Popular Preaching and Religious Authority in the Medieval Islamic Near East

Popular Preaching and Religious Authority in the Medieval Islamic Near East

Author: Jonathan P. Berkey

Publisher: University of Washington Press

Published: 2012-03-15

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 0295800984

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Islamic popular preachers and storytellers had enormous influence in defining common religious knowledge and faith in the medieval Near East. Jonathan Berkey’s book illuminates the popular culture of religious storytelling. It draws on chronicles, biographical dictionaries, sermons, and tales — but especially on a number of medieval treatises critical of popular preachers, and also a vigorous defense of them which emerged in fourteenth-century Egyptian Sufi circles. Popular preachers drew inspiration and legitimacy from the rise of Sufi mysticism, with its emphasis on internal spiritual activity and direct enlightenment, enabling them to challenge or reinforce social and political hierarchies as they entertained the masses with tales of moral edification. As these charismatic figures developed a popular following, they often aroused the wrath of scholars and elites, who resented innovative interpretations of Islam that undermined orthodox religious authority and blurred social and gender barriers. Critics of popular preachers and storytellers worried that they would corrupt their audiences’ understanding of Islam. Their defenders argued that preachers and storytellers could contribute to the consensus of the Islamic community as to what constituted acceptable religious knowledge. In the end, religious knowledge, and the definition of Islam as it was commonly understood, remained porous and flexible throughout the Middle Period, thanks in part to the activities of popular preachers and storytellers.


Book Synopsis Popular Preaching and Religious Authority in the Medieval Islamic Near East by : Jonathan P. Berkey

Download or read book Popular Preaching and Religious Authority in the Medieval Islamic Near East written by Jonathan P. Berkey and published by University of Washington Press. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Islamic popular preachers and storytellers had enormous influence in defining common religious knowledge and faith in the medieval Near East. Jonathan Berkey’s book illuminates the popular culture of religious storytelling. It draws on chronicles, biographical dictionaries, sermons, and tales — but especially on a number of medieval treatises critical of popular preachers, and also a vigorous defense of them which emerged in fourteenth-century Egyptian Sufi circles. Popular preachers drew inspiration and legitimacy from the rise of Sufi mysticism, with its emphasis on internal spiritual activity and direct enlightenment, enabling them to challenge or reinforce social and political hierarchies as they entertained the masses with tales of moral edification. As these charismatic figures developed a popular following, they often aroused the wrath of scholars and elites, who resented innovative interpretations of Islam that undermined orthodox religious authority and blurred social and gender barriers. Critics of popular preachers and storytellers worried that they would corrupt their audiences’ understanding of Islam. Their defenders argued that preachers and storytellers could contribute to the consensus of the Islamic community as to what constituted acceptable religious knowledge. In the end, religious knowledge, and the definition of Islam as it was commonly understood, remained porous and flexible throughout the Middle Period, thanks in part to the activities of popular preachers and storytellers.

Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond

Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond

Author: Stjernholm Simon Stjernholm

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2020-06-18

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 1474467504

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Preaching has been central to Muslim communities throughout the centuries. The liturgical Friday sermon is a prime example, although other genres that are less commonly known also serve important functions. This book addresses the ways in which Muslims relate various forms of religious oratory to authoritative tradition in 21st-century Islamic practice, while striving to adapt to local contexts and the changing circumstances of politics, media and society. This is the first book of its kind to look at homiletics beyond a specific country focus. Taking into consideration the historical developments of Muslim preaching, it offers a collection of thoroughly contextualised case studies of oratory in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Sweden and the USA. The analyses presented here show shared emphasis on struggles for legitimacy, efforts to speak authoritatively, as well as discursive opportunities and constraints.


Book Synopsis Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond by : Stjernholm Simon Stjernholm

Download or read book Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond written by Stjernholm Simon Stjernholm and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-18 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preaching has been central to Muslim communities throughout the centuries. The liturgical Friday sermon is a prime example, although other genres that are less commonly known also serve important functions. This book addresses the ways in which Muslims relate various forms of religious oratory to authoritative tradition in 21st-century Islamic practice, while striving to adapt to local contexts and the changing circumstances of politics, media and society. This is the first book of its kind to look at homiletics beyond a specific country focus. Taking into consideration the historical developments of Muslim preaching, it offers a collection of thoroughly contextualised case studies of oratory in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Sweden and the USA. The analyses presented here show shared emphasis on struggles for legitimacy, efforts to speak authoritatively, as well as discursive opportunities and constraints.

