Redefining the Muslim Community: Ethnicity, Religion, and Politics in the Though

Description: Redefining the Muslim Community by Alexander Orwin Redefining the Muslim Community demonstrates how Alfarabis judicious combination of cultural pluralism, religious flexibility, and political prudence could provide a blueprint for reducing communal strife in a region that continues to be plagued by it today. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Writing in the cosmopolitan metropolis of Baghdad, Alfarabi (870-950) is unique in the history of premodern political philosophy for his extensive discussion of the nation, or Umma in Arabic. The term Umma may be traced back to the Quran and signifies, then and now, both the Islamic religious community as a whole and the various ethnic nations of which that community is composed, such as the Turks, Persians, and Arabs. Examining Alfarabis political writings as well as parts of his logical commentaries, his book on music, and other treatises, Alexander Orwin contends that the connections and tensions between ethnic and religious Ummas explored by Alfarabi in his time persist today in the ongoing political and cultural disputes among the various nationalities within Islam.According to Orwin, Alfarabi strove to recast the Islamic Umma as a community in both a religious and cultural sense, encompassing art and poetry as well as law and piety. By proposing to acknowledge and accommodate diverse Ummas rather than ignoring or suppressing them, Alfarabi anticipated the contemporary concept of "Islamic civilization," which emphasizes culture at least as much as religion. Enlisting language experts, jurists, theologians, artists, and rulers in his philosophic enterprise, Alfarabi argued for a new Umma that would be less rigid and more creative than the Muslim community as it has often been understood, and therefore less inclined to force disparate ethnic and religious communities into a single mold. Redefining the Muslim Community demonstrates how Alfarabis judicious combination of cultural pluralism, religious flexibility, and political prudence could provide a blueprint for reducing communal strife in a region that continues to be plagued by it today. Author Biography Alexander Orwin teaches political science at Louisiana State University. Review "Alexander Orwin combines extraordinary linguistic skills with a finely tuned knowledge of political philosophy which he uses to cast new light on Alfarabis concept of Umma, and to reveal and explore the core of his teaching." * Joshua Parens, University of Dallas *"This is an ambitious book. Alexander Orwin transforms Alfarabis abstract works into rich and evocative characterizations of the dilemmas posed by the social, ethnic, and political forces of his time." * Miriam Galston, author of Politics and Excellence: The Political Philosophy of Alfarabi * Promotional Redefining the Muslim Community demonstrates how Alfarabis judicious combination of cultural pluralism, religious flexibility, and political prudence could provide a blueprint for reducing communal strife in a region that continues to be plagued by it today. Long Description Writing in the cosmopolitan metropolis of Baghdad, Alfarabi (870-950) is unique in the history of premodern political philosophy for his extensive discussion of the nation, or Umma in Arabic. The term Umma may be traced back to the Quran and signifies, then and now, both the Islamic religious community as a whole and the various ethnic nations of which that community is composed, such as the Turks, Persians, and Arabs. Examining Alfarabis political writings as well as parts of his logical commentaries, his book on music, and other treatises, Alexander Orwin contends that the connections and tensions between ethnic and religious Ummas explored by Alfarabi in his time persist today in the ongoing political and cultural disputes among the various nationalities within Islam. According to Orwin, Alfarabi strove to recast the Islamic Umma as a community in both a religious and cultural sense, encompassing art and poetry as well as law and piety. By proposing to acknowledge and accommodate diverse Ummas rather than ignoring or suppressing them, Alfarabi anticipated the contemporary concept of "Islamic civilization," which emphasizes culture at least as much as religion. Enlisting language experts, jurists, theologians, artists, and rulers in his philosophic enterprise, Alfarabi argued for a new Umma that would be less rigid and more creative than the Muslim community as it has often been understood, and therefore less inclined to force disparate ethnic and religious communities into a single mold. Redefining the Muslim Community demonstrates how Alfarabis judicious combination of cultural pluralism, religious flexibility, and political prudence could provide a blueprint for reducing communal strife in a region that continues to be plagued by it today. Review Quote "This is an ambitious book. Alexander Orwin transforms Alfarabis abstract works into rich and evocative characterizations of the dilemmas posed by the social, ethnic, and political forces of his time."--Miriam Galston, author of Politics and Excellence: The Political Philosophy of Alfarabi Promotional "Headline" Redefining the Muslim Community demonstrates how Alfarabis judicious combination of cultural pluralism, religious flexibility, and political prudence could provide a blueprint for reducing communal strife in a region that continues to be plagued by it today. Details ISBN0812249046 Author Alexander Orwin Year 2017 ISBN-10 0812249046 ISBN-13 9780812249040 Format Hardcover Pages 264 Language English Media Book DEWEY 320.092 Imprint University of Pennsylvania Press Subtitle Ethnicity, Religion, and Politics in the Thought of Alfarabi Place of Publication Pennsylvania Country of Publication United States Short Title Redefining the Muslim Community Publication Date 2017-05-02 UK Release Date 2017-05-02 AU Release Date 2017-05-02 NZ Release Date 2017-05-02 US Release Date 2017-05-02 Publisher University of Pennsylvania Press Alternative 9780812293906 Audience Tertiary & Higher Education We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:126610685;

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