The Imperatives of Progressive Islam

225 Pages·2017·1.443 MB·English

by  Adis Duderija

The Imperatives of Progressive Islam
With the proliferation of transnational Muslim networks over the last two
decades, the religious authority of traditionally educated Muslim scholars,
the ‘ulama, has come under increasing scrutiny and disruption. These net-
works have provided a public space for multiple perspectives on Islam to be
voiced, allowing ‘progressive’ Islamic worldviews to fl ourish alongside more
(neo)traditional outlooks.
This book brings together the scholarship of leading progressive Muslim
scholars, incorporating issues pertaining to politics, jurisprudence, ethics,
theology, epistemology, gender, and hermeneutics in the Islamic tradition. It
provides a comprehensive discussion of the normative imperatives behind a
progressive Muslim thought, as well as outlining its various values and aims.
Presenting this emerging and distinctive school of Islamic thought in an
engaging and scholarly manner, this is essential reading for any academic
interested in contemporary religious thought and the development of modern
Islam.
Adis Duderija is a lecturer in Study of Islam and Society, Griffi th University,
Australia. His research focuses on Islamic, interfaith, and gender issues.

The Imperatives of
Progressive Islam
Adis Duderija
First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Adis Duderija
The right of Adis Duderija to be identifi ed as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Duderija, Adis, 1977– author.
Title: The imperatives of progressive Islam / Adis Duderija.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2017. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifi ers: LCCN 2016045403 | ISBN 9781138218017
(hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315438849 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Islam—21st century. | Islamic modernism.
Classifi cation: LCC BP161.3 .D835 2017 | DDC 297—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016045403
ISBN: 978-1-138-21801-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-43884-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To progressive Muslims worldwide and all those who identify
with or are supportive of the imperatives of progressive Islam
as outlined in this book

Contents
Note on transliteration ix
Foreword xi
Introduction: broader contextualisation of progressive Islam 1
1 The poiesis imperative 10
2 The epistemological imperative 31
3 The religious pluralism imperative 56
4 The Islamic liberation theology imperative 75
5 The human rights imperative 99
6 The ethical imperative in Islamic jurisprudence/law 122
7 The gender-justice imperative 148
8 The imperative of non-patriarchal Islamic hermeneutics 169
Conclusion: the future of progressive Islam 192
Select Bibliography 194
Index 205

Note on transliteration
Given the non-specialist nature of the book and its intended readership, the
Arabic and other foreign language terminology has only been placed in italics
but not transliterated. The exception to this are common Arabic words such
as Qur’an, hadith and sunna which have been not been placed in italics.