Description
Book SynopsisOne of the most contentious topics in modern Islam is whether one should adhere to an Islamic legal school or follow scripture directly. For centuries, Sunni Muslims have practiced Islam through the framework of the four legal schools. The 20thcentury, however,witnessed the rise of individuals who denounced the legal schools, highlighting cases where they contradict texts from the Qur''an or Sunna. These differences are exemplified in the heated debates between the Salafi ?adith scholar Mu?ammad Na?ir al-Din al-Albani and his Traditionalist critics. This book examines the tensions between Salafis and Traditionalists concerning scholarly authority in Islam. Emad Hamdeh offers an insider''s view of the debates between Salafis and Traditionalists and their differences regarding the correct method of interpreting Islam.He provides a detailed analysis of the rise of Salafism, the impact of the printing press, the role of scholars in textual interpretation, and the divergent approaches to Is
Trade Review'This important and timely book not only helps us understand what al-Sisi is referring to but also explains to the reader the roots and history of a clash that has just begun to materialize.' Hussam S. Timani, Reading Religion
Table of ContentsPart I. History: 1. Traditionalism and Salafism; 2. A controversial Salafi; 3. Gatekeepers of knowledge: self-learning and Islamic expertise; Part II. Islamic Law: 4. Can two opposing opinions be valid? Legal pluralism in Islam; 5. Qur'an and Sunna or the Madhhabs?; Part III. Hadith: 6. The pursuit of authencity: reevaluating weak Hadith; 7. Challenging early Hadith scholarship.
