Liberal Islam: A Sourcebook

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 360 pages
• Published by: Oxford University Press, USA November 12, 1998
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0195116224
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0195116229
• Book Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 1.7 pounds

Product Review

"This important book makes available for the first time in English a selection of writings from Muslim thinkers engaged with the issues of global modernity. Most Euro-Americans have generally had to be content with the skewed stereotypes and soundbites provided by the media, which portray all Muslims as anti-Western fanatics. Thoughtful readers here have access to the alternative voices of 20th-century Muslim intellectual life. The breadth and sophistication of this collection make it the indispensable sourcebook for anyone concerned with modern Islamic reflections on democracy, politics, and religion."--Carl W. Ernst, University of North Carolina
"This book provides a valuable introduction to many significant Muslim thinkers whose importance is ignored by headline hunters who miss the major historical trends. It must become the standard sourcebook for anyone seriously interested in modern and contemporary Muslim thought."--John Voll, Georgetown University


Product Description
"Liberal Islam" is not a contradiction in terms; it is a thriving tradition and undergoing a revival within the last generation. This anthology presents the work of 32 Muslims who share parallel concerns with Western liberalism. Although the West has largely ignored the liberal tradition within Islam, many of these authors are well-known in their own countries as advocates of democracy and tolerance. Among these are: Abdulkarim Soroush, a leading oppositional figure in Iran; Nurcholish Madjid, a prominent Indonesian intellectual; Mahmud Mohamed Taha, a religious reformer executed by the Sudanese government; and `Ali `Abd al-Raziq, an Egyptian religious scholar whose writings on the separation of church and state have been controversial since the 1920s. In an analytical introduction, editor Charles Kurzman discusses the history of the liberal tradition in Islam and identifies the main currents in liberal Islamic thought.
This collection will be an important resource for scholars and students of Islam, the Middle East, and international affairs, and will also help to redress the imbalance in our perceptions of the Islamic world.

Reader Reviews
This book was a dream come true. A thought put into words. A confusion clarified. A definite must read. Dear Muslims; look a little deeper into what your duties are as a Muslim, for Islam. You might find that most of what you do is "tradition" and not "religion". This book will help you dig even deeper into the controversies that arise in your mind and other Muslims. You will discover a "brand new religion:" Islam. The way it should be.