Islamic life and practice Books

Book SynopsisWaqfs (pious endowments) long held a crucial place in the political, economic, and social life of the Islamic world. Waqfs were major sources of education, health care, and employment; they shaped the city and contributed to the upkeep of religious edifices. They constituted a major resource, and their status was at stake in repeated struggles to impose competing definitions of legitimacy and community. Closer examination of the diverse legal, institutional, and practical aspects of waqfs in different regions and communities is necessary to a deeper understanding of their dynamism and resilience. This volume, which evolved from papers delivered at the 2005 American University in Cairo Annual History Seminar, offers a meticulous set of studies that fills a gap in our knowledge of waqf and its uses.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the course of five decades, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili has assembled eight of the world’s most important collections of art. Together they consist of over 35,000 objects, with each collection providing an exhaustive account of its subject. In acquiring, conserving, researching, exhibiting, publishing and digitising these collections, Sir David has contributed, significantly to numerous fields of scholarship and in the process helped foster a greater understanding of the world’s traditions. One of these eight collections – Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage – was compiled not only on the basis of its intrinsic aesthetic merit, but principally as a means of telling a complete visual story of Hajj and the importance of the sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina. Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage consists of twenty-seven essays addressing objects in the remarkable collection of Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili. The collection features more than five thousand objects relating to the arts of pilgrimage, from the eighth century to today, and includes Qur’ans, illustrated manuscripts, rare books, scientific instruments, textiles, coins, paintings, prints, and photo-postcards, as well as archival material, unique historical documents, and examples of the work of some of the earliest Muslim photographers of Hajj. Together the essays in Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage provide a comprehensive overview of Hajj, illustrating the religious, spiritual, cultural, and artistic aspects of pilgrimage to the Holy Sanctuaries of Islam and the cosmopolitan nature of Hajj itself. Each essay is written by a prominent specialist in the field and beautifully illustrated with full-colour images of objects from the collection, some of which have never been seen before. This work is a fitting tribute to Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili and his decades of passion, determination and scholarship in the field of Islamic art. These volumes will transform our perception of the pilgrimage.Table of ContentsVolume One Foreword, Julian Raby Preface, Qaisra M. Khan List of Authors 1 TheHajj, Michael Wolfe 2 The History and Significance of the Meccan Hajj – from Pre-Islam to the Rise of the Abbasids, Peter Webb 3 The Prophet’s Tomb and the History of Pilgrimage to Medina (Up to the Mamluk Period), Harry Munt 4 Unrolling the Hajj: the Evolution of Pilgrimage Certificates, Sergio Carro Martín 5 Islamic Coins as Witnesses to Secular Power and Pilgrimage in Medieval Mecca and Medina, Aram Vardanyan 6 Futuh al-Haramayn: Muhyi Lari’s Versified Account of Hajj and the Holy Places of the Hijaz, Muhammad Isa Waley 7 Tuhfet ül-Haremeyn: the Ottoman Poet Yusuf Nabi’s Account of his Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, Muhammad Isa Waley 8 The Cemeteries of Mecca and Medina, Qaisra M. Khan 9 Entwined Itineraries: Early Shiʿi Interpretations of the Hajj and the Ziyārah to the Shiʿi Imams, Edmund Hayes 10 Shiʿi Perspectives on Hajj: Illustrated Souvenir Scrolls of Hajj and Ziyārat, Ulrich Marzolph 11 The Work of Dar al-Kiswah, Nahla Nassar 12 Insights from the Accounts of a Noble Enterprise: Ledgers from Dar al-Kiswah 1900–70, Seif el Rashidi 13 The Life and Works of Abdullah Zühdi Efendi, Bilal Badat & Sami De Giosa 14 From Mecca to Medina: a Textile Conservation Story, 2007, Janie Lightfoot 15 The Place of Pilgrimage in Talismanic Shirts from the Islamic World, Saarthak Singh Volume Two 16 The Chronological Development of Mecca Views, Mehmet Tütüncü 17 Multi-, Paraline and Perspectival Views of Islamic Pilgrimage Sites, Sabiha Göloğlu 18 Early Hajj Photography, 1880–1914, Arnoud Vrolijk 19 Regional Styles, International Models: the Holy Sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina on Reverse Glass Paintings, Luitgard Mols 20 Maḥmals in Procession – Spectacles from Cairo and Damascus, Richard McGregor 21 ‘The Puzzle of Egypt’: the Maḥmal in Western Eyes, Alastair Hamilton 22 Travellers in Disguise – Europeans in Mecca and Medina (1500 – 1930), Jan Loop 23 Deadly Journeys: Public Health and Mobility Regulation in the Age of Steam, Michael Christopher Low 24 The Hijaz Railway and Route Guide, James Nicholson 25 The Hajj and Colonial South Asia, John Slight 26 The Special Hajj Banknotes of Pakistan, Qaisra M. Khan 27 South Asia as a Production Hub for Popular Islamic Images, Yousuf Saeed Bibliography

