts in Iran.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Abbreviations 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The Safavids: the Sufi Order From Sufi Order to Ruling Dynasty After Isma‘il Qizilbash Culture and Society Imposing Shi‘ism Early Notions of Legitimacy, Power, and Authority Iran and the World: a Brief Overview 2 EARLY YEARS: 1571–1598 The Immediate Context: The Reigns of Shah Isma‘il II and Muhammad Khudabanda The Birth of Shah ‘Abbas First Attempts to Place ‘Abbas Mirza on the Throne ‘Abbas Mirza’s Second Enthronement Shah ‘Abbas in Power Shah ‘Abbas and the Qizilbash External Challenges: the Ottoman Truce External Challenges: Relations with the Mughals Gilan and Mazandaran The New Ghulam Army Shah ‘Abbas and the Sufi Orders Suppression of Religious Heresies: the Nuqtavis Shah ‘Abbas’s Temporary Dethronement Shah ‘Abbas and Political Legitimacy Shah ‘Abbas as “The Supreme Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction” 3 BUILDING HALF THE WORLD: 1598–1612 The Image of the World Square The King’s Palace The Royal Mosque The Shaykh Lutf Allah Mosque The Royal Bazaar Endowments Social Transformations: the Armenians and New Julfa Social Transformations: the Safavid Household in Isfahan General Economic Policies and Measures Shah ‘Abbas in Isfahan 4 RELIGION AND POWER IN ISFAHAN The Pilgrimage on Foot to Mashhad Shah ‘Abbas and the ‘Amili Clergy Systematizing Orthodox Shi‘ism: Shaykh Baha’i The Friday Prayer Controversy The School of Isfahan Shah ‘Abbas and Christianity Religion and Kingship 5 FROM HALF THE WORLD TO THE OTHER HALF: WARFARE AND DIPLOMACY Firearms The Battle for Khurasan: Shah ‘Abbas and the Uzbeks Narrating the Campaign The Battle against the Uzbeks Shah ‘Abbas’s European Diplomacy The Anti-Ottoman Alliance Diverting the Flow of Silk Travelers to the Shah The Western Front: Shah ‘Abbas and the Ottomans 6 THE ARTS IN THE SERVICE OF KINGSHIP New Artistic Styles A New Visual Identity Calligraphers and Painters Sadiqi Beg Afshar ‘Ali Riza ‘Abbasi Mir ‘Imad Riza-yi ‘Abbasi The Arts in Diplomacy and Gift-Giving The Embassy of Khan ‘Alam The Pierport Morgan Picture Bible Internal Gift-Giving 7 THE FINAL PHASE: 1612–1629 Ashraf and Farahabad Campaigns to Georgia The Royal Export Silk Monopoly Victory in Hormuz The Taking of Qandahar The Taking of Baghdad Succession to the Throne Shah ‘Abbas’s Death Succession and Funeral Conclusions Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisHasan al-Banna (1906 – 1949) was an Egyptian political reformer, best known for establishing the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organisation which today has millions of members and spans the Arab world. Through his ardent struggle to revitalise Islamic values amid increasing Westernisation, al-Banna promoted Islamic charity and personal piety throughout Egypt, becoming a powerful political force until his mysterious assassination. In this well written and impartial biography, Krämer gives a detailed account of al-Banna’s life and work.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 FAMILY BACKGROUND, EDUCATION AND EARLY CAREER Rural Piety Early Education Encountering Sufism At Dar al-‘Ulum The Impact of the Capital 2 THE SOCIETY OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERS: 1928–38 Planting the Seed in Isma‘iliyya Contestation and Suspicion The Move to Cairo Building a Base Recruitment and Activities 3 ENTERING THE POLITICAL STAGE: 1938–49 Looking Beyond Egypt Going Political at Home Preparing for Jihad: Rovers and Battalions Patrons without Clients? The Muslim Brothers, the Palace and Party Politics The Second World War and its Aftermath Post-War Growth and Expansion The Special Apparatus Breakdown: 1948–9 4 HASAN AL-BANNA: THE PIVOT OF HIS UNIVERSE Between Shaykh and Efendi: a Social Profile Islam Applied: an Intellectual Profile What Went Wrong? The Means of Change On Unity and Community Islam as a System A Moral Order, or Creating New Islamic Man The Virtuous City A Moral Economy A Charismatic Community? Concluding Remarks Endnotes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Abduh (1849-1905) is widely regarded as the founder of Islamic modernism. Egyptian jurist, religious scholar and political activist, he sought to synthesise Western and Islamic cultural values. Arguing that Islam is essentially rational and fluid, Abduh maintained that it had been stifled by the rigid structures implemented in the generations since Muhammad and his immediate followers. In this absorbing biography, Mark Sedgwick examines whether Abduh revived true Islam or instigated its corruption.Table of ContentsPreface 1 THE STUDENT Tanta Cairo Afghani Graduation 2 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS Muhammad Abduh’s Teaching Politics Freemasonry The Opposition Press Intervention Defeat 3 URABI AND EXILE Muhammad Abduh the Editor Muhammad Abduh and Urabi Triumph and Renewed Defeat Exile Afghani, Muhammad Abduh and Islam To Paris 4 PARIS Muhammad Abduh and Wilfrid Blunt Al-Urwa al-wuthqa 5 BEIRUT