An Interview with Amyn Sajoo on A Companion to the Muslim World

In this interview, Dr Amyn Sajoo elaborates on how the aftermath of September 11, 2001 made understanding 'what Islam is about and what Muslims believe' a vital concern across all frontiers. A Companion to the Muslim World is an attractive venture by distinguished scholars to contribute toward this urgent process of comprehension. 

Questions asked in this interview: 

• Many introductions to Islam and Muslims have been published recently. Why the need for this Companion? 

• What guided you in selecting the topics that the Companion explores? 

• You discuss the forgetting of Muslim heritage 'once colonial rule prevailed'. Could you elaborate on this? 

• Could you elaborate on the idea of 'overlapping worlds' which you refer to in your book? 

• This companion inaugurates a new series. Where do you proceed from here with this 'Muslim Heritage Series'? 

What is the extraordinary text that is the Holy Qur’an – and how does it relate to the life and times of Prophet Muhammad? How did a legacy so richly varied in faith, law and civilisation emerge from the message of the Revelation that came to be called ‘Islam’ (or submission to God's will)?

This well researched yet thoroughly accessible book offers a journey into the full range of experiences – past and present, secular and sacred – of the diverse peoples and cultures of the Muslim world. Threads of continuity and change are woven through each chapter to make a coherent narrative, covering a broad variety of themes and topics. Poets, cities and the architecture of mosques are as much a part of the exploration as multiple aspects of scripture, the status of women in the faith, and the emergence of a ‘digital community’ of believers.