Abstract

Drawing on the work of Hegel, this book proposes a framework for understanding modernity in the Muslim world and analyzes the discourse of prominent Muslim thinkers and political leaders. Chapter by chapter, the book undertakes a close textual analysis of the works of Mohammad Iqbal, Abul Ala Maududi , Sayyid Qutb , Fatima Mernissi, Mehdi Haeri Yazdi, Mohammad Mojtaehd Shabestari, Mohammad Khatami, Seyyed Hussein Nasr and Mohamad Arkoun, drawing conclusions about contemporary Islamic thought with reference to some of the most significant markers of modernity.

 "The author examines the political views of nine 20th/21st Muslim ideologues; Sir Muhammad Iqbal, SayyidAbul ‘Ala Maududi, Sayyid Qutb, Fatima   Mernissi,   Mehdi   Haeri Yazdi,   Mohamad Mojtahed Shabestari, Mohammad Khatami, Seyyed Hossein and Mohammed Arkoun.  Each one is  the  subject  of  an  independent  essay  but, ...  all essays  are  by  the  same  author. This  provides  refreshing  continuity  and eliminates the  “curate’s  egg”  problem  when  reviewing  such  a  work. On the other hand, it provides  the opportunity for the  author to insert his own views throughout – which temptation Mr. Vahdat admirably eschews....  this   is   an   extremely   informative, well-researched, well-organised and well-presented book. " —The Islamic Quarterly: Vol 60, No. 1-133

Drawing on the work of Hegel, this book proposes a framework for understanding modernity in the Muslim world and analyzes the discourse of prominent Muslim thinkers and political leaders with reference to some of the most significant markers of modernity.

This study closely examines the works of nine major Islamic thinkers in twentieth and twenty-first centuries: Mohammad Iqbal, Abul Ala Maududi , Sayyid Qutb , Fatima Mernissi, Mehdi Haeri Yazdi, Mohammad Mojtaehd Shabestari, Mohammad Khatami, Seyyed Hussein Nasr and Mohamad Arkoun.

By discussing these thinkers, the book traces the genealogy of major strands of consciousness in some crucial parts of the contemporary Islamic world and their relations to significant features of the modernity, such as human and individual subjectivity and agency, freedom, domination, culture of mass democracy, human rights, women’s rights, political activism and participation, economic ethos and views on forms of property ownership, as well as social and cultural pluralism.

“Vahdat introduces a broad range of carefully selected source material for English readers to contribute to current debates in the social sciences, specifically the nature and scope of modernizing change, as well as its intellectual and institutional contributions and impediments. This book will be of interest to those studying these issues at a more specific level in the Muslim world, as well as those who work more generally on theoretical debates in comparative politics and democratization.” —Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego

Farzin Vahdat is a sociologist working on conditions and notions of modernity and their applications to Iran, Islam and the Muslim world. Vahdat has taught at Tufts, Harvard and Yale Universities, as well as Vassar College.

“Vahdat introduces a broad range of carefully selected source material for English readers and contributes to current debates in the social sciences, specifically the nature and scope of modernizing change, as well as its intellectual and institutional contributions and impediments. This book will be of interest to those studying these issues at a more specific level in the Muslim world, as well as those who work more generally on theoretical debates in comparative politics and democratization.” —Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego