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Islamic Thought is a comprehensive introduction to the philosophies, thought and doctrines of Islam. Abdullah Saeed, a distinguished Muslim scholar, traces the development of religious knowledge from the pre-modern period to the present day. This book examines how Muslim thought has evolved, exploring the production, transmission, and interpretation of religious knowledge, and the trends, schools, and movements that have shaped it. Key topics in Islamic culture and thought are discussed, including the development of the Islamic intellectual tradition, the Qur'an and hadith, legal and theological thought, mystical traditions, Islamic art, philosophy, political thought, and contemporary renewal, reform, and rethinking.
This thoroughly revised new edition offers expanded coverage of Shi¿i and other non-Sunni perspectives, alongside the significant emphasis on the Sunni tradition covered in the first edition. Through this rich and varied discussion, Saeed offers a compelling portrayal of the workings of Islamic thought, both in the past and in the present.
Islamic Thought is essential reading for students approaching the study of Islam for the first time and anyone interested in learning more about one of the world's great religions.
List of contents
Introduction 1. Transmission of religious knowledge and Islamic thought 2. The Qur'an: the primary foundation text 3. The Sunna of the Prophet 4. Legal thought 5. Theological thought 6. Mystical thought: Süsm 7. Artistic expression 8. Philosophical thought 9. Political thought 10. Renewal, reform and Muslim modernism Epilogue: Trends in Islamic thought today
About the author
Abdullah Saeed is the Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has written widely on the Qur'an, Islamic thought, and contemporary Muslim issues. His publications include
Contemporary Muslim Qur¿¿nic Hermeneutics (editor, 2026), Contemporary Approaches to the Qur¿an and Its Interpretation in Iran (co-author, 2020),
Reading the Qur'an in the Twenty-First Century: A Contextualist Approach (2014),
Interpreting the Qur'an (2006),
Approaches to the Qur'an in Contemporary Indonesia (ed., 2005),
Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam (co-author, 2004),
Islam and Political Legitimacy (co-editor, 2004),
Islam in Australia (2003), and
Islamic Banking and Interest (1996).
