Interpreting Islam documents the diversity and richness of contemporary knowledge about Islam and Muslim society. The perpetuation of myths and stereotypes in the west has meant that Islam is much misunderstood. To help readers make sense of Islam this book examines the range of disciplinary approaches involved in its study. It focuses not only on what these approaches have emphasized but also on what they have left out, as well as on their varied responses to the challenge of representing ‘other’ cultures. Interdisciplinary in scope and organization, the book explores the bewildering and seemingly anarchic diversity of perspectives for interpreting and making comprehensible contemporary Islam. Contributors reflect critically on the political, social, cultural, autobiographical, and disciplinary contexts of their research to understand how the study of Islam in the west has been shaped and developed. Written with the requirements of students in mind, this book offers a lucid guide to understanding Islam. It will be of interest to students of Islamic studies, sociology, politics, anthropology, and culture.
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