"Islam" Means Peace: Understanding the Muslim Principle of Nonviolence Today

by Amitabh Pal

Overview

This decisive account of the role of nonviolence in Islam and Muslim societies, both historically and in current times, chronicles an often-obscured but longstanding pacifist tradition.

"Islam" Means Peace: Understanding the Muslim Principle of Nonviolence Today provides a rebuttal to general misperceptions about the religion by documenting its rich tradition of nonviolence. To that end, the book examines the sources of Islam—the Qur'an, the main religious text of Islam, and the Hadith, the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. It contests the prevalent notion that Islam is built on violence in part by illuminating the role of the tolerant, mystical tradition of Sufism in Islam, while at the same time examining the misunderstood place of jihad in the religion.

The book is not, however, a historical or theological treatise. Rather, it focuses on the tradition of nonviolence in modern Muslim societies. By spotlighting recent peaceful protest movements in Muslim communities, the book underscores the truly global and multicultural nature of the Islamic tradition of nonviolence. The findings here will be invaluable for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, revealing an alternative tradition both can embrace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313382901
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/03/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Amitabh Pal is managing editor of The Progressive magazine and coeditor of The Progressive Media Project.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Inspiration at the Roots: Sources of Nonviolence in Islam 13

Chapter 3 At the Point of a Sword? How Islam Actually Spread 45

Chapter 4 Ignored for No Fault of Theirs: The Sufis and Other Pacifist Muslim Sects 59

Chapter 5 Jihad Is Not War: Grappling with the Most Controversial Aspect of Islam 83

Chapter 6 A Most Improbable Tale: Nonviolence among the Pashtuns of Pakistan 97

Chapter 7 Following in the Mahatma's Footsteps: Muslim Gandhians 125

Chapter 8 A Refusal to Cooperate: The Struggle of the Kosovar Albanians 141

Chapter 9 Not Just a Land of Conflict: Nonviolence in the Middle East 163

Chapter 10 Struggling against Heavy Odds: Palestinians and Nonviolence 179

Chapter 11 To Topple Dictators without Force: Peaceful Protest in Modern South Asia 213

Chapter 12 Conclusion 225

Notes 231

Bibliography 259

Index 267

What People are Saying About This

Stephen Zunes

"With so many ugly stereotypes of the Islamic tradition and its adherents confusing so many in the West, Amitabh Pal has done a great service in writing a powerful and readable overview of the real Islam. Not only does Pal make a convincing case regarding the strong foundations of nonviolence in Islam in theory, he provides many examples of the application of nonviolence in practice, particularly the rich history of strategic nonviolent action campaigns by Muslims in support of self-determination, human rights and democracy."

Moustafa Bayoumi

"Finally, the book so many of us have been waiting for! With a keen eye for history and politics, Amitabh Pal not only demolishes the stereotype that Islam is an inherently violent religion but also demonstrates Islam’s emphatic traditions of coexistence, compassion, and social justice. Most importantly, this is a book for anyone seeking the path of nonviolence—Muslim and non-Muslim alike."

Dr. Jack G. Shaheen

"Pal's fresh, compelling book is a must-read. He brings us—East and West —closer together by humanizing Islam, and in so doing he shatters media's pervasive and damaging myths about Muslims."

Gene Sharp

"By preparing the important book "Islam" Means Peace, Amitabh Pal has made an important contribution to correcting widespread misconceptions of Islam and Muslims. That task has been made difficult by the deeds of those Muslims who commit major violence in the name of their religion. Amitabh Pal has helped to call attention to the fact that many Muslims, to the contrary, understand Islam to require peaceful behavior. Muslims in important nonviolent struggles have served as brave and disciplined campaigners."