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis original new work is the fascinating result of sociologist and documentary filmmaker Agnès De Féo’s ten-year exploration of the phenomenon of niqab wearing. It is at once a groundbreaking study and a series of compelling first-person accounts from French and Francophone women who wear or have worn the niqab in France’s Salafi communities. With the backdrop of the French government’s 2010 ban on full facial veiling in public spaces, which itself has shaped the phenomenon, De Féo draws on her subjects’ own words to show their agency, working against the clichés that often underlie public views of the niqab—that it is purely the result of masculine pressure, for example, or extreme religiosity or nationalism, or the submissive desire to disappear. Instead, she shows, the niqab is multivalent: women wear it for reasons that range from religious piety to the desire to rebel against mainstream society, family, or the rule of law. The reasons are complex, overdetermined, contradictory, or even inconsistent, but they are the women’s own. Despite being worn only by a small minority of Muslim women, the Islamic garment has nonetheless been a major source of intense political, religious, and cultural debate in France. Searching to understand, rather than speculate, De Féo chose to approach the people who wear the niqab, and to make them, rather the veil itself, the subject of her research. Her unprecedented study, based on more than 200 interviews, reveals the many factors—social, political, geopolitical, and psychological—underpinning a personal choice that is not always as religious as it seems. The book ends with sixteen captivating interviews giving voice to stories rarely heard. With finesse and discernment, the author debunks the myths surrounding the wearing of the niqab, and sheds light on a practice subject to misunderstanding and prejudice, offering the reader unique insight. Challenging our preconceived notions and stereotypes about women who wear any form of Islamic apparel, but particularly the niqab, The Niqab in France introduces a group of women each with her own life story, her own share of personal struggles, aspirations, and desires, and her own claim to a certain place in society. This work received support for excellence in publication and translation from Albertine Translation, a program created by Villa Albertine.Table of ContentsPreface to the English-Language Edition | vii A Note on Terminology | xi PART I Introduction | 3 The Sociology of Niqab Wearers | 17 The Niqab and the Other | 35 A Reaction to the Ban | 49 Conclusion | 65 PART II 16 Portraits of Women Wearing the Niqab | 71 Earlier Wearers (Before 2009), | 71 Neo-Niqab Wearers (After 2009), | 101 The Niqab: Refuting Common Ideas | 155 Acknowledgments | 163 Notes | 165 Selected Bibliography and Filmography | 171

Read more less

Book SynopsisSurah Yusuf, a chapter of the Qur'an (Koran), was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad at a critical juncture of his life. This was the time when he had gone through ten to eleven years of ridicule and rejection in Makkah, a time when he lost his wife and partner, Khadija, a time when he lost his dear uncle Abu Talib. Allah revealed this precious surah to strengthen the Prophet Muhammad’s heart. To remind him that he lives in the footsteps of the great prophets of the past and that Allah’s help and support is there. This surah is full of meaningful messages of patience, reliance on Allah and how to overcome hardship and betrayal. It was also educational, teaching the Prophet Muhammad the answers to queries that were posed to him by the local Jews and Muslims. Finally this surah was a timely morale booster for the Prophet and his companions in a time of need. Yasir Qadhi has clearly divided the surah into related themes, as per the revelations, so that the reader can easily understand and grasp the great wealth of knowledge relayed through this surah to all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany of us may be unaware that some things that we do, are actually sins - acts of disobedience to Allah (swt). Even when we are aware of them, we don't think that our sins can have negative consequences for us, in our relationship with Allah (swt), other people, and even the world.Learning about sins is an eye-opening, transforming experience that changes your heart and mind. Furthermore, it makes you look at the world from a new perspective which can change your life forever. Discover, dissect and digest how to prevent and even overcome that which poisons the heart of the believer. Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Part 1 - The poison that kills the heartChapter 2 - Part 2 - The poison that kills the heartChapter 3 - Sins and deprivation of knowledgeChapter 4 - Sins weaken and ultimately sever my relationship with Allah

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAre your duas not being accepted? Unhealthy addictions and depression are widespread: some of us find the uncertainty and emotional darkness eating away at us. 700 years ago, a diligent Muslim scholar told of a cost-free universal psychotherapeutic cure, writing: "Happiness comes with sincere du''a." He was Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (RA); his teacher was Ibn Taymiyyah (RA). Riding on the coattails of our pious predecessors, we too seek routes to accepted prayers and eternal reward within the tradition of the Holy Qur''an and authentic ahadith (Prophetic sayings). This book builds on the debut A Handbook of Spiritual Medicine and isn''t simply a compilation of recommended du''as. Instead, it is a carefully considered framework that aligns our emotions with the most beautiful du''as, all of which have a profound constructive purpose: the aim is to transport us smilingly and with the noblest etiquette towards the ma''arifat (higher knowledge of Allah SWT) and istiq

