Barbara Freyer Stowasser
- Published in print:
- 1997
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195111484
- eISBN:
- 9780199853397
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195111484.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
Islamic ideas about women and their role in society spark considerable debate both in the Western world and in the Islamic world itself. Despite the popular attention surrounding Middle Eastern ...
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Islamic ideas about women and their role in society spark considerable debate both in the Western world and in the Islamic world itself. Despite the popular attention surrounding Middle Eastern attitudes toward women, there has been little systematic study of the statements regarding women in the Qur'an. This book fills the void with a study on the women of Islamic sacred history. By telling their stories in Qur'an and interpretation, the book introduces Islamic doctrine and its past and present socio-economic and political applications. It establishes the link between the female figure as cultural symbol, and Islamic self-perceptions from the beginning to the present time.Less
Islamic ideas about women and their role in society spark considerable debate both in the Western world and in the Islamic world itself. Despite the popular attention surrounding Middle Eastern attitudes toward women, there has been little systematic study of the statements regarding women in the Qur'an. This book fills the void with a study on the women of Islamic sacred history. By telling their stories in Qur'an and interpretation, the book introduces Islamic doctrine and its past and present socio-economic and political applications. It establishes the link between the female figure as cultural symbol, and Islamic self-perceptions from the beginning to the present time.
Gerhard Bowering (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691164823
- eISBN:
- 9781400866427
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691164823.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
In sixteen concise chapters on key topics, this book provides a rich, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to Islamic political thought from the birth of Islam to today, presenting essential ...
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In sixteen concise chapters on key topics, this book provides a rich, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to Islamic political thought from the birth of Islam to today, presenting essential background and context for understanding contemporary politics in the Islamic world and beyond. Selected from the acclaimed Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought, and focusing on the origins, development, and contemporary importance of Islamic political ideas and related subjects, each chapter offers a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to its topic. Written by leading specialists and incorporating the latest scholarship, the alphabetically arranged chapters cover the topics of authority, the caliphate, fundamentalism, government, jihad, knowledge, minorities, modernity, Muhammad, pluralism and tolerance, the Qur'an, revival and reform, shari'a (sacred law), traditional political thought, ‘ulama’ (religious scholars), and women. Read separately or together, these chapters provide an indispensable resource for students, journalists, policymakers, and anyone else seeking an informed perspective on the complex intersection of Islam and politics.Less
In sixteen concise chapters on key topics, this book provides a rich, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to Islamic political thought from the birth of Islam to today, presenting essential background and context for understanding contemporary politics in the Islamic world and beyond. Selected from the acclaimed Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought, and focusing on the origins, development, and contemporary importance of Islamic political ideas and related subjects, each chapter offers a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to its topic. Written by leading specialists and incorporating the latest scholarship, the alphabetically arranged chapters cover the topics of authority, the caliphate, fundamentalism, government, jihad, knowledge, minorities, modernity, Muhammad, pluralism and tolerance, the Qur'an, revival and reform, shari'a (sacred law), traditional political thought, ‘ulama’ (religious scholars), and women. Read separately or together, these chapters provide an indispensable resource for students, journalists, policymakers, and anyone else seeking an informed perspective on the complex intersection of Islam and politics.
Christopher A. Bail
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691159423
- eISBN:
- 9781400852628
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691159423.001.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Middle Eastern Studies
In July 2010, Terry Jones, the pastor of a small fundamentalist church in Florida, announced plans to burn two hundred Qur'ans on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Though he ended up ...
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In July 2010, Terry Jones, the pastor of a small fundamentalist church in Florida, announced plans to burn two hundred Qur'ans on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Though he ended up canceling the stunt in the face of widespread public backlash, his threat sparked violent protests across the Muslim world that left at least twenty people dead. This book demonstrates how the beliefs of fanatics like Jones are inspired by a rapidly expanding network of anti-Muslim organizations that exert profound influence on American understanding of Islam. The book traces how the anti-Muslim narrative of the political fringe has captivated large segments of the American media, government, and general public, validating the views of extremists who argue that the United States is at war with Islam and marginalizing mainstream Muslim-Americans who are uniquely positioned to discredit such claims. Drawing on cultural sociology, social network theory, and social psychology, the book shows how anti-Muslim organizations gained visibility in the public sphere, commandeered a sense of legitimacy, and redefined the contours of contemporary debate, shifting it ever outward toward the fringe. The book illustrates the author's pioneering theoretical argument through a big-data analysis of more than one hundred organizations struggling to shape public discourse about Islam, tracing their impact on hundreds of thousands of newspaper articles, television transcripts, legislative debates, and social media messages produced since the September 11 attacks. The book also features in-depth interviews with the leaders of these organizations, providing a rare look at how anti-Muslim organizations entered the American mainstream.Less
In July 2010, Terry Jones, the pastor of a small fundamentalist church in Florida, announced plans to burn two hundred Qur'ans on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Though he ended up canceling the stunt in the face of widespread public backlash, his threat sparked violent protests across the Muslim world that left at least twenty people dead. This book demonstrates how the beliefs of fanatics like Jones are inspired by a rapidly expanding network of anti-Muslim organizations that exert profound influence on American understanding of Islam. The book traces how the anti-Muslim narrative of the political fringe has captivated large segments of the American media, government, and general public, validating the views of extremists who argue that the United States is at war with Islam and marginalizing mainstream Muslim-Americans who are uniquely positioned to discredit such claims. Drawing on cultural sociology, social network theory, and social psychology, the book shows how anti-Muslim organizations gained visibility in the public sphere, commandeered a sense of legitimacy, and redefined the contours of contemporary debate, shifting it ever outward toward the fringe. The book illustrates the author's pioneering theoretical argument through a big-data analysis of more than one hundred organizations struggling to shape public discourse about Islam, tracing their impact on hundreds of thousands of newspaper articles, television transcripts, legislative debates, and social media messages produced since the September 11 attacks. The book also features in-depth interviews with the leaders of these organizations, providing a rare look at how anti-Muslim organizations entered the American mainstream.
Daniel C. Peterson
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195380040
- eISBN:
- 9780199869077
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195380040.003.0012
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society, World Religions
Stories about the antemortal existence, conception, gestation, and birth of the Prophet Muhammad, absent from the Qur’an, began to circulate in the decades after his death. They served a political ...
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Stories about the antemortal existence, conception, gestation, and birth of the Prophet Muhammad, absent from the Qur’an, began to circulate in the decades after his death. They served a political purpose, to glorify Muhammad and Islam in the ideological competition, first with Arabian paganism and then with the world faiths (chiefly Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and, even more important, Christianity) that confronted Muslims during and after the Arab expansion. In contrast to certain other religious founders, the fetal Muhammad is never represented as speaking or acting, and indeed he is essentially devoid of human personality. He is a symbol, representing Islam’s claim to be the final and definitive revelation from God and its parallel assertion of universal political sovereignty.Less
Stories about the antemortal existence, conception, gestation, and birth of the Prophet Muhammad, absent from the Qur’an, began to circulate in the decades after his death. They served a political purpose, to glorify Muhammad and Islam in the ideological competition, first with Arabian paganism and then with the world faiths (chiefly Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and, even more important, Christianity) that confronted Muslims during and after the Arab expansion. In contrast to certain other religious founders, the fetal Muhammad is never represented as speaking or acting, and indeed he is essentially devoid of human personality. He is a symbol, representing Islam’s claim to be the final and definitive revelation from God and its parallel assertion of universal political sovereignty.
Solomon Schimmel
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195188264
- eISBN:
- 9780199870509
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195188264.003.0005
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter examines the Islamic belief that the Koran (Qur'an) was authored by Allah and revealed to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel, and dissects the alleged ‘proofs’ for Koranic divinity. The ...
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This chapter examines the Islamic belief that the Koran (Qur'an) was authored by Allah and revealed to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel, and dissects the alleged ‘proofs’ for Koranic divinity. The chapter presents nine arguments against this belief, among which are the Koran's internal contradictions, obvious dependence on Judaism, and Jewish and Christian traditions, factual errors, superstitious beliefs, and inclusion of unethical and immoral teachings. The chapter discusses the danger posed to democratic societies and values by fundamentalist Muslims who seek to impose Qur'anic and Sharia law and values on non‐Muslim societies, while noting that some Muslims advocate democracy and religious freedom. The chapter discusses the absurd claim of some Muslims that the Koran contains scientific knowledge that was not discovered in the West until recently, and the belief in Koranic inimitability (Ijaz al Koran), and analyzes the psychology of Muslims who make irrational claims and profess irrational beliefs.Less
This chapter examines the Islamic belief that the Koran (Qur'an) was authored by Allah and revealed to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel, and dissects the alleged ‘proofs’ for Koranic divinity. The chapter presents nine arguments against this belief, among which are the Koran's internal contradictions, obvious dependence on Judaism, and Jewish and Christian traditions, factual errors, superstitious beliefs, and inclusion of unethical and immoral teachings. The chapter discusses the danger posed to democratic societies and values by fundamentalist Muslims who seek to impose Qur'anic and Sharia law and values on non‐Muslim societies, while noting that some Muslims advocate democracy and religious freedom. The chapter discusses the absurd claim of some Muslims that the Koran contains scientific knowledge that was not discovered in the West until recently, and the belief in Koranic inimitability (Ijaz al Koran), and analyzes the psychology of Muslims who make irrational claims and profess irrational beliefs.