The Break with Afghani In Search of an Occupation Risalat al-Tawhid 6 THE RETURN TO EGYPT The National Courts The Azhar Council Appointment as Mufti Law Reform 7 THE MUFTI The Azhar Lectures Newspapers Education 8 THE FATWAS Financial Fatwas The Transvaal Fatwa Muhammad Abduh’s Methodology Muhammad Abduh’s Intentions 9 ADVERSITY Opposition in the Press Deteriorating Relations with the Khedive Reactions to the Transvaal Fatwa Resignation Death The Enemy of God? 10 THE AFTERMATH Public Life Islam Views on Muhammad Abduh Conclusion Glossary Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this unique look at a key figure in the ‘Islamic enlightenment’, Samer Akkach examines the life and works of ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi (1641-1731). Often characterized solely as a Sufi saint, his thought and teachings were of a much wider remit, and symptomatic of a growing rationalism among Islamic scholars during his lifetime. Through a fresh reading of his large body of mostly unpublished works, Akkach argues that ‘Abd al-Ghani helped to herald the beginning of modernity in the Arab world.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION Unresolved Dilemma Approach PART I HIS LIFE: A VIEW FROM WITHIN Saintly Predictions A Family with One Saint Calculated Performance Spiritual Call On the Sufi Path Journeys PART II HIS THOUGHT: A VIEW FROM WITHOUT Heavenly Inspirations, Rational Insights Faith and Reason Enlightenment and the Primacy of Reason Islam and the Continuity of Tradition God in a Mechanical Universe The Human Reality Religion and Otherness The Emergence of the Public PART III HIS LEGACY: A VIEW FROM A DISTANCE Departing Damascus An Advocate of Truth Biographical Sources Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMaulana Husain Ahmad Madani (1879 – 1957) was a political activist, Islamic scholar, and supporter of Gandhi during the struggle for India’s independence. Humane and fiercely dedicated whether campaigning against the separation of Pakistan, or in favour of democracy and inter-religious peace, he brooked no nonsense and fought relentlessly for what he believed in. Spanning a lifetime of campaigning and controversy, Barbara Metcalf’s compelling biography draws from Madani’s letters and autobiographies, as well as detailed knowledge of the prevailing political climate, to create an intimate and revealing account of one of the most important men in the history of modern Islam.Table of ContentsSources and Acknowledgements Maps INTRODUCTION 1 THE ARREST OF THE “UNDESIRABLE INDIANS,” 1916 Maulana Mahmudul Hasan, Deoband, and new political strategies The War and the “Silk Letter Conspiracy” 2 “THE PRISONER OF MALTA,” 1916–1920 The tribunal Travel Malta Everyday routines: mutual bonds, common commitments Colonial internment as a school for anti-colonialism 3 FLASHBACK: BECOMING AN ISLAMIC SCHOLAR IN COLONIAL INDIA AND MEDINA The family Everyday life and education in Tanda The formation of an Islamic scholar The Sufi path A sectarian conflict India, 1909–1911 and 1913 Maulana Husain Ahmad at thirty-five 4 BECOMING A “NATIONALIST MUSLIM”: INDIA IN THE 1920s Bombay, the Khilafat Movement, and political awakening The Shaikhul Hind, Maulana Madani, and non-cooperation The double strand of activism: the “Karachi Seven” and Islamic renewal Calcutta and Sylhet Principal of Deoband Mass politics, minority politics 5 WHO SPEAKS FOR MUSLIMS? THE CHALLENGES OF THE 1930s Maulana Madani’s character Non-cooperation and round tables Izhar-i Haqiqat, “A Declaration of Truth” The elections of 1936 Defending “Composite Nationalism” Differences: against the ‘ulama, among the ‘ulama The Shi‘a–Sunni dispute in Lucknow Transitions 6 “THE GLORIOUS WARRIOR”: AGAINST BRITAIN, AGAINST PARTITION A voice crying in the wilderness? Words as weapons: anti-colonialism, Muslim freedom fighters, sacred India Protesting and negotiating throughout the war Dividing India Partition CONCLUSION: INDIAN INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONTINUING JIHAD A final story In conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFunny, challenging, controversial, passionate and unforgiving, this is an unprecedented personal account of a Muslim's life in the modern world. As an Islamic scholar, outspoken social activist and well-known commentator, Farid Esack is in a unique position to tackle the quandaries and challenges facing Muslims today. Whether it be cultivating a meaningful relationship with Allah or striving for gender equality and religious freedom, Esack combines personal insight with incisive analysis. Providing a devout yet practical guide for those seeking to re-engage with their faith in the modern world, this groundbreaking work will help believers and non-believers alike to appreciate the eternal relevance of the Qur’an and its teachings.Trade Review"This book will help overcome the stereotype that Islam is incompatible with notions of religious and gender freedom. Recommended for general readers and all student levels." * Choice *