Read more less

Book SynopsisIlija Trojanow's journey from Mumbai to Mecca is told in the tradition of the rihla, one of the oldest genres of classical Arabic literature and describes the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy sites of Islam. 'From the very first moment they realise that the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca - is among the duties of each and every Muslim, the faithful long to go.' Trojanov, with the help of his friends, donned the ihram, the traditional garb of the pilgrim. He joined hundreds of thousands of Muslims who each year go on the Hajj, the greatest demonstration of the Muslim faith. In three short weeks he experienced a tradition dating back over one thousand years This is his account, personal yet enlightening, for the interested non-Muslims who remain barred from the holy sites of Islam.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn America today, online spaces serve as critical alternatives for tech-savvy Muslims seeking a place to root their faith, forge religious identity, and build communities. With a particular focus on the Inayati Order, a branch of the oldest Sufi community in the West, Robert Rozehnal explores the online revolution in internal communication, spiritual pedagogy, and public outreach – and looks ahead to the future of digital Islam in the age of Web 3.0.Trade Review‘Essential reading for students and academics with interests in the diverse expressions of contemporary Islam, on- and offline.’ -- Gary R. Bunt, author of Hashtag Islam, and Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Wales Trinity Saint David‘Captivating, thought-provoking, and groundbreaking. Cyber Sufis is a serious attempt to explore the highly understudied and mostly overlooked spiritual and mystical dimension of the “digital ecosystem.”’ -- Sahar Khamis, Associate Professor of Communication, University of Maryland, and co-author of Islam Dot ComTable of ContentsIntroduction: Cyber Sufis in the Digital Age 1 Mapping Digital Religion and Cyber Islam 2 (Mis)interpreting Sufism 3 Sufism in the American Religious Landscape 4 Narrating Identity in Cyberspace: Inayati Tradition and Community 5 Virtual Practice: Inayati Rituals and Teaching Networks 6 Bridging the Digital and Analog worlds: Inayati Social Engagement 7 Contextualizing American Cyber Sufism Bibliography Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow is the new generation of British Muslims navigating relations across three distinct religious and social worlds? This book looks at how they are balancing expectations from traditional Islam imported from their ancestral homeland, expressions of Islam drawn from across the global Muslim community the Ummah and from Britain itself.Trade Review"A timely antidote to the, arguably, twisted characterisation and popular perception of British Muslims in circulation." -- Professor Humayn Ansari, Royal Holloway

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome to Daily Contemplations, a guided journal designed to inspire mindfulness and self-awareness with the encouragement of Islamic wisdom. Featuring quotes from notable Muslim poets, mystics, scholars, leaders, the prophet Muhammad and his companions, and the Quran itself, these pages touch on universal themes of gratitude, humility, patience, knowledge, nature, and more. Daily questions invite you to contemplate these topics and explore the roles they play in your life. Inviting and accessible, this journal is a powerful tool for self-discovery and development.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores changing attitudes to the holy through a study of five centuries of Bosnian Hajj literature

Read more less

Book SynopsisRaises questions about what is distinctive about veiling in Africa and what religious histories or practices are reflected in particular uses of the veilTrade Review[T]he value of this volume is in its detailed coverage of veiling manifestations in Africa, which indeed fills a descriptive gap. It also explores diverse meanings of veiling, which are added to our understanding of the phenomenon. May 2016 * Africa *This is an exciting and strong collection of original research on women's—and men's—veiling practices in a range of African Muslim settings and the social and religious discourses that accompany changes in dress over time. Taken as a whole, it offers a fascinating overview of African Muslim interpretations of theological debates about 'the veil' and gender relations in Muslim societies while illustrating some of the particular accommodations adopted by African women. * International Journal of African Historical Studies *Overall, Veiling in Africa represents a valuable perspective on a less investigated topic that could be very interesting and novel for Western audiences. And, finally, it should be mentioned that in addition to the general readers, this volume could be of interest to anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists as well as students of these fields who are interested in both African studies and Islamic cultural practices. * African Studies Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Veiling/Counter-Veiling in sub-Saharan Africa Elisha Renne Part I. Veiling Histories & Modernities1. Veiling, Fashion and Social Mobility: A Century of Change in Zanzibar Laura Fair 2. Veiling Without Veils: Modesty and Reserve in Tuareg Cultural Encounters Susan Rasmussen 3. Interwined Veiling Histories in Nigeria Elisha Renne Part II. Veiling & Fashion4. Religious Modesty, Fashionable Glamour, and Cultural