Issues 01
Distorted Imaginations : Lessons from the Rushdie Affair. Ziauddin Samar & Merryl Wyn Davies.
Exploring what we can learn about the Rushdie affair – the publication of the book – Satanic Verses, and critiques both the responses from Western and Islamic Communities. An essential read and well referenced in academic circles. Hard to obtain a new copy of at this time.
Issues 02
Critical Muslim
“A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing ground-breaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world.”
“Critical Muslim is devoted to examining issues within Islam and Muslim societies, providing a Muslim perspective on the great debates of contemporary times, and promoting dialogue, cooperation and collaboration between ‘Islam’ and other cultures, including ‘the West.’ We aim to be innovative, thought provoking and forward looking, a space for debate between Muslims, between Muslims and others, on religious, social, cultural and political issues concerning the Muslim world and Muslims in the world.”
“What does ‘Critical Muslim’ mean? We are proud of our strong Muslim identity, but we do not see ‘Islam’ as a set of pieties and taboos. We aim to challenge traditionalist, modernist, fundamentalist and apologetic versions of Islam, and attempt to set out new readings of religion and culture with the potential for social, cultural and political transformation of the Muslim world. Our writers may define their Muslim belonging religiously, culturally or civilisationally, and some do not ‘belong’ to Islam at all. Critical Muslim often invites writers of opposing viewpoints to debate controversial issues.”
We aim to appeal to both academic and non-academic readerships; and emphasise intellectual rigour, the challenge of ideas, and original thinking.
“In these times of accelerating change, complexity and revolutions, we choose not be a lake or a meandering river. But to be an ocean. We embrace the world with all its diversity and pluralism, complexity and chaos. We aim to explore everything on our interconnected, shrinking planet – from religion and politics, to science, technology and culture, art and literature, philosophy and ethics, and histories and futures – and seek to move forward despite deep uncertainty and contradictions. We stand for open and critical engagement in the best tradition of Muslim intellectual inquiry.”
Available both in print or digitally online.