Reformation of Islamic Thought: A Critical Historical Analysis (WRR Verkenningen)

After September 11, Islam became nearly synonymous with fundamentalism in the eyes of Western media and literature. However widely held this view may be, it is at odds with Islam’s rich political history. Renowned Egyptian scholar Nasr Ab? Zayd here considers the full breadth of contemporary Muslim writings to examine the diverse political, religious, and cultural views that inform discourse in the Islamic world. Reformation of Islamic Thought explores the writings of intellectuals from Egypt to Iran to Indonesia, probing their efforts to expand Islam beyond traditional and legalistic interpretations. Zayd reveals that many Muslim thinkers advocate culturally enlightened Islam with an emphasis on individual faith. He then investigates the extent of these Muslim reformers’ success in generating an authentic renewal of Islamic ideology, asking if such thinkers have escaped the traditionalist trap of presenting a negative image to the West. A fascinating and highly relevant study for our times, Reformation of Islamic Thought is an essential analysis of Islam’s present and future. Na de dramatische gebeurtenissen van 11 september 2001 zijn het vooral de fundamentalistische stromingen die de boventoon voeren in de meeste overzichten van het islamitisch denken. Extremisten en fundamentalisten hebben een veel prominentere plaats gekregen dan ze ooit hadden durven dromen. In Reformation of Islamic Thought onderzoekt de gerenommeerde Egyptische geleerde Nasr Abû Zayd de positieve, liberale en inclusieve bijdragen van moslimdenkers. Hij neemt de lezer mee op een kritische reis door de moslimwereld, waar moslimdenkers van Egypte en Iran tot Indonesië proberen de islam te ontdoen van traditionalistische en legalistische interpretaties. Daartegenover benadrukken ze de waarde van een culturele, verlichte Islam en een individualistisch geloof. Velen beschouwen de dogmatische islam van de conservatieven, die vaak wordt gesteund door totalitaire politieke regeringen, als volstrekt achterhaald; ze willen die interpretaties vervangen door een spirituele en ethische islam. In hoeverre zijn deze hervormingsgezinde denkers betrokken bij een daadwerkelijke vernieuwing van het islamitisch denken? Slagen ze erin te ontsnappen aan de traditionalistische valkuil van een uitsluitend negatief beeld van het Westen? Ever since the dramatic events of September 11, 2001 the fundamentalist and exclusivist trend prevails in most presentations of Islamic thinking. Indeed, these events have given extremists and fundamentalists a much more prominent position than they might ever have dreamt of. In Reformation of Islamic Thought, the prominent Egyptian scholar Nasr Abu Zayd examines the positive, liberal, and inclusive reaction embedded in the writings of Muslim thinkers. He takes the reader on a critical journey across the Muslim World, where Muslim thinkers from Egypt and Iran to Indonesia seek to divest Islam of traditionalistic and legalistic interpretation. Instead, these thinkers stress the value of a cultural, enlightened Islam, and an individualistic faith. For many, the dogmatic Islam established by the conservatives and supported by totalitarian political regimes is outdated; they want it replaced by a spiritual and ethical Islam. To what extent are these reformist thinkers engaged in a genuine renewal of Islamic thought? Do they succeed in escaping the traditionalist trap of presenting a purely negative image of the West? -- Publisher description Ever since the dramatic events of September 11, 2001 the fundamentalist and exclusivist trend prevails in most presentations of Islamic thinking. Indeed, these events have given extremists and fundamentalists a much more prominent position than they might ever have dreamt of. In Reformation of Islamic Thought, the prominent Egyptian scholar Nasr Abû Zayd examines the positive, liberal, and inclusive reaction embedded in the writings of Muslim thinkers. He takes the reader on a critical journey across the Muslim World, where Muslim thinkers from Egypt and Iran to Indonesia seek to divest Islam of traditionalistic and legalistic interpretation. Instead, these thinkers stress the value of a cultural, enlightened Islam, and an individualistic faith. For many, the dogmatic Islam established by the conservatives and supported by totalitarian political regimes is outdated; they want it replaced by a spiritual and ethical Islam. To what extent are these reformist thinkers engaged in a genuine renewal of Islamic thought? Do they succeed in escaping the traditionalist trap of presenting a purely negative image of the West? Abstract: Ever since the dramatic events of September 11, 2001 the fundamentalist and exclusivist trend prevails in most presentations of Islamic thinking. Indeed, these events have given extremists and fundamentalists a much more prominent position than they might ever have dreamt of. In Reformation of Islamic Thought, the prominent Egyptian scholar Nasr Abû Zayd examines the positive, liberal, and inclusive reaction embedded in the writings of Muslim thinkers. He takes the reader on a critical journey across the Muslim World, where Muslim thinkers from Egypt and Iran to Indonesia seek to divest Islam of traditionalistic and legalistic interpretation. Instead, these thinkers stress the value of a cultural, enlightened Islam, and an individualistic faith. For many, the dogmatic Islam established by the conservatives and supported by totalitarian political regimes is outdated; they want it replaced by a spiritual and ethical Islam. To what extent are these reformist thinkers engaged in a genu "In Reformation of Islamic Thought, the prominent Egyptian scholar Nasr Abu Zayd examines the positive, liberal, and inclusive reaction embedded in the writings of Muslim thinkers. He takes the reader on a critical journey across the Muslim World, where Muslim thinkers from Egypt and Iran to Indonesia seek to divest Islam of traditionalistic and legalistic interpretations. Instead, these thinkers stress the value of a cultural, enlightened Islam, and an individualistic faith. To what extent are these reformist thinkers engaged in a genuine renewal of Islamic thought? Do they really succeed in escaping the traditionalist trap of presenting a purely negative image of the West?"--BOOK JACKET Exhaustive coverage of the emergence and development of political Islam and Islamic state