CHASE F. ROBINSON
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197264010
- eISBN:
- 9780191734946
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264010.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
In early 2004, a book called ‘Crossroads to Islam’ was written by Yehuda Nevo, an amateur archaeologist, and J. Koren, his research assistant. Early Islamic history shares not only some geography ...
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In early 2004, a book called ‘Crossroads to Islam’ was written by Yehuda Nevo, an amateur archaeologist, and J. Koren, his research assistant. Early Islamic history shares not only some geography with ancient Israel but also a comparable historical and historiographical trajectory, and at least some of Nevo's (and others') views seem to have been informed by the study of ancient Israel itself. In his book, Nevo reaches four principal conclusions: that the Arabs took over the eastern provinces of the Byzantine empire without a struggle; that the Arabs were pagan at the time of the takeover; that Muhammad is not a historical figure, and enters the official religion only c. 71/690; and that the Qur'an is a late compilation. These radical views subvert the narrative of Islamic origins that prevails not only amongst most Muslims, but also amongst most scholars.Less
In early 2004, a book called ‘Crossroads to Islam’ was written by Yehuda Nevo, an amateur archaeologist, and J. Koren, his research assistant. Early Islamic history shares not only some geography with ancient Israel but also a comparable historical and historiographical trajectory, and at least some of Nevo's (and others') views seem to have been informed by the study of ancient Israel itself. In his book, Nevo reaches four principal conclusions: that the Arabs took over the eastern provinces of the Byzantine empire without a struggle; that the Arabs were pagan at the time of the takeover; that Muhammad is not a historical figure, and enters the official religion only c. 71/690; and that the Qur'an is a late compilation. These radical views subvert the narrative of Islamic origins that prevails not only amongst most Muslims, but also amongst most scholars.
John C. Wilkinson
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199588268
- eISBN:
- 9780191595400
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199588268.003.0009
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
This chapter describes the establishment of the new Imamate state order, and in particular the role of Abû 'Abdullah, son of the last Basran leader, Abu Sufyân. The confrontation with the ...
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This chapter describes the establishment of the new Imamate state order, and in particular the role of Abû 'Abdullah, son of the last Basran leader, Abu Sufyân. The confrontation with the conservative Omani ‘ulama’ is characterized by the acrimonious theological debate over the Creation of the Qur'ân and the suspect nature of Mu'tazili influence. Abû 'Abdullâh's role in developing the principles for selecting an Imam, the issue of wuqûf (suspending judgment), advising other Ibâḍi communities, but above all in harmonizing Islamic principles with the pragmatic needs of daily life in Oman are illustrated. The establishment of a maritime legal code commensurate with expanding maritime trade is described, including discussion of the re-conquest of Socotra as a base on the African coast, whose interest in the Muslim world at this time was as a source of slaves from both Abyssinia and increasingly Bilâd al–Zanj. An attempt is also made to reconstruct the early history of the Imamate in Hadramawt.Less
This chapter describes the establishment of the new Imamate state order, and in particular the role of Abû 'Abdullah, son of the last Basran leader, Abu Sufyân. The confrontation with the conservative Omani ‘ulama’ is characterized by the acrimonious theological debate over the Creation of the Qur'ân and the suspect nature of Mu'tazili influence. Abû 'Abdullâh's role in developing the principles for selecting an Imam, the issue of wuqûf (suspending judgment), advising other Ibâḍi communities, but above all in harmonizing Islamic principles with the pragmatic needs of daily life in Oman are illustrated. The establishment of a maritime legal code commensurate with expanding maritime trade is described, including discussion of the re-conquest of Socotra as a base on the African coast, whose interest in the Muslim world at this time was as a source of slaves from both Abyssinia and increasingly Bilâd al–Zanj. An attempt is also made to reconstruct the early history of the Imamate in Hadramawt.
Jane Idleman Smith and Yvonne Haddad
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195156492
- eISBN:
- 9780199834662
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195156498.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
Islamic concepts of life after death, reward and punishment, human decision, and divine judgment have always held a certain fascination for Western readers. Recent world events have served only to ...