Text: Veiling in SenegalLeslie Rabine 5. Modest Bodies, Stylish Selves: Fashioning Virtue in Niger Adeline Masquelier 6. "Should a Good Muslim Cover Her Face?" Pilgrimage, Veiling, and Fundamentalisms in Cameroon José C. M. van Santen Part III. Veiling/Counter-Veiling7. Invoking Hijab: The Power Politics of Spaces and Employment in NigeriaHauwa Mahdi 8. "We Grew Up Free but Here We Have to Cover Our Faces": Veiling among Oromo Refugees in Eastleigh, Kenya Peri M. Klemm 9. Vulnerability Unveiled: Lubna's Pants and Humanitarian Visibility on the Verge of Sudan's Secession Amal Hassan Fadlalla List of Contributors Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisExploring political, economic, and social encounters within and with the Muslim world across the eras, Lawrence Rosen develops a vibrant, nuanced portrait of the Islamic world that challenges existing stereotypes. Using a diverse range of illustrative case studies, Rosen draws previously unseen linkages across time, regions, and cultures.Table of ContentsIntroduction: theme and variation in the encounter of cultures; Part I. Expressive: 1. Choice and chaos: the social meaning of an Islamic art form; Part II. Legal: 2. Tribal law as Islamic law; 3. The meaning of the gift; 4. Islam and the rule of law; Part III. Political: 5. Anthropological assumptions and the Afghan war; 6. Aging out? Youth in the aftermath of the Arab spring; 7. Missionaries and Muslims: Moroccan engagement with the western other; Part IV. Critical: 8. Clifford Geertz, observing Islam; 9. Edward Said's unfinished critique: Orientalism revisited.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIslam is the religion of the majority of Arab citizens in Israel and since the late 1970s has become an important factor in their political and socio-cultural identity. This leads to an increasing number of Muslims in Israel who define their identity first and foremost in relation to their religious affiliation. By examining this evolving religious identity during the past four decades and its impact on the religious and socio-cultural aspects of Muslim life in Israel, Muhammad Al-Atawneh and Nohad Ali explore the local nature of Islam. They find that Muslims in Israel seem to rely heavily on the prominent Islamic authorities in the region, perhaps more so than minority Muslims elsewhere. This stems, inter alia, from the fact that Muslims in Israel are the only minority that lives in a land they consider to be holy and see themselves as a natural.Trade Review'This book is a significant contribution to the study of three areas of theoretical interest: Muslims and Islam in general and in Israel as a Jewish state in particular; Minorities in general, and the Palestinian minority in Israel in particular; and interactions between religious groups in a religiously divided reality, such as that among Palestinians in Israel. Questions of coping with the challenges of modernity, attitudes toward others, processes of return to religion, and the development of a unique heritage that fits the political / social context are discussed at length, in a manner that has not been discussed so far. The authors systematically use a variety of quantitative, qualitative methodologies, anthropological observations and their own involvement in the field in order to provide us with a diverse and real account of the lives of the Muslims in Israel. There is no doubt that the contribution of the authors and the book is absolutely vital to any student who has an interest in the fields of interest discussed here.' As'ad Ghanem, University of Haifa, Israel'The case of a non-dominant Muslim minority in a highly secular, Jewish and Zionist state, in an Islam-endowed land, is historically unprecedented and unparalleled. Islam in Israel is the first book that tells us how Muslim Arabs conduct themselves under these inhospitable and unique circumstances.' Sammy Smooha, University of Haifa, Israel'This is an excellent study of the Islamic Movement in Israel, which has become a leading educational, moral and religious power with deep-rooted societal and political standing, successfully outweighing its secular and national adversaries. This well-documented and carefully-researched book offers a comprehensive understanding of the causes of its rise, the essence of its ideological tenants and political practices, and the complexities of its survival as an Islamic fundamentalist movement in a Jewish state.' Elie Rekhess, Associate Director, Israel Studies, Northwestern University, IllinoisTable of ContentsList of figures; List of tables; Acknowledgments; Note on transliteration; Introduction; 1. Islam in Israel: background; 2. Islamic religious authority and interpretation in Israel; 3. Islam and the public: affiliation, religiosity and observance; 4. Muslim identity and Islamic practice in Israel; 5. The Muslim minority and the Israeli establishment: acceptance and/or alienation;. 