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Book SynopsisKey Themes for the Study of Islam examines the central themes and concepts indispensable to an informed understanding of Islamic religion and society. This book will become the first choice for students and experts in religion from disparate fields who wish to know how Islam relates to vital concepts in religion and society today.

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Book SynopsisKey Themes for the Study of Islam examines the central themes and concepts indispensable to an informed understanding of Islamic religion and society. This book will become the first choice for students and experts in religion from disparate fields who wish to know how Islam relates to vital concepts in religion and society today.

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Book SynopsisIn 1928, a young Lebanese woman, Nazira Zeineddine al-Halabi, wrote a book called "Unveiling and Veiling", an indictment of patriarchal oppression in which she boldly stated that the veil was un-Islamic, directly challenging the teachings of wiser" male scholars. Considered by many an attack on Islam, it rocked the Muslim world and was banned by many clerics, although it quickly went into a second edition and was translated into several languages. In this latest addition to Makers of the Muslim World series, Miriam Cooke offers an intimate portrait of the life and work of this pioneering champion of Islamic feminism.Table of ContentsIllustrations Maps Preface Acknowledgements PART I 1 Early Arab Feminisms 2 The Twilight of the Ottomans 3 Islamic Lessons 4 Religious Interlocutors 5 The Book 6 “The Girl” Writes Back 7 What Went Wrong? PART II 8 Marriage 9 The Afterlife of a Writer Conclusion Glossary Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisAlmost four decades after his death Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) remains by far the most influential African American Muslim. Leader of the Nation of Islam movement for over thirty years and a mentor to Malcolm X, Muhammad was responsible for introducing hundreds of thousands of African Americans to Islam. In this fascinating biography Herbert Berg assesses the impact of Muhammad’s unique and intriguing perspective on Islam, and seeks to understand why he formulated it. Careful to consider Muhammad’s career within the context of the significant racial tensions of his time, this volume investigates a figure whose formulation of Islam, however divisive, forced Muslims and scholars alike to evaluate their often normative definitions of this religious tradition.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Main Persons and Technical Terms Chronology INTRODUCTION 1 ISLAM AND AFRICAN AMERICANS African American Muslim slaves and African American religion Ahmadis and the Moorish Science Temple Wali Fard Muhammad Wallace D. Ford Detroit’s Allah 2 ELIJAH POOLE Racism in the South Racism in the North The Nation of Islam 3 THE APOSTLE OF ALLAH A decade of persecution, preaching and prison Two decades of success A decade of decline 4 BLACK ISLAM The rise and fall of the white race The five principles of Islam Allah and Allahs Black angels and white devils Black prophets Glorious, poisonous, and future books The Last Day and the Fall of America The five pillars of Islam Shahada Salat Sawm Zakat Hajj Dietary regulations 5 WHAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE AND WHAT MUSLIMS WANT Do for self: economic self-sufficiency A land of our own: separation, not integration Protect your women! Be yourself! Black pride 6 THE TEXTUAL SOURCES OF ISLAM The Sira The Sunna The Qur’an 7 OTHER MUSLIMS Hypocrites American Muslim opposition “Copper-colored” brothers White Muslims Islamic trajectories Warith Deen Mohammed Louis Farrakhan CONCLUSION: THE LEGACIES Further Reading Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAhmad ibn Tulun (835–884) governed Egypt on behalf of the Abbasid dynasty for sixteen years. An aggressive and innovative actor, he pursued an ambitious political agenda, including the introduction of dynastic rule over Egypt, that put him at odds with his imperial masters. Throughout, however, he retained close ties to the Abbasid house and at no point did he assert outright independence. In this volume, Matthew Gordon considers Ibn Tulun’s many achievements in office as well as the crises, including the betrayals of his eldest son and close clients, that marred his singular career.Trade Review‘In the background of Ibn Tulun’s portrait, Matthew Gordon’s alert pen sketches a vivid landscape of ninth-century Egypt, transporting the reader into the heart of the major political and social issues of that transitional century. A book to be put in all hands, both enlightened amateurs and specialists of medieval Islam.’ -- Mathieu Tillier, Professor of History of Medieval Islam, Sorbonne University‘Meticulously researched, this book offers the first book-length study in English dedicated to Ahmad son of Tulun, the ninth-century Turkish governor sent from the Abbasid capital to rule the rich province of Egypt. Moving between the person of Ibn Tulun and the historical circumstances that formed him and with which he had to wrestle, Mathew Gordon offers an exceptionally engaging study of a crucial period in the Islamic history of Egypt and the caliphate more broadly. Scholars and interested readers will be attracted to the precise yet accessible and delightfully lively image that Gordon presents of this unusual historical figure.’ -- Petra Sijpesteijn, Professor of Arabic, Leiden UniversityTable of ContentsMaps Chronology The Tulunid Household INTRODUCTION The Political and Military Setting Ibn Tulun and Abbasid Politics Governing Abbasid Egypt 1 THE FIRST DECADE IN OFFICE 868–877 The Appointment to Egypt The Claim to Full Authority Pacification and the Tulunid Military The Imperial Stage 2 THE LAST YEARS IN OFFICE 877–884 The New Syrian Campaign Father and Son Tarsus and Damascus The Question of Legacy 3 GOVERNING EGYPT Representing Ibn Tulun Egypt and the Samarran Command Family and Household The Tulunid Army and Police The Tulunid Economy and its Administration 4 CITY AND CEREMONY Al-Qata’i` The City as Stage The Military Command The Religious Establishment Damascus, the Abbasid Court, and the Frontier CONCLUSION: TULUNID FORTUNES The Amir’s Career Acknowledgments Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this probing investigation of the phenomenon of suicidal terrorism, Abdal Hakim Murad finds not 'Jihad versus MacWorld,' but 'MacJihad versus MacWorld.' Today's terrorist movements have their roots in a very Western and very relativistic worldview, adopted by self-proclaimed Islamists whose mindset is as westernised as the societies they strike.Trade Review"A refreshingly original, historically sensitive account of the origin and nature of Islamist terrorism, this book should be read by all who care about the future of liberal political institutions." (Roger Crisp, Tutor in Philosophy, St Anne's College, Oxford University). ; "In the face of a sceptical West, how is it possible, in one breath, to affirm a post-secular Islam and renounce anti-secular Islamic fanaticism? 'Bombing Without Moonlight' is Murad's stunning answer. For him, it is, in one breath, to affirm a classic Sunni orthodoxy and expose the very modern and western character of Qutubism. This book is an uncommon literary event: a Muslim theo-political call not to arms (but to age-old traditions of sober religious wisdom) offered through wry lyric English prose. The author's historical claims are as original as his prose style, his call as urgent as a global fire alarm." (Peter Ochs, Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia). ; "... a whirlwind tour through the origins of suicide terror. In a text steeped in history and philosophy, [Murad] astutely eschews the argument that suicide terrorism is a uniquely Islamic phenomenon, while nevertheless exploring the malaise in that great religion which has helped witness the rise of al Qaeda and its brethren. For all its brevity, this remains a thoughtful, complex and challenging work which will stay with the reader.' (Andrew Wilke, Director, Terrorism Studies, University of East London) ; "No one has written more perceptively about suicide bombers and their bizarre emergence - like an alien infestation in the body of Islam - than Abdal Hakim Murad." (Abdallah Schleifer, former NBC Cairo Bureau Chief)