The Formation of Islam

The Formation of Islam

Author: Jonathan Porter Berkey

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 9780521588133

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Jonathan Berkey's 2003 book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from roughly 600 to 1800 CE. The opening chapter examines the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity, and the religious traditions which preceded Islam. Subsequent chapters investigate Islam's first century and the beginnings of its own traditions, the 'classical' period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs, and thereafter the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period. Throughout, close attention is paid to the experiences of Jews and Christians, as well as Muslims. The book stresses that Islam did not appear all at once, but emerged slowly, as part of a prolonged process whereby it was differentiated from other religious traditions and, indeed, that much that we take as characteristic of Islam is in fact the product of the medieval period.


Book Synopsis The Formation of Islam by : Jonathan Porter Berkey

Download or read book The Formation of Islam written by Jonathan Porter Berkey and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jonathan Berkey's 2003 book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from roughly 600 to 1800 CE. The opening chapter examines the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity, and the religious traditions which preceded Islam. Subsequent chapters investigate Islam's first century and the beginnings of its own traditions, the 'classical' period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs, and thereafter the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period. Throughout, close attention is paid to the experiences of Jews and Christians, as well as Muslims. The book stresses that Islam did not appear all at once, but emerged slowly, as part of a prolonged process whereby it was differentiated from other religious traditions and, indeed, that much that we take as characteristic of Islam is in fact the product of the medieval period.

The Jewish-Christian Encounter in Medieval Preaching

The Jewish-Christian Encounter in Medieval Preaching

Author: Jonathan Adams

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-10-03

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1317611969

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This book explores the complexity of preaching as a phenomenon in the medieval Jewish-Christian encounter. This was not only an "encounter" as physical meeting or confrontation (such as the forced attendance of Jews at Christian sermons that took place across Europe), but also an "imaginary" or theological encounter in which Jews remained a figure from a distant constructed time and place who served only to underline and verify Christian teachings. Contributors also explore the Jewish response to Christian anti-Jewish preaching in their own preaching and religious instruction.


Book Synopsis The Jewish-Christian Encounter in Medieval Preaching by : Jonathan Adams

Download or read book The Jewish-Christian Encounter in Medieval Preaching written by Jonathan Adams and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-10-03 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the complexity of preaching as a phenomenon in the medieval Jewish-Christian encounter. This was not only an "encounter" as physical meeting or confrontation (such as the forced attendance of Jews at Christian sermons that took place across Europe), but also an "imaginary" or theological encounter in which Jews remained a figure from a distant constructed time and place who served only to underline and verify Christian teachings. Contributors also explore the Jewish response to Christian anti-Jewish preaching in their own preaching and religious instruction.

Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West

Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West

Author: Zainab Kabba

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-06-28

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 1040032869

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Drawing on immersive fieldwork in the United States, Canada, and Turkey, this ethnographic exploration illuminates the transformative experiences of emerging adult Muslims on their quest for religious knowledge. This book unravels the significance of four residential learning settings, revealing their role as catalysts for reshaping Islamic tradition. Delving into the interplay between technology’s pervasive influence and the decentralized nature of Islamic interpretation, Zainab Kabba unveils a vibrant tapestry of knowledge producers vying to shape religious understanding and practice among Western Muslims. At the heart of this narrative lies the delicate balance between teachers and students, continuously communicating and recalibrating components that bring religious authority to life. Kabba dissects this relationship, highlighting the emergence of a complex landscape that she terms the ‘Muslim Education Industrial Complex’, where religious knowledge has become a commodity. This study offers profound insights into the challenges of intra-Muslim dialogue and the adaptive resilience of American Sunni-Muslim communities. Amidst a digital age and the complexities of global geopolitics surrounding Islam, it showcases how these communities reinterpret classical Islamic narratives, navigating tradition to steer their path forward. This book invites readers to ponder the evolution of Islamic learning, the dynamics of authority, and the enduring quest for knowledge amidst the currents of a rapidly changing world.


