A Fresh Look at Islam in a Multi-Faith World

"Muslim communities in the UK have important contributions to make to the local communities and broader societies in which they live. Yet to date, these communities, and Islam more broadly, are often the subject of misunderstanding and vilification.

Whereas Islamic legal and political traditions have, at key points, inspired and informed Western political and intellectual traditions and British Muslims have historically made, and continue to make, important contributions at every level of British life, portrayals of their religion and identity still often seem to focus on terrorism, intolerance, and issues such as FGM and forced marriages.

A Fresh Look at Islam in a Multi-Faith World makes a comprehensive case for a contemporary educational philosophy in our schools, with a view to playing a key role in creating mindsets that are resistant to radicalisation and encouraging of productive, intercultural relations. Dr. Wilkinson’s analysis of the history curriculum’s potential role in creating a forum for discussion to address the ignorance that leads to the misunderstanding of our communities adds real value to this important discussion, and to the wider debate around how we educate our children"

Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Shadow Lord Chancellor & Shadow Minister for London

"This book shows how the philosophy of critical realism and the Islamic tradition can meet with the type of intellectual fertility that characterised the meeting of Islamic thought with the philosophy of the ancients that sparked the European Renaissance 800 years ago. It returns to the contemporary Islamic intellectual tradition an intellectual depth and rigour that it has often lacked and it will be of enormous help to teachers of young people who wish to show their charges how Islam can be a productive member of the family of faiths in the modern age."

Professor Roy Bhaskar, World Scholar, Institute of Education, University of London

"This remarkable integration of Islamic wisdom with critical realist theory energetically tackles some of modern Britain’s most pressing issues in curriculum design and community integration."

Tim Winter, Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge; Dean, Cambridge Muslim College

"Using detailed research into the experience of Muslim boys, Matthew Wilkinson examines the intellectual, social and spiritual blocks to young Muslims engaging in British democracy and to owning the open-minded intellectual tradition once characteristic of Islam. One important remedy is a rigorous history education. Young Muslims need historical knowledge if they are to connect 'being authentically British to being seriously Muslim' and to participate fully in the civic life of Britain. Far from suggesting that British history is not important, Wilkinson argues that it is centrally important, and that its completeness requires a rigour in identifying interconnections across British, European and world history. History teachers wishing to reflect on the past, present and future relationship of Islam with Britain will find much food for thought in this book."

Christine Counsell, Senior Lecturer in History Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

"Matthew Wilkinson combines broad and deep scholarship with practical experience and penetrating philosophical analysis in this survey of Islam in a multi-faith world. He presents a persuasive case for a new theoretical approach to education regarding Islam and Muslims in Britain today and illustrates its application in some humanities subjects.

His telling remarks on religious education and citizenship, in particular, are very topical and relevant. If fully adopted, his approach could transform education in our schools and the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in our society".

John Keast OBE, Chair, Religious Education Council of England & Wales

"Matthew Wilkinson is an expert in the education of young Muslims as well as in the teaching of Islam in UK schools. His book delivers exceptional insights into our secondary education system and is of value to anyone interested in reflecting on the challenges raised by living in contemporary multi-faith Britain.

Dr. Wilkinson’s book makes an important contribution to today’s debate about how we educate our children and I have no doubt that it will become a standard work in the fields of education, Islamic and interfaith studies."

Dr. Edward Kessler MBE, Executive Director, Woolf Institute, Cambridge

"In our rapidly changing world all of us, Christians and Muslims alike, need as much help as we can get in relating what we believe to the often confusing problems of daily living. The traditions in which we stand, properly understood, give us stability and enrichment to approach these, but they still require wisdom in application. I warmly commend this book for the thoughtful contribution it offers to the gaining of that wisdom for both teachers and learners."

Lord Richard Harries of Pentregarth, Former Bishop of Oxford

"This book makes an important contribution to an ongoing debate both about the way subjects on the curriculum are framed and about how the diversity of contemporary British society can and does renew and refresh that debate.

Dr. Wilkinson is well positioned to understand and reflect the implications of the social cohesion debate as it impinges on curriculum reform and has, here, identified many of the factors which could make a difference to how that debate is at present conceived.

As such, this book is to be very much welcomed and will start a new and engaging phase of discussion at a critical moment for fresh thinking about the way that faith in general, and Islam in particular, are addressed in our schools."

Mary Earl, University Lecturer and Convenor, Initial Teacher Training in Religious Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

"With his expertise and experience, Matthew Wilkinson’s thoughtful narrative is valuable reading for learners, educators and policy-makers, and all others who seek to deepen mutual understanding and tolerance between believers in contemporary, multi-faith Britain. I highly commend it to all."

Rt. Hon. Simon Hughes MP, Minister for Justice and Civil Liberties