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Book SynopsisPringle's autobiography offers a graphic and often painful account of his experiences with major marathons, including the Marathon des Sables and the Yukon Arctic Ultra. Journalists and scientists monitor his progress as he pushes his body to the very limits, as he competes in extreme sporting events which have already claimed lives. A growing sense of self-knowledge and a sense of unity with the natural world lead him to overcome his inner demons, and to find a distinctive and transformational spiritual path.

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Book SynopsisIn Freedom, Equality and Justice in Islam, Prof M H Kamali presents the reader with an analysis of the three concepts of freedom, equality and justice from an Islamic point of view and their manifestations in the religious, social, legal and political fields. The author discusses the evidence to be found for these concepts in the Qur''an and Sunnah, and reviews the interpretations of the earlier schools of law. The work also looks at more recent contributions by Muslim jurists who have advanced fresh interpretations of freedom, equality and justice in the light of the changing realities of contemporary Muslim societies.

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Book SynopsisThe Dignity of Man: An Islamic Perspective provides the most detailed study to date on the subject of the dignity of man from the perspective of Islam. M H Kamali sets out the proclamations on human dignity found in the Qur''an and then discusses topics pertaining to or resulting from human dignity: the physical and spiritual nobility of man; God''s love for humanity; the sanctity of life; and the necessity for freedom, equality and accountability. Finally, the author examines the measures that the Sharia has taken to protect human dignity and to promote it in social interaction. The discussion is here presented in the light of the debate on the universality of human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment is the thirty-sixth chapter of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali''s Revival of the Religious Sciences. This was the first treatise which established not merely the possibility but the necessity for the love of God. Ghazali argues that all the virtues and spiritual stages that precede love, like repentance, patience and thankfulness, lead to love; and all the spiritual stages that follow on from love are a result of it. Out of Ghazali''s pioneering treatment would emerge not only new trends in Sufi theory and practice, but an entire body of mystical poetry including that of the great Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz. The translation is preceded by an extensive introduction which sets the work in its historical and spiritual context.

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Book SynopsisAs a result of world events over the past few years, Islam has entered our consciousness in an unprecedented way. The Qur''an, guiding text for over one billion Muslims, is being looked to for answers to questions like: does the Qur''an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict, does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism, is its message spiritual or fanatical? Based on a profound study of the Sufi perspectives of the likes of Ibn ''Arabi, Rumi and Ghazali, The Other in the Light of the One is an attempt to answer the above questions and is an invitation to study the universality that is present in the Qur''an. Its aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur''an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue.For Muslims, The Other in the Light of the One offers a pioneering view of da''wa, in that it allows them the tangible means of putting into practice the many Qur''anic verses that commend discoursing with others on the basis of ''the finest, most beautiful manner.''

