Living Islam

The story of Islam is not one story, but many stories involving peoples of different races, ethnicities, and cultures. Every religious tradition is marked by internal diversity, manifested through its various communities of interpretation. Islam likewise is multifaceted, as are Muslim life and faith. Living Islam invites readers to appreciate ways in which Muslims from diverse backgrounds and traditions interpret and experience their faith. Adopting a cultural studies approach, Ali Asani begins by posing questions such as 'Which Islam?' and 'Whose Islam?', and he considers different conceptions of being Muslim. He then illustrates multidimensional ways in which Muslims relate to the Prophet Muhammad, including as messenger, model, intercessor, and beloved. Drawing on Muslim devotional practices and exploring the Islamic 'artscape', he showcases how the beauty of the transcendent can be experienced through sonic, visual and poetic arts.

Review: In presenting Islam as it has been experienced by Muslims, and presenting it in an accessible and sympathetic way, Ali Asani has produced a book that will not only be useful to students embarking on the study of Islam, but will also help foster interreligious understanding. -- Fitzroy Morrissey, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Law, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK
Prof. Asani is one of our key scholars of Islam. In this marvelous book, he gets to the heart of what it means to be a Muslim in the world today. -- Amir Hussain, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California