Book Synopsis Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West by : Zainab Kabba

Download or read book Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West written by Zainab Kabba and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-06-28 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on immersive fieldwork in the United States, Canada, and Turkey, this ethnographic exploration illuminates the transformative experiences of emerging adult Muslims on their quest for religious knowledge. This book unravels the significance of four residential learning settings, revealing their role as catalysts for reshaping Islamic tradition. Delving into the interplay between technology’s pervasive influence and the decentralized nature of Islamic interpretation, Zainab Kabba unveils a vibrant tapestry of knowledge producers vying to shape religious understanding and practice among Western Muslims. At the heart of this narrative lies the delicate balance between teachers and students, continuously communicating and recalibrating components that bring religious authority to life. Kabba dissects this relationship, highlighting the emergence of a complex landscape that she terms the ‘Muslim Education Industrial Complex’, where religious knowledge has become a commodity. This study offers profound insights into the challenges of intra-Muslim dialogue and the adaptive resilience of American Sunni-Muslim communities. Amidst a digital age and the complexities of global geopolitics surrounding Islam, it showcases how these communities reinterpret classical Islamic narratives, navigating tradition to steer their path forward. This book invites readers to ponder the evolution of Islamic learning, the dynamics of authority, and the enduring quest for knowledge amidst the currents of a rapidly changing world.

Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond

Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond

Author: Simon Stjernholm

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2020-06-18

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 1474467490

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This title explores the ways in which Muslims relate various forms of religious oratory to authoritative tradition in 21st-century Islamic practice, while striving to adapt to local contexts and the changing circumstances of politics, media and society.


Book Synopsis Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond by : Simon Stjernholm

Download or read book Muslim Preaching in the Middle East and Beyond written by Simon Stjernholm and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-18 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title explores the ways in which Muslims relate various forms of religious oratory to authoritative tradition in 21st-century Islamic practice, while striving to adapt to local contexts and the changing circumstances of politics, media and society.

Preaching Islamic Renewal

Preaching Islamic Renewal

Author: Jacquelene G. Brinton

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2015-10-27

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 0520286995

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"The book is an in-depth study of Muhammad Mitwall Sha'rawi one of the most important religious figures in late twentieth century Egypt. Sha'rawi was an advisor to the rulers of Egypt as well as being the first Arab television preacher. At the height of his career it was estimated that up to 30,000,000 people tuned in to his show each week. Much of the academic literature that focuses on Islam in modern Egypt repeats the claim that traditionally trained Muslim scholars suffered the loss of religious authority. Sha'rawi however is an example of a well-trained Sunni scholar who became a national media sensation. He used television for the purpose of renewing religion by popularizing long held theological and ethical beliefs."--Provided by publisher.


Book Synopsis Preaching Islamic Renewal by : Jacquelene G. Brinton

Download or read book Preaching Islamic Renewal written by Jacquelene G. Brinton and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2015-10-27 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The book is an in-depth study of Muhammad Mitwall Sha'rawi one of the most important religious figures in late twentieth century Egypt. Sha'rawi was an advisor to the rulers of Egypt as well as being the first Arab television preacher. At the height of his career it was estimated that up to 30,000,000 people tuned in to his show each week. Much of the academic literature that focuses on Islam in modern Egypt repeats the claim that traditionally trained Muslim scholars suffered the loss of religious authority. Sha'rawi however is an example of a well-trained Sunni scholar who became a national media sensation. He used television for the purpose of renewing religion by popularizing long held theological and ethical beliefs."--Provided by publisher.

