Although pluralism and religious tolerance are most often associated today with Western Enlightenment thinkers; the roots of these ideologies stretch back to non-Western and premodern societies; including many under Muslim rule. This book explores the development of pluralism in Islam in South Asia through the work of the poet; historian and musician Amir Khusraw and sheds new light on how Islam developed its own culture of tolerance. Countering stereotypes of Islam as intrinsically intolerant; the book provides a better understanding of how rhetorics of pluralism develop; which may aid in identifying and encouraging such discourses in the present. Khusraw; a practicing Muslim who showed great affection toward Hindus and used much indigenous imagery in his poetry; is an ideal figure through whom to explore these issues. Addressing issues of ethnicity; religion and gender in the early medieval period; Alyssa Gabbay demonstrates the pre-modern precedents for pluralism; conveying the broad sweep of Perso-Islamicate culture and the profound transformations it underwent in medieval South Asia. Accurately depicting the paradoxicality and jaggedness involved in the development of its composite culture; this book will have great relevance to scholars and students of Islam in South Asia; gender; religious pluralism; and Persian literature.
#5549677 in Books H T Norris Norris H T 2011-03-19 2011-03-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .39 x 6.14l; .55 #File Name: 0415665140192 pagesPopular Sufism in Eastern Europe
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