Religious Television and Pious Authority in Pakistan

Religious talk shows in Pakistan have emerged as popular television genres since the 2002 media liberalization reforms, providing platforms for developing and arguing ideas about Islam and religious authority. Taha Kazi's book explores how these shows mediate changes in power, belief, and practice, and the sacrifices and compromises religious scholars make to ensure their presence on television. Featured debates inspire viewers to reevaluate the status of scholarly edicts, fragmenting religious authority.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2021
Publisher: Indiana University Press

Following the 2002 media liberalization reforms in Pakistan, religious talk shows emerged as a popular television genre, playing a significant role in shaping ideas about Islam and religious authority within the country. In her book, Religious Television and Pious Authority in Pakistan, Taha Kazi delves into the ways in which these shows mediate changes in power, belief, and practice. She also uncovers the sacrifices and compromises that religious scholars, from various doctrinal and educational backgrounds, are compelled to make in order to secure their presence on television. These scholars, including madrasa-educated scholars and self-taught celebrity preachers, are given platform to engage in debates and issue religious edicts on the authenticity and contemporary application of Islamic concepts and practices. Viewers are occasionally allowed to call in live with questions, fostering a dynamic interaction between the scholars and the audience.

Kazi argues that these featured debates inspire viewers to reevaluate the status of scholarly edicts, thus fragmenting religious authority. By examining how programming decisions inadvertently affect viewer engagements with Islam, Religious Television and Pious Authority in Pakistan goes beyond the revivalist impact of religious media and highlights the prominence of religious talk shows in disrupting expectations about faith.

The book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics between religious authority, media, and public discourse in Pakistan. It sheds light on the ways in which religious talk shows contribute to the shaping of religious identities, the negotiation of religious norms, and the broader social and political context in which they operate. Through its comprehensive analysis, Religious Television and Pious Authority in Pakistan provides a valuable contribution to the study of religion, media, and power in contemporary South Asia.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 170 x 376 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253052247