Controversies in Contemporary Islam [Paperback]

This book helps to deepen our understanding of the varieties of contemporary Islam and the issues that are of most concern to Muslims today. Oliver Leaman explores some of the controversies and debates that exist within Islam and between Islam and other religions. He considers how the religion can be defined by looking at the contrast between competing sets of beliefs, and arguments amongst Muslims themselves over the nature of the faith. Areas covered include: Quranic interpretation, gender, finance, education, and nationalism. Examples are taken from a range of contexts and illustrate the diversity of approaches to Islam that exists today.

Introduction  1. Islam and leadership of the community  2. Islam and the Quran  3. Islam and God  4. Islamic design  5. Islam and nationalism  6. Islam and equality  7. Islamic economics  8. Islam and morality  9. Islam and law  10. Islamic education  11. Islam and the Other  12. Islam and belief  13. Islam and Sufism  14. Islam and entertainment.  Glossary.  Bibliography.  Index of Quranic passages.

Leaman has written a highly readable and informative work that assumes at the outset what many introductory textbooks only raise in passing: that traditions take shape and evolve as a result of difference and debate, that religious identity owes as much to what believers have rejected as to what they came to assert. A very useful addition to the literature. - Jeffrey T. Kenney, DePauw University, USA