Introduction: Muslim activist intellectuals and their place in history -- Ismail Ragi al-Faruqi: pioneer in Muslim-Christian relations -- Khurshid Ahmad: Muslim activist-economist -- Maryam Jameelah: a voice of conservative Islam -- Hasan Hanafi: the classic intellectual -- Rashid Ghannoushi: activist in exile -- Hasan al-Turabi: the Mahdi-lawyer -- Abdolkarim Soroush and critical discourse in Iran / Valla Vakili -- Anwar Ibrahim: activist moderate -- Abdurrahman Wahid: scholar-president
Summary
In this timely and important work, John Esposito and John Voll explore the development of contemporary Islamic movements and thought through the biographies of nine major activist intellectuals who represent a wide range of Muslim societies. Many Muslims have combined revivalist activism with intellectual efforts, but only a few have achieved significant international visibility and influence. By examining the lives and work of nine such internationally recognized figures, Esposito and Voll provide a new understanding of the intellectual foundations of contemporary Islamic awareness and politi