Islam and Modernity: Key Issues and Debates - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0748637923 ISBN 13: 9780748637928

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Recent events have focused attention on the perceived differences and tensions between the Muslim world and the modern West. As a major strand of Western public discourse has it, Islam appears resistant to internal development and remains inherently pre-modern. However Muslim societies have experienced most of the same structural changes that have impacted upon all societies: massive urbanisation, mass education, dramatically increased communication, the emergence of new types of institutions and associations, some measure of political mobilisation, and major transformations of the economy. These developments are accompanied by a wide range of social movements and by complex and varied religious and ideological debates. This textbook is a pioneering study providing an introduction to and overview of the debates and questions that have emerged regarding Islam and modernity. Key issues are selected to give readers an understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The various manifestations of modernity in Muslim life discussed include social change and the transformation of political and religious institutions, gender politics, changing legal regimes, devotional practices and forms of religious association, shifts in religious authority, and modern developments in Muslim religious thought.

About this title

About the Author

Muhammad Masud is Chairman at the Council of Islamic Ideology, Islamabad.

Armando Salvatore is Associate Professor of Political Sociology of Modern and Contemporary Islam at the Oriental Studies University, Naples.

Martin van Bruinessen is Professor of the Comparative Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies at the Utrecht University.

Review

This volume offers a good overview of the thematic discourse about contemporary issues of modernity in the Muslim world from various perspectives. -- Imtiyaz Yusuf 'There is no doubt that a textbook like this is urgently needed.' -- Dr Andreas Christmann, University of Manchester 'Has the potential for becoming the standard point of departure for understanding the profound changes in Islamic thought and practice in the modern world! No other book captures current debates with such effectiveness, also placing them in a historical context accessible to students, colleagues, and adventuresome general readers.' -- Professor Dale F. Eickelman, Dartmouth College This volume offers a good overview of the thematic discourse about contemporary issues of modernity in the Muslim world from various perspectives. 'There is no doubt that a textbook like this is urgently needed.' 'Has the potential for becoming the standard point of departure for understanding the profound changes in Islamic thought and practice in the modern world! No other book captures current debates with such effectiveness, also placing them in a historical context accessible to students, colleagues, and adventuresome general readers.'

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0748637923
• ISBN 13: 9780748637928
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304
• Editor: Masud Muhammad, Salvatore Armando, Van Bruinessen Martin