Description
Book SynopsisThis innovative book analyses the growth of Deobandi Islam, a religious sect whose followers include extremist groups, through the frame of a counterculture in conflict with mainstream Muslim society. Due to its relationship with the Taliban, close links to al-Qaeda, and worldwide reach through the ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ (Proselytization Group), the Deoband Madrassah Movement has come to acquire global significance. In Pakistan, Deobandi schools have increasingly been associated with the rise of an intolerant and militant strain of Islam linked with terrorist activities.
Trade Review‘In this time of strained relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as growing polarization among Muslims, reliable information on Islam and the Muslim world becomes of crucial importance. Mohammad Moj’s study of the Deobandis responds to this acute need. His concise but comprehensive book framing the Deobandi Madrassah network as an oppositional discourse and counterculture not only addresses the history and political significance of one of the most influential strands of modern Islamic thinking in South Asia, but also the impact of this movement on media and on the daily lives of Muslims.’— Carool Kersten, King’s College London
‘This is an excellent study of how the Deoband madrassah movement has emerged as a countercultural movement in Pakistan. It addresses DMM’s evolution and opposition to the mainstream cultural, educational and political systems of the country. It is a must read.’ — Birol Yesilada, Portland State University
Table of ContentsPreface; Prologue; 1. Deoband Madrassah Movement: Research Context; 2. Origin of the DMM: Seeds of a Counterculture; 3. DMM in United India: Activist Countercultural Trends; 4. DMM in Pakistan: Countercultural Politics and Extremism; 5. Deobandi Islam: Countering the Folk Islam and Popular Custom; 6. DMM versus Mainstream Society: Viewpoint of Deobandi Journals and Students; Epilogue; Appendices; Glossary of Islamic Terms; References; Index