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Islamic concepts of life after death, reward and punishment, human decision, and divine judgment have always held a certain fascination for Western readers. Recent world events have served only to heighten those interests and to raise new questions about how Muslims understand the developments that are to signal the coming of the day of resurrection, whether martyrs have immediate access to paradise, who are the black‐eyed maidens waiting in paradise for the believers, and who will intercede for communities of Muslims, Christians, and Jews at the final judgment. The text looks at two distinct periods of time in the ongoing story of life after death in Islam. First is the period between individual death and the coming of the day of resurrection, about which the Qur’an says little and the traditions a great deal. Second is the series of events that will take place at the time of judgment, which are detailed thoroughly by the Qur’an. Interpretations of the materials related to each of these periods are provided first from the writings of the classical exegetes and theologians, and then from those of contemporary Muslim thinkers and writers. The narratives are presented so as to give the reader an overview of the whole process from death to resurrection to final consignment in the abodes of reward or of punishment. The entire discussion is placed within the framework of the Islamic understanding of God's expectations of human belief and behavior, and human ethical responses to those expectations. Two appendices deal respectively with evidence of afterlife concerns in pre‐Islamic Arabia, and the special case of women and children in the afterlife.Less
Islamic concepts of life after death, reward and punishment, human decision, and divine judgment have always held a certain fascination for Western readers. Recent world events have served only to heighten those interests and to raise new questions about how Muslims understand the developments that are to signal the coming of the day of resurrection, whether martyrs have immediate access to paradise, who are the black‐eyed maidens waiting in paradise for the believers, and who will intercede for communities of Muslims, Christians, and Jews at the final judgment. The text looks at two distinct periods of time in the ongoing story of life after death in Islam. First is the period between individual death and the coming of the day of resurrection, about which the Qur’an says little and the traditions a great deal. Second is the series of events that will take place at the time of judgment, which are detailed thoroughly by the Qur’an. Interpretations of the materials related to each of these periods are provided first from the writings of the classical exegetes and theologians, and then from those of contemporary Muslim thinkers and writers. The narratives are presented so as to give the reader an overview of the whole process from death to resurrection to final consignment in the abodes of reward or of punishment. The entire discussion is placed within the framework of the Islamic understanding of God's expectations of human belief and behavior, and human ethical responses to those expectations. Two appendices deal respectively with evidence of afterlife concerns in pre‐Islamic Arabia, and the special case of women and children in the afterlife.
James Howard‐Johnston
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199208593
- eISBN:
- 9780191594182
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199208593.003.0012
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, World History: BCE to 500CE
The investigation enters a new phase, that of vetting Islamic sources. The Qur'an is shown to be an important historical source for the biography of the Prophet and the evolution of the umma (Muslim ...
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The investigation enters a new phase, that of vetting Islamic sources. The Qur'an is shown to be an important historical source for the biography of the Prophet and the evolution of the umma (Muslim community) once individual suras are classified into chronologically distinct groups. Attention then turns to the voluminous historical traditions about the rise of Islam picked up by later Muslim historians. Two lines of argument are developed—one from general considerations and the other from a comparison of Islamic and non‐Islamic testimonies about the futuh (conquests), fitna (civil conflict), and warfare against the Romans—in favour of the authenticity of the kernels of early Islamic historical traditions and their chronological ordering. Only three events—the capture of Jerusalem, the assassination of ‘Ali, and the battle of Karbala—can be shown to be out of sequence, in each case because a higher, religious truth has prevailed.Less
The investigation enters a new phase, that of vetting Islamic sources. The Qur'an is shown to be an important historical source for the biography of the Prophet and the evolution of the umma (Muslim community) once individual suras are classified into chronologically distinct groups. Attention then turns to the voluminous historical traditions about the rise of Islam picked up by later Muslim historians. Two lines of argument are developed—one from general considerations and the other from a comparison of Islamic and non‐Islamic testimonies about the futuh (conquests), fitna (civil conflict), and warfare against the Romans—in favour of the authenticity of the kernels of early Islamic historical traditions and their chronological ordering. Only three events—the capture of Jerusalem, the assassination of ‘Ali, and the battle of Karbala—can be shown to be out of sequence, in each case because a higher, religious truth has prevailed.
James Howard‐Johnston
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199208593
- eISBN:
- 9780191594182
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199208593.003.0013
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, World History: BCE to 500CE
Islamic traditions about pre‐Islamic Arabia are tested in relation to three episodes which are independently covered by non‐Islamic sources—a massacre of Christians in Najran in 523, an attack from ...