6. Being Muslim in the Israeli socio-cultural space; Conclusions; Appendix A: English questionnaire; Appendix B: Arabic questionnaire; Glossary of Arabic terms; Bibliography and sources; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisProposing a methodology that brings feminist theories of embodiment to bear on the Iranian literary and cinematic tradition, this study examines temporary marriage in Iran, not just as an institution but also as a set of practices, identities and meanings that have transformed over the course of the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. Based on analysis of novels and short stories from the Pahlavi era, and cinematic works produced after the Islamic Revolution, Claudia Yaghoobi looks at the representation of the sigheh women, or those who entered into temporary marriages. Each work reflects the manner in which the practice of sigheh impacts women by calling into question how sexuality works as a form of political analysis and power, revealing how a sigheh woman''s sexual bodily autonomy is used as ammunition against what governments deem inappropriate gendered expression. While focusing mainly on modern Iranian cultural productions, Yaghoobi moves beyond the literary and cinematic realms to offer an in-depth examination of this controversial social institution which has been the subject of disdain for many Iranian feminists and captured the imagination of many Western observers.Trade Review'Yaghoobi's mastery over her source material is impressive, and the many ways in which she brings Persian realist fiction of the early and mid-twentieth century into meaningful dialogue with post-revolutionary cinema are admirable. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the social and political debates around gender and the female body in contemporary Iran.' Dominic Parviz Brookshaw, University of Oxford'What distinguishes Claudia Yaghoobi's winning storytelling and her original contribution to our knowledge of women, sexuality and temporary marriage in Iran, is her skillful analysis and highly engaging interpretations of sigheh women's paradoxical role at the margin of society yet at the center of male fantasy.' Shahla Haeri, Boston UniversityTable of ContentsPrologue: sexpionage and the female body; Part I. General Overview: Introduction: body politics and sigheh marriages; 1. Sigheh marriages in modern Iran; Part II. Representation of Sigheh/Sex Work in the Literature of Pahlavi Era: 2. Gendered violence in Moshfeq-e Kazemi's Tehran-e Makhuf; 3. The volatile sigheh/sex workers' bodies in Jamalzadeh's Ma'sumeh Shirazi; 4. Colonized bodies in Al-e Ahmad's 'Jashn-e Farkhonde'; 5. The grotesque sigheh/sex workers' bodies in Golestan's 'Safar-e 'Esmat'; 6. Bodily inscriptions in Chubak's Sang-e Sabur; Part III. The Islamic Republic and Sigheh in Film Industry: 7. Whose body matters in Afkhami's Showkaran; 8. Embodiment, power, and politics in Farahbakhsh's Zendegi-ye Khosusi; Reclaiming the female body via writing.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA riveting, real-life equivalent of The Kite Runner-an astonishingly powerful and profoundly moving story of a young couple willing to risk everything for love that puts a human face on the ongoing debate about women''s rights in the Muslim world.She is his Juliet and he is her Romeo, and her family has threatened to kill them both...This is the heartrending account of Zakia and Mohammad Ali, a couple from opposing Islamic sects, who defying their society''s norms have left behind everything they know and are quite literally risking their lives for their love.She is a Sunni, he is a Shia, but as friends from childhood Zakia and Mohammad Ali could never have predicted that their love would anger their families so much that they would be forced to leave their homes finding refuge in the harsh terrain of the Afghani mountains. Without money or passports they rely on the kindness of strangers to house them for a couple of days at a time as they remaTrade ReviewWith keen and nuanced insight, Nordland details the tortuous road that Zakia and Ali travelled...Nordland became the pair's chronicler and, later, their unofficial protector when, straining the limits of his professional involvement with them, he began to help the pair financially. Meticulously reported and written, Nordland's book is an exceptionally well-delineated glimpse into the marriage practices of a closed patriarchal society and the suffering it has caused women. The author thoughtfully considers the extent to which the West, acting from the outside, can effect social reform in Muslim fundamentalist cultures. A provocative, well-told story of love at all costs and an incisive examination of the continued violation of women's rights in Afghanistan. * Kirkus *In Nordland's telling, the pair emerge as fully rounded characters even while serving as symbols of Afghan culture's stifling restraints. From the couple's initial elopement to their unexpected elevation to media prominence ... Nordland's storytelling remains gripping, with more than a hint of Shakespearean drama. The couple's survival, in the face of familial and societal condemnation, provides a happy if incomplete resolution... less uplifting is Nordland's reporting on the overall situation for women in Afghanistan, a country that Massouda Jalal, former Afghan minister for women's affairs, calls "the worst place in the world to be a woman. * Publishers Weekly *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe spread of Salafism--often referred to as Wahhabism--in the West has intrigued and alarmed observers since the attacks of 9/11. Many see it as a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam that condones the subjugation of women and fuels Jihadist extremism. This view depicts Salafi women as the hapless victims of a fanatical version of Islam. Yet in Britain, growing numbers of educated women--often converts or from less conservative Muslim backgrounds-are actively choosing to embrace Salafism''s literalist beliefs and strict regulations, including heavy veiling, wifely obedience, and seclusion from non-related men. How do these young women reconcile such difficult demands with their desire for university education, fulfilling careers, and suitable husbands? How do their beliefs affect their love lives and