Presents the teachings of Islam regarding peace in the world today.

This book deals with certain "e;hot-button"e; contemporary issues in Islam that are often the focus of public scrutiny, including the Sharia, jihad, the caliphate, women's status, and interfaith relations. Notably, it places the discussion of these topics within a longer historical framework in order to reveal their multiple interpretations and contested applications over time. Most public and some academic discourses however present the Islamic tradition as unchanging and therefore unable to respond to the modern world. Such an ahistorical approach fosters the belief that Muslim and Western societies are destined to clash with one another. In contrast, this book allows the reader to see the diversity and transformations within Islamic thought over time. Focusing on this internal diversity permits us to appreciate the scriptural and intellectual resources available within the Islamic tradition for responding to the challenges of modernity, even as it interrogates and shapes modernity itself.

Acknowledgement Introduction 1. Islam, the West and Muslims 2. The Real Face of Islam: Liberal or Conservative 3. World Peace and Islam 4. Islam and Violence 5. Islam and Co-existence in a Pluralistic Society 6. Islam and Science 7. Citizenship and Minority Issues: A Quranic Perspective 8. Islam and Minority Rights 9. Muslim-Non-muslim Relations: Principles and Application 10. Islam and Religious Pluralism 11. Islamic Model for Social Harmony 12. Social Justice and Gender Equality 13. Islamic Education for the Development of Nation's Welfare: Bridging the Gap Between Developed and Developing Countries 14. Significance of Muslim Media in the Context of Misinformation about Islam 15. Islamic Teachings: Maternal Health and Adolescent Reproductive Health Issues 16. Islam, Universality, Physical Health and Wholesomeness of Life 17. Arab Islamic Civilization: Past and Future- An Indian Perspective 18. Islamic Law: The Ultimate Answer to Contemporary Questions Index This book deals with some vital contemporary questions and doubts about the role and character of Islam which, in its extreme form, has taken the shape of what Huntington has called the 'Clash of Civilisations'. Huntington has wrongly pitted Islam against the Western civilization whereas the author has proved that Islam stands for dialogue and cooperation. The author has shown through documentary evidences how false and prejudiced are the allegations currently leveled against Islam. Unlike many traditional defenders of Islam, he has not indulged in counter-accusations. Instead, he has holds the rulers of Islamic countries guilty, for their conduct is contrary to the basic teachings and principles of Islam as enunciated by the Prophet (PBUH). The book deals with such vital topics as the Islamic attitude towards non-Muslims and minorities, pluralism and coexistence, gender justice, public health and, above all media and communication. It projects true image of Islam.

On the occasion of the 16th Congress of International Association for Religious Freedom held in Chicago, Illinois (USA), on the 10th August 1958, Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, Vice President of the International Court of Justice at the Hague, was invited to speak on the Islamic solutions to World Problems. The speech of Sir Muhammad Khan, which deals with various aspects of Islamic teachings and is of great informative value. Its contents are just relevant today as they were 40 years ago when the speech was made.

In the face of Islam's own internal struggles, it is not easy to see who we should support and how. This report provides detailed descriptions of subgroups, their stands on various issues, and what those stands may mean for the West. Since the outcomes can matter greatly to international community, that community might wish to influence them by providing support to appropriate actors. The author recommends a mixed approach of providing specific types of support to those who can influence the outcomes in desirable ways.

This collection of papers presents a reformist project calling upon Muslim intellectuals and scholars everywhere to comprehend the vast breadth and depth of the crisis engulfing Muslim thought today and the necessity of solving this crisis to enable the Ummah to experience a revival and fulfill its role among the nations of the world. The reader will find a variety of articles dealing with this intellectual crises, these include a chapter on ijtihad's role and history, important since our intellectual problems cannot be solved without the scholars' use of independent reasoning and creativity. Another discusses imitation (taqlid) calling upon Muslim scholars and intellectuals to abandon imitation and to stop favoring the past over the present when trying to solve modern problems. Another looks at human rights.

Exploring the increasing impact of the Internet on Muslims around the world, this book sheds new light on the nature of contemporary Islamic discourse, identity, and community. The Internet has profoundly shaped how both Muslims and non-Muslims perceive Islam and how Islamic societies and networks are evolving and shifting in the twenty-first century, says Gary Bunt. While Islamic society has deep historical patterns of global exchange, the Internet has transformed how many Muslims practice the duties and rituals of Islam. A place of religious instruction may exist solely in the virtual world, for example, or a community may gather only online. Drawing on more than a decade of online research, Bunt shows how social-networking sites, blogs, and other "cyber-Islamic environments" have exposed Muslims to new influences outside the traditional spheres of Islamic knowledge and authority. Furthermore, the Internet has dramatically influenced forms of Islamic activism and radicalization, including jihad-oriented campaigns by networks such as al-Qaeda. By surveying the broad spectrum of approaches used to present dimensions of Islamic social, spiritual, and political life on the Internet, iMuslims encourages diverse understandings of online Islam and of Islam generally.

The development of Islamic banking and finance (IBF) previously centred around three regions of the world: the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. However, in recent years, this has expanded, as interest in IBF has gained momentum in Australia, the USA, and Europe, especially in the UK. Several Western market players have established their own Islamic window or subsidiaries to cater to the need of growing Muslim populations in these regions. This book examines the recent developments in IBF, particularly in the context of Islamic social finance instruments, such as Islamic microfinance, halal education, takaful, mutual funds, and waqf. It covers the religiosity, spirituality, and tawhid index, which promotes social well-being and empowerment. The book is interdisciplinary, and theories, practice, and key issues are presented simultaneously, introducing new ideas and techniques to the IBF community. Moreover, the book examines topics such as innovation in Islamic social finance instruments, advanced techniques of risk mitigation in Islamic capital markets, marketing and the halal industry, and shari’ah-compliant instruments, which are critical to Islamic finance. The book is an essential reference text for academics and research students at the master’s and doctorate levels in IBF.

This book presents an intellectual history of today’s Muslim world, surveying contemporary Muslim thinking in its various manifestations, addressing a variety of themes that impact on the lives of present-day Muslims. Focusing on the period from roughly the late 1960s to the first decade of the twenty-first century, the book is global in its approach and offers an overview of different strands of thought and trends in the development of new ideas, distinguishing between traditional, reactionary, and progressive approaches. It presents a variety of themes and issues including: The continuing relevance of the legacy of traditional Islamic learning as well as the use of reason; the centrality of the Qur’an; the spiritual concerns of contemporary Muslims; political thought regarding secularity, statehood, and governance; legal and ethical debates; related current issues like human rights, gender equality, and religious plurality; as well as globalization, ecology and the environment, bioethics, and life sciences. An alternative account of Islam and the Muslim world today, counterbalancing narratives that emphasise politics and confrontations with the West, this book is an essential resource for students and scholars of Islam.