The Quran and the Secular Mind: A Philosophy of Islam

by Shabbir Akhtar

Overview

This book is concerned with the rationality and plausibility of the Muslim faith and the Qur'an, and in particular how they can be interrogated and understood through Western analytical philosophy. It also explores how Islam can successfully engage with the challenges posed by secular thinking.

The Quran and the Secular Mind will be of interest to students and scholars of Islamic philosophy, philosophy of religion, Middle East studies, and political Islam.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415437837
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/31/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Shabbir Akhtar is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He has taught in the International Islamic University in Malaysia and has published widely on Islam, Christianity and current affairs.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Quranic Islam and the Secular Mind 1. Locating Islam in the Modern World 2. Human Reason and Divine Revelation 3. The Moral Challenge of Secular Humanism Part 2: An Arabic Quran: Assessing its Authority 4. The Book Sent Down 5. The Book as ‘The Frustrater’ 6. The Scope of the Book 7. The Authority of the Book Part 3: A Quranic Lebenswelt in a Secular Age 8. A Sign is Enough - For the Wise 9. Faith and the Varieties of Rejection 10. Human Nature and the Quran 11. ‘Greater is God!’ Part 4: Conclusions 12. Preface to a Philosophy of Islam

Editorial Reviews

"For both secular humanists and the religiously inclined, this innovative, challenging work will come as a pleasant surprise. Akhtar brings to this work on Islam an impressive command of Western thought... not to mention an equally impressive command of Muslim thought... A well-written, powerful challenge to both Muslim and Western readers, whether of the religious or the secular variety, this work will benefit all readers interested in inter- and intra-religious dialogue. Summing up: Highly recommended." — M. Swartz, Choice

'For both secular humanists and the religiously inclined, this innovative, challenging work will come as a pleasant surprise. Akhtar (Old Dominion Univ.) brings to this work on Islam an impressive command of Western thought from Plato and Aristotle to Kant, Hegel, and Tillich—not to mention an equally impressive command of Muslim thought, particularly on the philosophical side.' - M. Swartz, Boston University, CHOICE September 2008

"Shabbir Akhtar is a talented, thoughtful, and thorough writer who gives confidence to the committed Muslim reader that he is writing as a conscientious insider...The Quran and the Secular Mind is the result of decades of intellectual enquiry and could quite possible be referred to for years to come by all those wishing to articulate the best way to understand the Islamic tradition and its relationship to secular reason; this goes for practicing and non-practicing Mulsims and non-Muslims alike." - Amir Dastmalchian, Journal of Shi'a Studies, 2010

From the Publisher