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Contemporary Sufism

Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture

William Dickson author Meena Sharify-Funk author Merin Shobhana Xavier author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:15th Dec '17

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Contemporary Sufism cover

What is Sufism? Contemporary views vary tremendously, even among Sufis themselves. Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture brings to light the religious frameworks that shape the views of Sufism’s friends, adversaries, admirers, and detractors and, in the process, helps readers better understand the diversity of contemporary Sufism, the pressures and cultural openings to which it responds, and the many divergent opinions about contemporary Sufism’s relationship to Islam. The three main themes: piety, politics, and popular culture are explored in relation to the Islamic and Western contexts that shape them, as well as to the historical conditions that frame contemporary debates. This book is split into three parts:

• Sufism and anti-Sufism in contemporary contexts;

• Contemporary Sufism in the West: Poetic influences and popular manifestations;

• Gendering Sufism: Tradition and transformation.

This book will fascinate anyone interested in the challenges of contemporary Sufism as well as its relationship to Islam, gender, and the West. It offers an ideal starting point from which undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and lecturers can explore Sufism today.

"Contemporary Sufism examines both "God’s unruly friends", as well as the scholars who have studied, written about, interpreted, and theorized about them. This is a welcome addition to the literature on Sufism and its interpreters." Amir Hussain, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, USA

"Contemporary Sufism fills an enormous gap in the Islamic Studies literature. The analysis offered here is especially powerful because it reveals the many ways in which Sufi practices challenge the conventional wisdom about gender and religious authority in Islam. Essential reading for anyone looking to understand religion and society in the Muslim world today." Peter Mandaville, author of Islam and Politics, George Mason University, USA

"A commendable research work, this volume is enhanced by it’s comprehensible text, lucidity, text-title relevance, and rich notes at the end of each chapter. Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture is a must-read for students, researchers, and those with an expertise in religious studies, Islam, and Sufism and is highly recommended for the general readership as well." Mohammad Irfan Shah, Department of Islamic Studies at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.

ISBN: 9781138687288

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

270 pages