Islam beyond Borders
The Umma in World Politics
Published on 11. September 2019
978-1-108-61446-7 (ISBN)
Description
Assuming a central place in Muslim life, the Qur'an speaks of one community of the faith, the umma. This unity of the faithful is recognised as the default aspiration of the believer, and in the modern era, intellectuals and political leaders have often vied both to define, and to lead it. Based on case studies of actors such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and ISIS, James Piscatori and Amin Saikal consider how some appeals to pan-Islam prove useful, yet other attempts at cross-border institutionalisation including the Sunni Caliphate or the modern Shi'i-inspired Islamic Revolution, founder on political self-interest and sectarian affiliations. Accompanied by a range of scriptural references to examine different interpretations of the umma, Piscatori and Saikal explore why, despite it meaning such widely different things, and its failure to be realised as a concrete project, neither the umma's popular symbolic appeal nor its influence on a politics of identity has diminished.
Reviews / Votes
'... this is a very timely, informative, and insightful book.' A. T. Kuru, Choice 'Piscatori and Saikal fill a lacuna among existing publications in their book's blending of political theory with a novel analysis of political practices among contemporary Muslims ... This book should be the default text for fellow practitioners and anyone who wishes to understand the rapidly changing pace of events in Islam and politics today.' Ravza Altuntas-Cakir, Insight TurkeyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
2,80 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-108-61446-7 (9781108614467)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2019
Cambridge University Press
€35.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
09/2019
Cambridge University Press
€114.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Content
1. Introduction; 2. Sunni constructions of the Umma; 3. Shi'a Islam and the Umma; 4. Saudi 'guardianship' of the Umma; 5. ISIS's conception of the Umma; 6. Conclusion.