other relationships? And why do they become Salafi in the first place?Anabel Inge has gained unprecedented access to Salafi women''s groups in the United Kingdom to provide the first inTrade ReviewThis is an ethnography of the very best kind. Inge is both systematically rigorous and sensitively empathic. We learn to see these women as women, facing the challenges of life in a contemporary western society that is not infrequently hostile-especially to women who are assumed to be either aggressively extremist or browbeaten victims of Islamophobia. These women are neither. Obviously enough, this is a book that should be read by anyone concerned about new religions and/or contemporary Islam. It could also be read with benefit by feminists and by those with an interest in qualitative methodology. But for anyone, it is a damn good read. * Eileen Barker, Nova Religio *If you want to understand British Islam, you need to read it. * Damian Thompson & Christina Odone, The Spectator *This is an under-researched subject and so any credible information is very welcome. * Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, the i-newspaper *[A] rich portrait... Inge found that nearly all of the Salafi women she followed in her research decided to wear the face veil against the wishes - sometimes despite the threats of family members, who saw it as too extreme, too Arab, too rebellious. Officials often argue that Muslim women are too submissive to challenge extremist views even within their own families. But women who wear a garment that annoys their families, that provokes regular verbal abuse and leads to their being pelted with food in public are something other than submissive. * Azadeh Moaveni, London Review of Books *A uniquely remarkable book nestled in the most cherished humanist tradition of the social sciences. Anabel Inge has written a book that is bound to inform and challenge people's stereotypes about the lives of Salafi women in London. From conversion to religious study circles and match-making, the author navigates a difficult terrain with a penetrating anthropological gaze and careful attention to subtle details. The book is a joy to read. * Madawi Al-Rasheed, author of Muted Modernists: The Struggle over Divine Politics in Saudi Arabia *When is Islamic extremism not extremism? In this wonderfully lucid and scholarly ethnographic study of young Salafi women in London ... Anabel Inge probes what has become a dominant question in British twenty-first-century public policy ... closely observed, nuanced anthropological research over more than two years ... The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman is in many ways a remarkable, innovative book which deserves a wide readership. It opens up a window on African Muslims, particularly Somalis, who both resemble and differ from the majority of British Muslims. * Pnina Werbner, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *The first sustained empirical research into this hard-to-reach community. It therefore provides rich everyday granularity rarely seen in this area -- perhaps not since Saba Mahmood's The Politics of Piety in 2014 ... Inge reveals a dynamic and complex picture of Salafism in the UK, which challenges essentialist 'letter-box' views of the community ... [The book] also reads well, making it accessible to experts and novices alike. * Katherine E. Brown, Irish Theological Quarterly *Dr. Inge's new book is welcome reading...This is a brave and important study. * The Catholic Herald *Extremely well-written, thoughtful, well-researched... What this book highlighted, and what I thought was so important about it, is that it focused on the lived experiences of Salafi women... which are very, very different from those of Salafi men. Whether in terms of the culture of the community, or how Islam is taught and internalized, to the challenges of finding a spouse and contending with things not working out, to struggling with both family tensions and challenges in the academic world /work force... what women go through is so, so different, and so often ignored and underappreciated... I highly recommend it. * The Salafi Feminist (blogger) *This very accessible and timely book is the outcome of sensitively conducted ethnographic fieldwork among Salafi women in London. The research that underpins it reflects a high degree of professionalism, thoroughness, and meticulous attention to detail. I am delighted to commend this important book to anyone wanting to understand the complexity and paradoxes that shape the lives of Muslim women as they explore their personal and religious goals. * Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Islam-UK Centre, Cardiff University *Salafi Islam is often viewed through the lenses of global religious extremism, terrorism, and security. Anabel Inge's The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman fills a lacuna in scholarship on apolitical, non-violent Salafi Islam in Europe and its attraction among British women converts in the United Kingdom. * John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Affairs, and of Islamic Studies, Georgetown University; author of The Future of Islam *Anabel Inge gained unprecedented access to Salafi mosques and circles in London, where she conducted fieldwork for more than 2 years. Her book represents the first sustained, in-depth exploration of everyday Salafism... [T]his book is an outstanding addition to the literature on Islam in the United Kingdom and represents a truly unique ethnographic piece of fieldwork within a hard-to-reach community. * Stefano Bonino, Political Studies Review *The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman is a meticulously researched and well-presented book. The author manages to paint a nuanced picture of a complex community which is often portrayed in highly biased and stereotyped ways... The unprecedented access the author gained allowed her to acquire detailed and comprehensive insider knowledge of Salafism in particular and Islam in general. [She] remains respectful of the women she studies but critical and independent in her analysis, which is remarkable considering the amount of publications on Muslim women which are characterised by a patronising, othering and essentialist tone. Inge succeeds in staying clear of this pitfall of research on Muslim women. * Jennifer Philippa Eggert, Fieldwork in Religion *[A] rich and sensitive description of how women navigate strict Salafi teachings in a non-Muslim society... One of the central contributions of the book is to clearly explain Salafism to non-Muslim audiences... Her comprehensive findings[are] quite unprecedented in the literature on Salafism... beautifully written scholarship. By providing a thorough inquiry into the fastest-growing Muslim faction in Britain, The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman is a must-read for anyone interested in Muslim minorities in the West, Salafism, religious conversion, and women in conservative religious groups. * Juliette Galonnier, Sociology of Islam *A pioneering and fascinating study of Salafism which draws on intensive ethnographic research to explode many myths about Islam, gender, and conversion in Britain. * John Eade, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Roehampton *[a] thorough, detailed approach and nuanced, yet very accessible, clear writing style, the book is a long-awaited must-read for students, journalists, policy makers and academics engaged with the topic of Salafism, gender and conversion, and for those who want to know how to conduct research in a controversial field. * Martijn de Koning, Journal of Muslims in Europe *[T]he first detailed, academic study of Salafi women in Europe ... it should be obligatory reading for anyone seeking to understand the role of Salafism in the West... [A] model example of how to do ethnographic research in a secluded religious community, and will definitely be regarded a standard work on Salafi women in Europe for years to come. * Anne Stenersen, Politics, Religion & Ideology *Anabel Inge gained privileged and intimate access to a small group that in many ways symbolise the debate surrounding assimilation, laïcité and multiculturalism British Salafi women... In restrained, measured and accessible prose published in her book The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman, Inge debunks many of the easy assumptions that have dominated the public discourse... Her book is useful reading for Western policy-makers everywhere. * Sarah Stewart, The Middle East in London *Inge's research shows that assuming the niqab is necessarily, or even usually, a sign of the wearer's oppression or of her brainwashing is a misconception. * Simon Perfect, Theos *[R]eally illuminating ... a very interesting, well-structured and informative book that adds new knowledge on a variety of research fields: conversion, Islam, Salafism, Muslim women and ethnography... [I]t offers many new insights not only on the difficulties faced during fieldwork but also on the suggested ways of confronting them. * Alexandros Sakellariou, Nordic Journal of Migration Research *[An] eloquent description... of the seismic shift and personal liberation that can come with consciously becoming or making oneself part of a new community... [Inge] argues that the anti-extremist measures taken by the government that subjects those who do not follow 'fundamental British values' to increased scrutiny, have denied Salafis a voice... Her work is a valuable addition to our understanding of conservative religious practice. * Josie Richardson, Religion, State & Society *The work is extremely pertinent in a scenario in which narratives of 'brainwashing' are employed... By negating the clichés pertaining to the radicalization and anonymity of Muslim women, Inge's book has created a key intervention within the academic framework involving Islam and gender studies by critically analyzing the personal, religious, and political realms of women's engagement with Salafi Islam. * Simi K. Salim, Reading Religion *The style of the book is captivating... Anabel Inge shows the complexity of the experiences of converted women, who turn out to be individuals and not oppressed... There is no doubt that this work enriches the research, while offering an original perspective in a field where men have always been the main characters. * trans., Alessandra Bonci, Comptes Rendus *Salafi women are encouraged to marry as soon as possible, ideally without the couple actually spending any time alone before they are married. Inge documents the process of finding a husband in detail, including giving an example of the profile and reference questionnaire one woman produced, which is fascinating reading. * Tom Wilson, Reviews in Religion & Theology *[A] measured, sensitive and quietly observed, but deeply penetrating, analysis... Inge outlines the difficulties and contradictions arising from attempting to adopt a prescriptive, puritanical approach to Islam, which curtails and constricts the lives of women often to suffocating effect. * Ruqaiyah Hibell, The Muslim World Book Review *[A] well-researched book that breaks down stereotypes and gets behind media portrayals of conservative Muslim practices written in an accessible