Ritual and Social Dynamics in Christian and Islamic Preaching

Ritual and Social Dynamics in Christian and Islamic Preaching

Author: Ruth Conrad

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-12-14

Total Pages: 221

ISBN-13: 1350408859

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Christian and Islamic sermons from past and present, and their preachers, are analyzed to reveal the socio-cultural dynamics of religious speeches. Part I focuses on the explicit contribution of sermons in socio-cultural transformation processes. It shows how sermons connect with holy texts, religious norms of the specific group, and social-cultural contexts. Part II analyzes the dynamic tension between normativity and popularity. Rather than juxtaposing normative stances and the popularity of sermons, it shows how that normativity can itself contribute to popularity and the quest of popularity carries its own normative stances. Part III explores the ritual embeddedness of religious speech in the sermon in relation to social dynamics, normativity, and popularity, and shows how speech and rituals have a reciprocal relationship.


Book Synopsis Ritual and Social Dynamics in Christian and Islamic Preaching by : Ruth Conrad

Download or read book Ritual and Social Dynamics in Christian and Islamic Preaching written by Ruth Conrad and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2023-12-14 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christian and Islamic sermons from past and present, and their preachers, are analyzed to reveal the socio-cultural dynamics of religious speeches. Part I focuses on the explicit contribution of sermons in socio-cultural transformation processes. It shows how sermons connect with holy texts, religious norms of the specific group, and social-cultural contexts. Part II analyzes the dynamic tension between normativity and popularity. Rather than juxtaposing normative stances and the popularity of sermons, it shows how that normativity can itself contribute to popularity and the quest of popularity carries its own normative stances. Part III explores the ritual embeddedness of religious speech in the sermon in relation to social dynamics, normativity, and popularity, and shows how speech and rituals have a reciprocal relationship.

Practices of Islamic Preaching

Practices of Islamic Preaching

Author: Ayşe Almıla Akca, Mona Feise-Nasr, Leonie Stenske, Aydın Süer

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2023-08-07

Total Pages: 340

ISBN-13: 3110788365

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Book Synopsis Practices of Islamic Preaching by : Ayşe Almıla Akca, Mona Feise-Nasr, Leonie Stenske, Aydın Süer

Download or read book Practices of Islamic Preaching written by Ayşe Almıla Akca, Mona Feise-Nasr, Leonie Stenske, Aydın Süer and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2023-08-07 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Schooling Islam

Schooling Islam

Author: Robert W. Hefner

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2010-12-16

Total Pages: 291

ISBN-13: 1400837456

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Since the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996, the public has grappled with the relationship between Islamic education and radical Islam. Media reports tend to paint madrasas--religious schools dedicated to Islamic learning--as medieval institutions opposed to all that is Western and as breeding grounds for terrorists. Others have claimed that without reforms, Islam and the West are doomed to a clash of civilizations. Robert Hefner and Muhammad Qasim Zaman bring together eleven internationally renowned scholars to examine the varieties of modern Muslim education and their implications for national and global politics. The contributors provide new insights into Muslim culture and politics in countries as different as Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. They demonstrate that Islamic education is neither timelessly traditional nor medieval, but rather complex, evolving, and diverse in its institutions and practices. They reveal that a struggle for hearts and minds in Muslim lands started long before the Western media discovered madrasas, and that Islamic schools remain on its front line. Schooling Islam is the most comprehensive work available in any language on madrasas and Islamic education.


Book Synopsis Schooling Islam by : Robert W. Hefner

Download or read book Schooling Islam written by Robert W. Hefner and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-12-16 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996, the public has grappled with the relationship between Islamic education and radical Islam. Media reports tend to paint madrasas--religious schools dedicated to Islamic learning--as medieval institutions opposed to all that is Western and as breeding grounds for terrorists. Others have claimed that without reforms, Islam and the West are doomed to a clash of civilizations. Robert Hefner and Muhammad Qasim Zaman bring together eleven internationally renowned scholars to examine the varieties of modern Muslim education and their implications for national and global politics. The contributors provide new insights into Muslim culture and politics in countries as different as Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. They demonstrate that Islamic education is neither timelessly traditional nor medieval, but rather complex, evolving, and diverse in its institutions and practices. They reveal that a struggle for hearts and minds in Muslim lands started long before the Western media discovered madrasas, and that Islamic schools remain on its front line. Schooling Islam is the most comprehensive work available in any language on madrasas and Islamic education.