Reclaiming Islamic Tradition: Modern Interpretations of the Classical Heritage - Paperback

by Elisabeth Kendall (Editor), Ahmad Khan (Editor)

Recent events in the Islamic world have brought to our attention the formidable potency of the classical Islamic tradition. Debates over reform, revival, and change in the Islamic world, whether of a political, religious, or economic nature, revolve around an engagement with Islamic history, thought, and tradition. This book examines such debates by exploring modern texts, groups, and figures that stake out some sort of claim to pre-modern traditions in disciplines as diverse as Islamic law, Qur'anic exegesis, politics, literature, and jihad. It challenges the tendency to locate modern scholars and groups in the Islamic world on an ideal spectrum running in a linear way from 'modernism' to 'Islamism.' It provides new insights into the complex religious landscape of the Islamic world, drawing attention to important scholars and intellectuals, some of whom have received little or no attention in western scholarship. It provides an examination of how the classical Islamic heritage functions in today's Islamic world in regions as diverse as the Middle East, Iran, and the Indian subcontinent. In its scope and coverage, this book transcends an increasing tendency towards bifurcation between classical and contemporary Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

Front Jacket

'Ranging from law to exegesis and poetry, this volume presents prodigious evidence that tradition is not fragile and static, as many assume, but malleable and often re-interpreted. The contributors skilfully show that the past is not "a foreign country", but an intimate part of the contestation over authority and meaning in modern Muslim societies.' James Piscatori, Durham University Explores how the classical Islamic tradition has been reshaped in the modern Islamic world Recent events in the Islamic world have brought to our attention the formidable potency of the classical Islamic tradition. Debates over reform, revival and change, whether of a political, religious or economic nature, revolve around an engagement with Islamic history, thought and tradition. This book examines such debates by exploring modern texts, groups and figures that stake out a claim to pre-modern traditions in disciplines as diverse as Islamic law, Qur'anic exegesis, politics, literature and jihad. It looks at how the classical Islamic heritage now functions in regions as diverse as the Middle East, North Africa, Iran and the Indian subcontinent. Key Features -Brings clarity to modern trends, events and debates in the Islamic world by placing them in their historical context -Brings together experts of the medieval and modern Islamic world -Challenges the tendency to place modern scholars and groups in the Islamic world on an ideal spectrum running from modernism to Islamism -Calls for a new approach to modern Islamic and Middle Eastern studies requiring a deeper understanding of the role and function of the classical Islamic heritage Ahmad Khan is Postdoctoral Researcher at Universität Hamburg, Asien-Afrika-Institut. In 2014-15, he was Lecturer in Islamic Studies and History at the University of Oxford, Faculty of Oriental Studies.His current research focuses on medieval and modern Islamic history. Elisabeth Kendall is Senior Research Fellow in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Pembroke College, University of Oxford. Her books include Twenty-First Century Jihad (with Ewan Stein, 2015), Literature, Journalism and the Avant-Garde (2006) and Media Arabic (2nd edition 2012). Cover image: The Grand Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a (c) Mohannad Khatib@Mediumshot/Getty Images Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com [please note new web address] ISBN 978-1-4744-0311-5 Barcode

Back Jacket

'Ranging from law to exegesis and poetry, this volume presents prodigious evidence that tradition is not fragile and static, as many assume, but malleable and often re-interpreted. The contributors skilfully show that the past is not "a foreign country", but an intimate part of the contestation over authority and meaning in modern Muslim societies.' James Piscatori, Durham University Explores how the classical Islamic tradition has been reshaped in the modern Islamic world Recent events in the Islamic world have brought to our attention the formidable potency of the classical Islamic tradition. Debates over reform, revival and change, whether of a political, religious or economic nature, revolve around an engagement with Islamic history, thought and tradition. This book examines such debates by exploring modern texts, groups and figures that stake out a claim to pre-modern traditions in disciplines as diverse as Islamic law, Qur'anic exegesis, politics, literature and jihad. It looks at how the classical Islamic heritage now functions in regions as diverse as the Middle East, North Africa, Iran and the Indian subcontinent. Key Features - Brings clarity to modern trends, events and debates in the Islamic world by placing them in their historical context - Brings together experts of the medieval and modern Islamic world - Challenges the tendency to place modern scholars and groups in the Islamic world on an ideal spectrum running from modernism to Islamism - Calls for a new approach to modern Islamic and Middle Eastern studies requiring a deeper understanding of the role and function of the classical Islamic heritage Ahmad Khan is Postdoctoral Researcher at Universität Hamburg, Asien-Afrika-Institut. In 2014-15, he was Lecturer in Islamic Studies and History at the University of Oxford, Faculty of Oriental Studies.His current research focuses on medieval and modern Islamic history. Elisabeth Kendall is Senior Research Fellow in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Pembroke College, University of Oxford. Her books include Twenty-First Century Jihad (with Ewan Stein, 2015), Literature, Journalism and the Avant-Garde (2006) and Media Arabic (2nd edition 2012). Cover image: The Grand Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a (c) Mohannad Khatib@Mediumshot/Getty Images Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com [please note new web address] ISBN 978-1-4744-0311-5 Barcode

Author Biography

Elisabeth Kendall is Senior Research Fellow in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Pembroke College, Oxford University. Previously, she held positions at the Universities of Edinburgh and Harvard, as well as serving as Director of a UK government sponsored Center focused on building Arabic-based research expertise. Her current research examines how militant jihad groups exploit traditional local Arab cultures. She has lectured at government and academic institutions all around the world.

Ahmad Khan is postdoctoral researcher at Universität Hamburg, Asien-Afrika-Institut. In 2014-15, he was Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford, Faculty of Oriental Studies. His D.Phil (Oxon) examined discourses of heresy and the formation of medieval Sunni orthodoxy. His current research focuses on the history of medieval Iran. His second research specialism concerns modern Islamic history/thought, particularly the emergence of publishing houses and editors in the Islamic world.