ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER AND HIS WRITINGS
256pp
This book is a short collection of selected writings on various issues espoused by Asghar Ali Engineer who was a genius scholar and intellectual activist. The book highlights the struggle of a person who made "Muslim social and religious reforms" his life mission and who really bore the brunt of committing himself to this endeavour. This book contains series of articles by Asghar Ali Engineer illuminating numerous shades of his thoughts and ideas on Islamic teachings. The book can be described as a crisp and bracing snapshot of the work and life of Asghar Ali Engineer. This collection is also a repository of Islamic philosophy and how it has to be applied in today's changing world. One of the great strength of the book is the multidimensional aspect of Islam dealt with in this eclectic collection.
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Padma Shri is Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India. He is former Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Languages, Head, Department of Islamic Studies and the Honorary Director, Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies and was also the editor of four scholarly quarterly journals, Islam and the Modern Age (English), Islam aur Asr-e-Jadeed (Urdu), Jamia (Monthly) and Islam aur Adhunik Yug (Hindi) published by Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He has to his credit 36 publications and more than 500 articles in English, Hindi and Urdu. His writings are also translated into Arabic, Persian and French languages. Prof. Wasey was selected for the Award of Fullbright Fellowship (Interfaith Community Action Program) in the year 2008. He has been invited to many academic and semi-academic tours abroad, including programmes organised/sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNFP, UNHRC and OIC, Muslim World League, Makkah, Nahdatul Ulema and Mohammadiah, Indonesia.
Preface v
Introduction xi
Writings on Asghar Ali Engineer
1. Asghar Ali Engineer: My Teacher, My Friend: Irfan Engineer
2. Asghar Ali Engineer: A True Embodiment of Secular Spirit: Fazlur Rahman
3. A Scholar, A Teacher and A True Guide: Qutub Jahan Kidwai
Writings by Asghar Ali Engineer
4. Constructing the Civilizational Pillars of Islam
5. Islam as Religion and Islam as History
6. Islam and Doctrines of Peace and Non-Violence
7. Koran and Other Religions
8. On Sufi Approach to Islam
9. Love in Sufi Poetry
10. Religious Diversity and Tolerance in Islam
11. Salafishm (Wahabism) and Sufism: Is There a Real Conflict?
12. Is Islam Compatible with Democracy and Modernity?
13. A Critical Look at Koranic Verses on War and Violence
14. Islam, Democracy and Violence
15. Hindu-Muslim Unity through Religion?
16. Democracy, Elections and Minorities in India
17. Modernity, Its Discontent and Religion
18. Islam and the West—What Muslims should Do?
19. Islam, Globalization and Challenges
20. Maulana Azad and His Concept of Wahdat-E-Deen
21. On Kufr, Jihad, Cow-Slaughter and Dar Al-Harb
22. Islam, Women and Gender Justice
23. Koran, Hadith and Women
24. Issues in Islamic Feminism
25. Violence Against Women and Religion
26. Internal Struggle for Power—The Sunnis Versus Shi’as
27. Identity in a Multi-Religious Society
28. The Opening Chapter of Koran: An Ecological Interpretation
29. And Now Hindu Terrorists?
30. Islam and HIV/AIDS
Index