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Islamic traditions about pre‐Islamic Arabia are tested in relation to three episodes which are independently covered by non‐Islamic sources—a massacre of Christians in Najran in 523, an attack from the south on Mecca in 552, and the conquest of Yemen by a Persian expeditionary force c. 571. The tests proving positive, it is possible to venture with some confidence into the canonical version of the life of the Prophet (the sira) and to accept the picture presented of Mecca as a major cult and commercial centre. Corroboration is to hand in the Qur'an, a document embedded in the sira (the Constitution of Medina), and anthologies of verse collected in the sira. Special attention is paid to the accommodation reached at Hudaybiya in 628 between the Muslims and the Quraysh of Mecca, and to the subsequent concealment of the great concession made by the Prophet.Less
Islamic traditions about pre‐Islamic Arabia are tested in relation to three episodes which are independently covered by non‐Islamic sources—a massacre of Christians in Najran in 523, an attack from the south on Mecca in 552, and the conquest of Yemen by a Persian expeditionary force c. 571. The tests proving positive, it is possible to venture with some confidence into the canonical version of the life of the Prophet (the sira) and to accept the picture presented of Mecca as a major cult and commercial centre. Corroboration is to hand in the Qur'an, a document embedded in the sira (the Constitution of Medina), and anthologies of verse collected in the sira. Special attention is paid to the accommodation reached at Hudaybiya in 628 between the Muslims and the Quraysh of Mecca, and to the subsequent concealment of the great concession made by the Prophet.
Parna Sengupta
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520268296
- eISBN:
- 9780520950412
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520268296.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
Offering a new approach to the study of religion and empire, this book challenges a widespread myth of modernity—that Western rule has had a secularizing effect on the non-West—by looking closely at ...
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Offering a new approach to the study of religion and empire, this book challenges a widespread myth of modernity—that Western rule has had a secularizing effect on the non-West—by looking closely at missionary schools in Bengal. The book examines the period from 1850 to the 1930s and finds that modern education effectively reinforced the place of religion in colonial India. Debates over the mundane aspects of schooling, rather than debates between religious leaders, transformed the everyday definitions of what it meant to be a Christian, Hindu, or Muslim. Speaking to our own time, the book concludes that today's Qur'an schools are not, as has been argued, throwbacks to a pre-modern era. It argues instead that Qur'an schools share a pedagogical frame with today's Christian and Muslim schools, a connection that plays out the long history of this colonial encounter.Less
Offering a new approach to the study of religion and empire, this book challenges a widespread myth of modernity—that Western rule has had a secularizing effect on the non-West—by looking closely at missionary schools in Bengal. The book examines the period from 1850 to the 1930s and finds that modern education effectively reinforced the place of religion in colonial India. Debates over the mundane aspects of schooling, rather than debates between religious leaders, transformed the everyday definitions of what it meant to be a Christian, Hindu, or Muslim. Speaking to our own time, the book concludes that today's Qur'an schools are not, as has been argued, throwbacks to a pre-modern era. It argues instead that Qur'an schools share a pedagogical frame with today's Christian and Muslim schools, a connection that plays out the long history of this colonial encounter.
Reem Bassiouney
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748623730
- eISBN:
- 9780748671373
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Edinburgh University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748623730.003.0007
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This presents some concluding thoughts from the author. It identifies two facts that render Arabic inclusive in many respects. The first is the non-distinction between Classic Arabic, Modern Standard ...
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This presents some concluding thoughts from the author. It identifies two facts that render Arabic inclusive in many respects. The first is the non-distinction between Classic Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and the colloquials by the mass of native speakers who may think they speak Arabic, perhaps bad Arabic, but still perceived by many as a corrupted version of the same language as that of the Qur'an. An aggregate picture of Arabic is prevalent. The second fact that this book has tried to capture is the diversity of the Arab world, whether religious, historical, political, ethnic, social, or economic. This diversity in itself renders Arabic an inclusive, common component of different communities. Tribes, religious groups, upheavals, rapid urbanisation, wars, civil wars, social and political changes, dislocation of large groups, ethnic minorities, varied ethno-geographic, and historical backgrounds are all characteristics of the Arab world that are reflected directly or indirectly through language.Less
This presents some concluding thoughts from the author. It identifies two facts that render Arabic inclusive in many respects. The first is the non-distinction between Classic Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and the colloquials by the mass of native speakers who may think they speak Arabic, perhaps bad Arabic, but still perceived by many as a corrupted version of the same language as that of the Qur'an. An aggregate picture of Arabic is prevalent. The second fact that this book has tried to capture is the diversity of the Arab world, whether religious, historical, political, ethnic, social, or economic. This diversity in itself renders Arabic an inclusive, common component of different communities. Tribes, religious groups, upheavals, rapid urbanisation, wars, civil wars, social and political changes, dislocation of large groups, ethnic minorities, varied ethno-geographic, and historical backgrounds are all characteristics of the Arab world that are reflected directly or indirectly through language.
Robert R. Bianchi
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- January 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195171075
- eISBN:
- 9780199835102
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195171071.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
Modernist Islamic thinkers see the hajj as a treasure house of fluid symbols carrying infinite meanings everyone is free to interpret and reinterpret as they choose. In their view, “reading” the ...
