In sixteen concise chapters on key topics, this book provides a rich, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to Islamic political thought from the birth of Islam to today, presenting essential background and context for understanding contemporary politics in the Islamic world and beyond. Selected from the acclaimed Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought, and focusing on the origins, development, and contemporary importance of Islamic political ideas and related subjects, each chapter offers a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to its topic. Written by leading specialists and incorporating the latest scholarship, the alphabetically arranged chapters cover the topics of authority, the caliphate, fundamentalism, government, jihad, knowledge, minorities, modernity, Muhammad, pluralism and tolerance, the Qur`an, revival and reform, shariʿa (sacred law), traditional political thought, ‘ulama` (religious scholars), and women. Read separately or together, these chapters provide an indispensable resource for students, journalists, policymakers, and anyone else seeking an informed perspective on the complex intersection of Islam and politics.

The contributors are Gerhard Bowering, Ayesha S. Chaudhry, Patricia Crone, Roxanne Euben, Yohanan Friedmann, Paul L. Heck, Roy Jackson, Wadad Kadi, John Kelsay, Gudrun Krämer, Ebrahim Moosa, Armando Salvatore, Aram A. Shahin, Emad El-Din Shahin, Devin J. Stewart, SherAli Tareen, and Muhammad Qasim Zaman.

A new afterword discusses the essays in relation to contemporary political developments.

Gerhard Bowering is professor of Islamic studies at Yale University and the editor of The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought.

Table of Contents:

Introduction, Gerhard Bowering 1
Authority, Roy Jackson 25
Caliphate, Wadad Kadi and Aram A. Shahin 37
Fundamentalism, Roxanne Euben 48
Government, Emad El-Din Shahin 68
Jihad, John Kelsay 86
Knowledge, Paul L. Heck 105
Minorities, Yohanan Friedmann 123
Modernity, Armando Salvatore 135
Muhammad, Gerhard Bowering 152
Pluralism and Tolerance, Gudrun Krämer 169
Qur`an, Gerhard Bowering 185
Revival and Reform, Ebrahim Moosa and SherAli Tareen 202
Shari`a, Devin J. Stewart 219
Traditional Political Thought, Patricia Crone 238
`Ulama`, Muhammad Qasim Zaman 252
Women, Ayesha S. Chaudhry 263
Contributors 273
Index 275