Description
Book SynopsisThe development of Islamic landscapes in Europe, is first and foremost related to Islamic authority. Religious authority relies on persuasiveness and deals with issues of truth, authenticity, legitimacy, trust, and ethics with reference to religious matters. This study argues that Islamic authority-making among European Muslims is a social and relational practice that is much broader and versatile than theological proficiency and personal status. It can also be conferred to objects, activities, and events. The book explores various ways in which Islamic authority is being constituted among Muslims in Western Europe with a particular focus on the role of ‘ordinary’ Muslims.
Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgement Notes on Transliteration Introduction 1 Islamic Authority: Themes, Stakes, and Foci 2 Assessing Islamic Authority 3 Islamic Authority-Making: Processes, Actors, and Contexts 4 Chapters and Cases 1 The Religious Broker: Networks, Reciprocity, and Intermediary Power 1 Introduction 2 What Is a Religious Broker? 3 Religious Brokerage in the City of Rotterdam. A Historical Case 4 The Emergence of Religious Brokers 5 The Dissolution of Religious Brokers 6 Conclusions 2 The Politics of Imam Training: The Domestication of Islam in Europe 1 Introduction 2 The Quest for Imams 3 Training Initiatives in Europe 4 Assessing Imam Training in Europe: What Is at Stake? 5 The Politics of Imam Training: Conclusions 3 Authoritative Pedagogics: The Sohbet 1 Introduction 2 Hizmet 3 Sohbet as ‘Sensational Form’ and a Site of Devotional Practice 4 Sohbet in Practice 5 Hizmet as a ‘Way of Life’ 6 Gender 7 Conclusions 4 Alternative Authorities: Authority-Making from Below 1 Introduction 2 Authority-Making from Below, Ethics, Senses of Space and the Production of Locality 3 Cases 4 Conclusions 5 Seeking Authentic Listening Experiences in Shi’ism: Online and Offline Intersections of Majlis Practices Aleeha Zahra Ali and Thijl Sunier 1 Introduction 2 Shi’a Muslims, Mobility and Story of Karbala 3 Majlis: Sermon and Ritual 4 Theorising the Majlis 5 Digitisation and Shi’ism 6 Authority and Authentication 7 Transnational Authority 8 Listening as a Practice of Authentication 9 Who Sits at the Minbar? Ulama, Zakirin, Public Speakers 10 The Scholar and the Listeners: Case Study 11 Conclusions 6 Branding Islam: Imagination and Claims-Making 1 Introduction 2 Cases 3 Conclusions Conclusions 1 Reprise 2 Cross-Overs, Connections, Entanglements, and Conceptual Threads 3 Reflections 4 What Else? Glossary References Index