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Modernist Islamic thinkers see the hajj as a treasure house of fluid symbols carrying infinite meanings everyone is free to interpret and reinterpret as they choose. In their view, “reading” the hajj’s inner meanings is similar to reading any sacred text, including the Qur’an–every mortal mind can grasp a fraction of God’s message, but no human authority, no matter how learned and esteemed, can monopolize the discussion or claim the final word. Three writers have produced widely influential reinterpretations portraying the hajj as a powerful agent of social and political reform–Muhammad Iqbal of India, ‘Ali Shari‘ati of Iran, and Mohammed Arkoun of Algeria. Iqbal’s revivalism, Shari‘ati’s rebelliousness, and Arkoun’s humanism have merged into a modernist stream of hajj interpretation that enjoys mass audiences in dozens of languages and nations. Their views are constantly discussed and debated by a cosmopolitan hajj community that is increasingly youthful, female, educated, urban, and non-Middle Eastern.Less
Modernist Islamic thinkers see the hajj as a treasure house of fluid symbols carrying infinite meanings everyone is free to interpret and reinterpret as they choose. In their view, “reading” the hajj’s inner meanings is similar to reading any sacred text, including the Qur’an–every mortal mind can grasp a fraction of God’s message, but no human authority, no matter how learned and esteemed, can monopolize the discussion or claim the final word. Three writers have produced widely influential reinterpretations portraying the hajj as a powerful agent of social and political reform–Muhammad Iqbal of India, ‘Ali Shari‘ati of Iran, and Mohammed Arkoun of Algeria. Iqbal’s revivalism, Shari‘ati’s rebelliousness, and Arkoun’s humanism have merged into a modernist stream of hajj interpretation that enjoys mass audiences in dozens of languages and nations. Their views are constantly discussed and debated by a cosmopolitan hajj community that is increasingly youthful, female, educated, urban, and non-Middle Eastern.
Ebrahim Moosa
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781469620138
- eISBN:
- 9781469623337
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of North Carolina Press
- DOI:
- 10.5149/northcarolina/9781469620138.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
Taking us inside the world of the madrasa—the most common type of school for religious instruction in the Islamic world—this book provides a resource on orthodox Islam in global affairs. Focusing on ...
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Taking us inside the world of the madrasa—the most common type of school for religious instruction in the Islamic world—this book provides a resource on orthodox Islam in global affairs. Focusing on postsecondary-level religious institutions in the Indo-Pakistan heartlands, the text explains how a madrasa can simultaneously be a place of learning revered by many and an institution feared by many others, especially in a post-9/11 world. The book describes the daily routine for teachers and students today. It shows how classical theological, legal, and Qur'anic texts are taught, and it illuminates the history of ideas and politics behind the madrasa system. Addressing the contemporary political scene, the book introduces us to madrasa leaders who hold diverse and conflicting perspectives on the place of religion in society. Some admit that they face intractable problems and challenges, including militancy; others, the text states, hide their heads in the sand and fail to address the crucial issues of the day. Offering practical suggestions to both madrasa leaders and U.S. policymakers for reform and understanding, the book demonstrates how madrasas today still embody the highest aspirations and deeply felt needs of traditional Muslims.Less
Taking us inside the world of the madrasa—the most common type of school for religious instruction in the Islamic world—this book provides a resource on orthodox Islam in global affairs. Focusing on postsecondary-level religious institutions in the Indo-Pakistan heartlands, the text explains how a madrasa can simultaneously be a place of learning revered by many and an institution feared by many others, especially in a post-9/11 world. The book describes the daily routine for teachers and students today. It shows how classical theological, legal, and Qur'anic texts are taught, and it illuminates the history of ideas and politics behind the madrasa system. Addressing the contemporary political scene, the book introduces us to madrasa leaders who hold diverse and conflicting perspectives on the place of religion in society. Some admit that they face intractable problems and challenges, including militancy; others, the text states, hide their heads in the sand and fail to address the crucial issues of the day. Offering practical suggestions to both madrasa leaders and U.S. policymakers for reform and understanding, the book demonstrates how madrasas today still embody the highest aspirations and deeply felt needs of traditional Muslims.
William F. McCants
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691151489
- eISBN:
- 9781400840069
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691151489.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter considers the Qur'an's interpretation of the origins of civilization. When the Arabs conquered the Near East, they shared with their subjects (mainly Jews and Christians) the notion that ...