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Book SynopsisIbn Taymiyya remains one of the most controversial Islamic thinkers today because of his supposed influence on many fundamentalist movements. The common understanding of his ideas have been filtered through the bits and pieces of his statements, which have been misappropriated by alleged supporters and avowed critics alike. However, most people still have limited access to his beliefs and opinions as expressed in his own writings. Epistle on Worship: Risalat Al-''Ubudiyya, aims to fill this gap by presenting an annotated translation of one of Ibn Taymiyya''s most important epistles on the theology behind the concept of worship. The introduction gives the reader an overview of his biography and situates Ibn Taymiyya in the broader world of Islamic intellectual history by explaining his methodological arguments and theological opinions. The annotated translation captures the immediacy of his ideas as they impacted his world as well as the relevancy they have for our times.

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Book SynopsisExploring the ideas of human rights according to the laws of Islam, this discussion examines the sanctity of life, murder, unintentional killing, the death penalty, abortion, suicide, and euthanasia. The arguments are introduced by Qur?anic quotations and Prophetic anecdotes and include practical examples of both medieval and contemporary applications. Relevant to the current international interest of multicultural perspectives on human rights,this analysis also covers security against unlawful arrest, freedom from torture, immunity against invasion of privacy, and restrictions imposed by the Shari?a on the exercises of these rights.

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Book SynopsisA Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct (Jawami'' Adab al-Sufiyya) was written by one of the foremost early masters of Sufism and is considered as the first work devoted to the description of the way of life and the customs of the Sufis. It represents an early attempt to illustrate the conformity of Sufi beliefs and manners with the Qur''an and the example of the Prophet (Sunnah). A Collection of Sufi Rules of Conduct is therefore not only a pioneering work of ethics and mysticism, it is also a summary of the views of Sufis up till the eleventh century. It was a major influence on the development of Sufism from the eleventh century onwards.The translation by Dr Elena Biagi includes an introduction that places the author in his historical, literary and religious context, and a general glossary of Sufi technical terms.

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Book SynopsisDiscussing rights and liberties in Islam, this examination focuses on three connected and complementary areas?education, work, and welfare?and how each is treated in the Qur?an. The Prophet and Pious Caliphs are used as examples as the bookargues that the educated are more likely to enter the workforce and contribute to the community. Touching upon various topics, including the institutionalization of learning, the role of governments, and the responsibility to care for individuals in need, this record offers an understanding of human rights from an Islamic perspective. Those interested in Islamic Studies, law, and philosophy will be particularly intrigued.

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Invocations and Supplications is a translation of the ninth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya'' ''Ulum al-Din). This chapter falls in the sections dealing with the requirement of religion. The present volume is probably the most widely read compendium of such material, popular not only for its comprehensiveness and beauty, but also for the analytical approach of its author, who explores the psychological and spiritual effects of prayer and the celebration of God''s name.This new third edition includes the invocations and supplications in Arabic for those readers who would like to use them in their prayers and a translation of Imam Ghazali''s own Introduction to the Revival of the Religious Sciences, which gives the reasons that caused him to write the work, the structure of the whole of the Revival, and places each of the chapters in the context of the others.

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Book SynopsisDue to mass migration over a number of decades, many Muslims today find themselves residing as minorities in Western secular nations and as a result are searching for answers in order to live within these societies yet remain true to their faith. This book sets out to counter the idea that there are only two possibilities for Muslim minorities?isolation or assimilation?by arguing that traditional Islamic law, or fiqh as it is found in the classical schools of law, is not outdated or too inflexible to be utilized in the21st century and that ratherit can provide the means for Muslims to integrate within secular societies while maintaining a link to the sources of their religion and its legal rulings. Amjad M. Mohammed demonstrates how Islamic law, as interpreted by the Hanafi School of Law, is a multifaceted, complex legal system that takes into account both the individual?s situation and the society?s culture and customs. The concept of diyar, or political-legal jurisdictions, is discussed with special emphasis on the criteria for the application of dar al-Islam (Muslim state), dar-al-sulh (peace-treaty state), and dar al-harb (enemy state). A number of rulings for different situations that confront Muslim minorities are also included, such as working with illegal products or services, halal meat, food additives, medicines and medical interventions, financial transactions, and political participation.