style... readable and engaging... The book provides a number of informative snapshots into the conversion and daily lives of women embracing Salafism. That [Inge] openly pursued this research at a time when many, mainly the media, did undercover exposes means we have an informed work that I would suggest is a must read for those seeking to work with and among refugees, migrants and Diaspora Muslim peoples. I recommend this book for all those who wish to hear Muslim women's voices and understand the multiple ways in which they explore and express faith. It fills a significant gap in research and writing. * C. Hine, When Women Speak *Anabel Inge deftly explores the phenomenon of women converting to strict Islamic groups in Great Britain. The author's in-depth treatment of how modern women adapt rigorous Islamic practices that are essentially apolitical moves the reader off the well-trod path of Islamic women, head covering, and extremism. Through formal interviews with 36 Salafi women, Inge finds a unique pattern of what she calls "delayed conversion," wherein these women embrace Islam after a long period of uncertainty, experimentation, and experience of generally poor relations with adherents—which goes against the theory that affective bonds draw people to unconventional religions. * Religion Watch *Well-researched ... This ground-breaking, lucid, and richly detailed book ... sheds light on a spot of Salafism that other books dealing with the topic did not address. * Zeina M. Barakat, Reviews in Religion & Theology *The Making of a Salafi Muslim Woman is an important ethnographic study... [It] offers insightful information about the Salafis' strict faith and puritanical way of life whereby strict adherence to Islamic rules is to be followed... [The book] is an eye-opener about a movement that has been generally misrepresented. * Arab Studies Quarterly *'This research is important for the academic literature on the subject, because instead of relying on secondary data, Inge was able to contact people who have found Salafism appealing and could unearth how Salafi teachings have an impact on the lives of the self-identifying Salafi women and men in the West. * Busra Sarac, RUSI Journal *This book provides a detailed look into the process of conversion for young, British, Salafi Muslim women... [Dr Inge] convincingly shows that the women are exercising agency in converting to a Salafi way of life... [and] highlights how Salafism appeals to these well-educated young women and assuages their feelings of uncertainty about religion, education, employment and marriage—feelings common to many at this stage in life... The inclusion of a few examples of resistance to certain Salafi teachings is further evidence of agency and analytical rigour... Inge emphasizes that the Salafi sisterhood is not good at offering emotional support, provides evidence of cliques and backbiting, and mentions the threat of 'Salafi burnout' * Catherine Holtmann, Review of Religious Research *Inge provides an extensive overview of the realities of ordinary Salafi women's lives in the United Kingdom... [E]xisting Salafi research has mostly focused on men, security issues, internal politics and doctrine... Inge's in-depth analysis [of] women's ideas and experiences is a strength of the book. Another area her work contributes to is the examination of Salafism's ethnic dimensions... [T]he book's timely publication advances debates around Salafism... * Sinem Yilmaz, Religion and Gender *Table of ContentsNote on Arabic Terms, Transliterations, Qur'anic Quotations and Paraphrasing Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 The Development of Salafism in Britain Chapter 2 Fieldwork Chapter 3 Becoming Salafi Chapter 4 Commitment and Belonging: The Role of Circles of Knowledge Chapter 5 Applying Salafism: Negotiating Teachings and Lived Realities Chapter 6 "Marriage Completes Half Your Religion, Sister": Salafi Match-Making Conclusion Notes Bibliography Glossary Information on Interviewees Interview Question Guide for Salafi Women Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Value of Time is a collection of amazing sayings and wonderful stories of the scholars of the Muslim Ummah, which indicate to the importance they attached to time.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, Masooda Bano presents an in-depth analysis of a new movement that is transforming the way that young Muslims engage with their religion. Led by a network of Islamic scholars in the West, this movement seeks to revive the tradition of Islamic rationalism. Bano explains how, during the period of colonial rule, the exit of Muslim elites from madrasas, the Islamic scholarly establishments, resulted in a stagnation of Islamic scholarship. This trend is now being reversed. Exploring the threefold focus on logic, metaphysics, and deep mysticism, Bano shows how Islamic rationalism is consistent with Sunni orthodoxy and why it is so popular among young, elite, educated Muslims, who are now engaging with classical Islamic texts. One of the most tangible results of this revival is that Islamic rationalism - rather than jihadism - is emerging as one of the most influential movements in the contemporary Muslim world.Table of Contents1. Global shifts and the rise of Islamic rationalism; Part I. Specialist versus Tacit Knowledge: 2. What is Islam?; 3. Learning from the old geographies of Islam; 4. Teaching in the new geographies of Islam; 5. Mixing dispersed knowledge; Part II. Affluence and Creativity: 6. Material conditions and attitudes towards the texts; 7. Elites and institutional consolidation.

Read more less