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This chapter considers the Qur'an's interpretation of the origins of civilization. When the Arabs conquered the Near East, they shared with their subjects (mainly Jews and Christians) the notion that civilization had arisen as a consequence of Adam's fall. But in contrast to the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an portrays the rise of civilization positively and makes God its prime mover, much like the gods of ancient Near Eastern myths. There are at least two reasons for this difference. First, Muhammad draws on noncanonical biblical scripture and storytelling that link God, angels, and chosen human interlocutors to the development of beneficial arts and sciences. Second, Muhammad draws on some version of these texts (perhaps oral) to prove his argument that God is the source of all civilization, an argument influenced by late-antique thought on divine providence. He makes this argument to justify either proselytizing among or conquest of non-Muslims, who have forgotten the source of civilization and thus deserve to lose it.Less
This chapter considers the Qur'an's interpretation of the origins of civilization. When the Arabs conquered the Near East, they shared with their subjects (mainly Jews and Christians) the notion that civilization had arisen as a consequence of Adam's fall. But in contrast to the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an portrays the rise of civilization positively and makes God its prime mover, much like the gods of ancient Near Eastern myths. There are at least two reasons for this difference. First, Muhammad draws on noncanonical biblical scripture and storytelling that link God, angels, and chosen human interlocutors to the development of beneficial arts and sciences. Second, Muhammad draws on some version of these texts (perhaps oral) to prove his argument that God is the source of all civilization, an argument influenced by late-antique thought on divine providence. He makes this argument to justify either proselytizing among or conquest of non-Muslims, who have forgotten the source of civilization and thus deserve to lose it.
Ebrahim Moosa
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781469620138
- eISBN:
- 9781469623337
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of North Carolina Press
- DOI:
- 10.5149/northcarolina/9781469620138.003.0014
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
This epilogue argues that constructive engagement with the madrasa tradition presents an opportunity to meaningfully serve humanity in the ways of faith and tradition. It explains how South Asia's ...
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This epilogue argues that constructive engagement with the madrasa tradition presents an opportunity to meaningfully serve humanity in the ways of faith and tradition. It explains how South Asia's madrasas can help promote a serious renewal of religious scholarship, and that failure to implement significant reforms might undermine a great tradition. Hope lies with the voices at the margins of the madrasa tradition that realize the importance of providing an intelligible and enlightened orthodoxy for Muslims today. Knowledge does not only have to serve the purpose of salvation and bypass the realities of the world in which believers live and flourish. In order to understand the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the historical Muslim intellectual tradition, the experience of contemporary Muslims must be given a central role in the interpretative process.Less
This epilogue argues that constructive engagement with the madrasa tradition presents an opportunity to meaningfully serve humanity in the ways of faith and tradition. It explains how South Asia's madrasas can help promote a serious renewal of religious scholarship, and that failure to implement significant reforms might undermine a great tradition. Hope lies with the voices at the margins of the madrasa tradition that realize the importance of providing an intelligible and enlightened orthodoxy for Muslims today. Knowledge does not only have to serve the purpose of salvation and bypass the realities of the world in which believers live and flourish. In order to understand the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the historical Muslim intellectual tradition, the experience of contemporary Muslims must be given a central role in the interpretative process.
Matthew Dal Santo
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199646791
- eISBN:
- 9780199949939
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199646791.003.0006
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Ancient Religions, European History: BCE to 500CE
The conclusion revisits the book’s central theme, namely that the saints’ cult and miracles formed the subject of a significant and widespread debate in the early Byzantine world from the end of the ...
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The conclusion revisits the book’s central theme, namely that the saints’ cult and miracles formed the subject of a significant and widespread debate in the early Byzantine world from the end of the sixth century and, by pointing to the increasingly important role that saints’ cults played in imperial ritual and symbolism, argues that this debate had a political context as well. In an autocracy like the late East Roman empire, where over criticism of the emperor could be fraught with danger, questioning the plausibility of the saints’ miracles could reflect underlying dissent regarding the emperor’s position in society, and especially the sacred authority which imperial exploitation of intercessory cult helped to cultivate. Finally, the conclusion suggests that these arguments over the legitimacy of saintly veneration are echoed in the Qur’an’s polemic against human intercessors, itself an important part of early Islam’s deflation of Byzantine imperial authority.Less
The conclusion revisits the book’s central theme, namely that the saints’ cult and miracles formed the subject of a significant and widespread debate in the early Byzantine world from the end of the sixth century and, by pointing to the increasingly important role that saints’ cults played in imperial ritual and symbolism, argues that this debate had a political context as well. In an autocracy like the late East Roman empire, where over criticism of the emperor could be fraught with danger, questioning the plausibility of the saints’ miracles could reflect underlying dissent regarding the emperor’s position in society, and especially the sacred authority which imperial exploitation of intercessory cult helped to cultivate. Finally, the conclusion suggests that these arguments over the legitimacy of saintly veneration are echoed in the Qur’an’s polemic against human intercessors, itself an important part of early Islam’s deflation of Byzantine imperial authority.
