A Companion to the Muslim World Expressions of the Civil Imagination
I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies
This book is also available OPEN ACCESS to download or read online for free.
What is the extraordinary text that is the Quran – and how does it relate to the life and times of the Prophet Muhammad? How did a legacy so richly varied in faith, law and civilization emerge from the message of the Revelation that came to be called ‘Islam’ (or submission to God’s will)? This immaculately researched yet thoroughly accessible book offers a journey into the full range of experience – past and present, secular and sacred – of the diverse people 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. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, understanding what Islam is about and what Muslims believe is 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.
About the Contributors
List of Illustrations
1. Introduction
Amyn B. Sajoo
2. The Prophet's City
Reza Aslan
3. Reading the Quran
Abdullah Saeed
4. Islam in the Plural
Amir Hussain
5. Networks of Solidarity
Bruce Lawrence
6. Women and Social Change
Azizah Yahia Al-Hibri
7. Inclusive Governance: A Fatimid Illustration
Shainool Jiwa
8. The Art and Architecture of the Mosque
Hasan-Uddin Khan
9. The Umma in the City
Amira K. Bennison
10. Cultures of Learning
Anil Khamis 237
11. A Conference of Bards: Rumi to Adonis
Raficq Abdulla
12. The Digital Umma
Gary R. Bunt
Index
Amyn B. Sajoo lectured at Simon Fraser University in Canada - and held visiting appointments at Cambridge and McGill universities - before joining The Institute of Ismaili Studies in 2007. His publications include Muslim Modernities: Expressions of the Civil Imagination (2008), Muslim Ethics (2004), Civil Society in the Muslim World (2002) and Pluralism in Old Societies and New States (1994). Dr Sajoo has served with the Canadian departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs, and is a frequent contributor to the news media on both sides of the Atlantic.