Islamic Thought: An Introduction

Islamic Thought is a comprehensive introduction to the philosophies, ideas and doctrines of Islam. Abdullah Saeed, a distinguished Muslim scholar, traces the development of religious knowledge from the pre-modern period to the present day. This book examines how Muslim thought has evolved, exploring the production, transmission, and interpretation of religious knowledge, and the trends, schools, and movements that have shaped it. Key topics in Islamic culture and thought are discussed, including the development of the Islamic intellectual tradition, the Qur’an and hadith, legal and theological thought, mystical traditions, Islamic art, philosophy, political thought, and contemporary renewal, reform, and rethinking.

This thoroughly revised edition offers expanded coverage of Shi‘i and other non-Sunni perspectives, alongside the significant emphasis on the Sunni tradition covered in the first edition. Through this rich and varied discussion, Saeed offers a compelling portrayal of the workings of Islamic thought, both past and present. Islamic Thought is essential reading for students approaching the study of Islam for the first time and for anyone interested in learning more about one of the world’s great religions.

Abdullah Saeed is the Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has written widely on the Qur’an, Islamic thought, and contemporary Muslim issues. His publications include Contemporary Muslim Qur’anic Hermeneutics (editor, 2026), Contemporary Approaches to the Qur’an and Its Interpretation in Iran (co-author, 2020), Reading the Qur’an in the Twenty-First Century: A Contextualist Approach (2014), Interpreting the Qur’an (2006), Approaches to the Qur’an in Contemporary Indonesia (ed., 2005), Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam (co-author, 2004), Islam and Political Legitimacy (co-editor, 2004), Islam in Australia (2003), and Islamic Banking and Interest (1996).