Gerald MacLean
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199295937
- eISBN:
- 9780191712210
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199295937.003.0015
- Subject:
- Literature, 17th-century and Restoration Literature
This chapter examines Milton's relation to Islam by examining Arab-Islamic responses to Paradise Lost in the contexts of contemporary Ottoman policies and the Qur'ānic version of the double-fall. ...
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This chapter examines Milton's relation to Islam by examining Arab-Islamic responses to Paradise Lost in the contexts of contemporary Ottoman policies and the Qur'ānic version of the double-fall. Although Milton seldom referred to Islam and was disparaging about the Ottomans, Muslim thinkers have recognized in his literary works an attitude toward religious toleration remarkably in line with their own traditions. Protestant reformers frequently cited the Ottoman state as a model of religious toleration, but for Milton, it remained a model of political tyranny. Nevertheless, while there is no evidence that Milton read the English Alcoran of 1649, his version of Satan's motives and fall from heaven closely resembles the Qur'ānic account of Iblis.Less
This chapter examines Milton's relation to Islam by examining Arab-Islamic responses to Paradise Lost in the contexts of contemporary Ottoman policies and the Qur'ānic version of the double-fall. Although Milton seldom referred to Islam and was disparaging about the Ottomans, Muslim thinkers have recognized in his literary works an attitude toward religious toleration remarkably in line with their own traditions. Protestant reformers frequently cited the Ottoman state as a model of religious toleration, but for Milton, it remained a model of political tyranny. Nevertheless, while there is no evidence that Milton read the English Alcoran of 1649, his version of Satan's motives and fall from heaven closely resembles the Qur'ānic account of Iblis.
Zayn Kassam
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199827879
- eISBN:
- 9780199919451
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199827879.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, World Religions
This chapter presents two Muslim scholars’ comments on the discussion in Chapter 2. The chapter underscores how colonialism in general, and more specifically American foreign policy, such as that ...
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This chapter presents two Muslim scholars’ comments on the discussion in Chapter 2. The chapter underscores how colonialism in general, and more specifically American foreign policy, such as that under President George W. Bush concerning the Middle East, has rendered dialogue more difficult. It also notes that genuine dialogue need not end in agreement, but that genuine disagreements can be as important as agreements. The chapter admits that theological dialogue for Muslims is difficult, mainly because few Muslims have studied seriously Christian doctrine. The chapter then focuses on some of the best-known texts of the Qur’an that support interreligious dialogue and religious pluralism. Despite these difficult times between Islam and the West, it places great hope in the recent document, A Common Word between Us, issued by Muslim religious leaders around the world.Less
This chapter presents two Muslim scholars’ comments on the discussion in Chapter 2. The chapter underscores how colonialism in general, and more specifically American foreign policy, such as that under President George W. Bush concerning the Middle East, has rendered dialogue more difficult. It also notes that genuine dialogue need not end in agreement, but that genuine disagreements can be as important as agreements. The chapter admits that theological dialogue for Muslims is difficult, mainly because few Muslims have studied seriously Christian doctrine. The chapter then focuses on some of the best-known texts of the Qur’an that support interreligious dialogue and religious pluralism. Despite these difficult times between Islam and the West, it places great hope in the recent document, A Common Word between Us, issued by Muslim religious leaders around the world.
Mona Siddiqui
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780300211863
- eISBN:
- 9780300216028
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300211863.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
This book explores the concept of hospitality within the Islamic tradition, particularly Sunnī Islam. Drawing primarily on the Qur'ān and other areas of Islamic thought, it looks at signs and words ...
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This book explores the concept of hospitality within the Islamic tradition, particularly Sunnī Islam. Drawing primarily on the Qur'ān and other areas of Islamic thought, it looks at signs and words of hospitality which are both actions and exhortations to establishing more generous and giving relationships. It also incorporates some literary works by those for whom eating and guest hospitality was a civilizing force. In investigating the way the Muslim intellectual tradition has spoken of hospitality as a concept and as an act, the book shares some personal reflections on Christian hospitality, highlighting both similarities and contrasts in structure and language. It concludes by arguing that hospitality includes notions of forgiveness as well as reaching out to others, and that the very basis of hospitality is compassion.Less
This book explores the concept of hospitality within the Islamic tradition, particularly Sunnī Islam. Drawing primarily on the Qur'ān and other areas of Islamic thought, it looks at signs and words of hospitality which are both actions and exhortations to establishing more generous and giving relationships. It also incorporates some literary works by those for whom eating and guest hospitality was a civilizing force. In investigating the way the Muslim intellectual tradition has spoken of hospitality as a concept and as an act, the book shares some personal reflections on Christian hospitality, highlighting both similarities and contrasts in structure and language. It concludes by arguing that hospitality includes notions of forgiveness as well as reaching out to others, and that the very basis of hospitality is compassion.
