Routledge Handbook on Islam in Asia

The Routledge Handbook on Islam in Asia provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of Muslim societies and religious practices across Asia, challenging the notion of Asia as a peripheral region of Islam and highlighting the deep connections and influences between Islam and Asia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 370 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Routledge Handbook on Islam in Asia is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary exploration of Muslim societies and religious practices across Asia, covering a wide range of regions and perspectives. With chapters dedicated to South, Central, East, and Southeast Asia, as well as Africa-Asia connections, the handbook offers a rich tapestry of insights into the multifaceted nature of Islam in the region.

Contributors to this handbook, drawn from various disciplines, employ a diverse range of research methods, including archival analysis, literary interpretation, and ethnographic fieldwork. Their expertise contributes to a nuanced understanding of Islam's relationship with Asia, challenging the traditional notion of Arab Islam as inherently superior to Asian forms of the religion.

The handbook is organized into four distinct parts, each representing a emerging area of inquiry. The first part, "Frames," examines the ways in which authority and authorizing practices are shaped by Islamic traditions and institutions in Asia. It explores the role of religious leaders, scholars, and jurists in shaping Islamic law and moral norms, as well as the ways in which these practices intersect with local customs and traditions.

The second part, "Authority and Authorizing Practices," delves deeper into the mechanisms of authority and power within Muslim communities in Asia. It explores the ways in which religious authority is exercised, contested, and negotiated, as well as the impact of colonialism, globalization, and other historical factors on the development of Islamic institutions and practices.

The third part, "Muslim Spatialities," examines the spatial dimensions of Islam in Asia. It explores the ways in which Muslims have constructed and negotiated their religious identities in relation to their physical environments, from the mosques and shrines that dot the landscape to the urban spaces and rural communities where they live and practice their faith.

The fourth and final part, "Imaginations of Piety," explores the diverse ways in which Muslims express their piety and devotion in Asia. It examines the role of ritual, prayer, and meditation in shaping Muslim identities and practices, as well as the ways in which these practices are influenced by local customs, traditions, and cultural expressions.

By challenging the center-periphery dichotomy and the syncretism paradigm that have dominated conversations on Islam in Asia, this handbook sets an agenda for new scholarly approaches to the study of Islam within the Asian context. It demonstrates the possibilities for a more nuanced and complex understanding of Islam's role in shaping Asian societies and cultures.

The Routledge Handbook on Islam in Asia is a valuable resource for students and scholars of Asian studies, religious studies, and cultural studies more broadly. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of Islam in the region, and offers insights into the complex relationships between religion, power, and society in Asia.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032106649