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Book SynopsisCopyright in Islamic Law is the first work in English to discuss systematically the ideas of intellectual property and copyright from an Islamic perspective. In so doing, the author, Dr Mohamed Ahdash, adopts the discipline of usul al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) to see if key terms associated with one''s legal rightssuch as the right to ownership (milkiyya), wealth (mal) and utility (manfa''a)can be applied to copyright. Dr Ahdash then seeks evidence for copyright in the primary sources of Islamic lawthe Qur''an and the Hadithbefore looking at how the secondary sources of analogy (qiyas), public interest (maslaha), custom (''urf) and legal maxims (qawa''id fiqhiyya) can be applied to copyright. The result of this study is a framework wherein the concept of copyright is defined and understood according to Sharia law. This gives a consistent approach from which specific legal rulings can be derived. Copyright in Islamic Law is both a ground-breaking study in Shari''a law and a valuable contribution to the ongoing debates on copyright in general.

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Book SynopsisWhat do most Muslims believe in today and how have these theological beliefs been understood throughout the intellectual history of Islam? These are the questions that The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study seeks to answer. Dr Amjad Hussain presents a concise introduction to what Muslims believe in and practice, and also why they continue to do so in the twenty-first century. The work is divided into three parts: an introduction to Islamic creed and theology, including discussions of the schools of the Ash''ariyya and the Maturidiyya; the articles of faith and theology; and the future of Islamic theology. The reader is given an overview of the intellectual history of Islamic theology and an insight into contemporary Islamic theology through the six articles of the Islamic faith: God, the angels, the prophets and messengers, the sacred scriptures and the divine decree.The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study introduces the reader to the range of debates and discussions that have occurred in relation to the subject of creed and theology throughout Muslim history, including the opinions of various theologians who represent the unity as well as the diversity of Muslim theology. It also raises the subject of the future of Islamic theology and makes a genuine contribution to this debate.

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Book SynopsisA Heart Broken Open is the moving and insightful reflection by a Christian minister on his grassroots engagement with Islam - from inner-city parish ministry in Leeds to the streets of Karbala at a time of rising Islamophobia and the 'War on Terror'. The book also includes responses from some of the author's partners in dialogue. Ray Gaston was in parish ministry in inner-city Leeds for 12 years. He is now Interfaith Studies Tutor and Enabler with the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education and the Birmingham District of the Methodist Church. He lives with his family in Sparkhill, Birmingham.

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Book SynopsisThis book by renowned scholar and recognised authority on Islam, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, is a discourse on the legal position of celebrating the Mawlid al-Nabi (birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)) within Islam. Most notably, the author has comprehensively compiled evidences from the authentic source texts and classical authorities to prove not only the permissibility of celebrating the Mawlid al-Nabi within the bounds of the Shari'a (Islamic Law) but also that it is divinely ordained and was a Sunna (practice) of the Prophet himself. The author presents unique and compelling arguments showing why celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi is not only an act of righteousness, but a need of our time. Tackling the various criticisms of this act head on, he specifically addresses the issue of why the first generation of Muslims did not celebrate the Mawlid, and clarifies that labelling the Mawlid as an bid'ah (innovation) betrays a fundamental and serious flaw in the understand of the Islamic concept of bid'ah.Table of ContentsChapters: 1. Introduction 2. Mawlid al-Nabi and the Signs of Islam: A Historical Perspective 3. On Remembering Events of Joy and Remorse 4. Remembering the Mawlid of Prophets: A Qur'anic Analysis 5. Evidences from the Qur'an on Mawlid al-Nabi 6. Evidences from the Hadith on Mawlid al-Nabi 7. The Position of the Hadith Scholars and Imams On Celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi 8. Why Did the First Generation of Muslims Not Celebrate the Mawlid? 9. The Formative Constituents of Mawlid al-Nabi 10. Various Aspects of Mawlid al-Nabi: A Brief Overview 11. Is Celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi a Bid'a? 12. Doctrinal Issues Related to Mawlid al-Nabi

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