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The Case for Studying Non-Muslim Islams

Petersen, Jesper LU orcid and Ackfeldt, Anders LU (2023) In Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 35(2-3). p.241-259
Abstract
In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not... (More)
In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not understand Muslim Islams without a clear understanding of non-Muslim Islams; 3) It is a way of insisting on an etic research epistemology. The article ends with a discussion of ethical and strategic benefits of adopting this approach. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
non-Muslim Islam, non-Muslim Islamic authority, non-Muslim tradition of Islam interpretation, Islamic semiotic resources, social semiotics, ethics
in
Method and Theory in the Study of Religion
volume
35
issue
2-3
pages
19 pages
publisher
Brill
external identifiers
  • scopus:85143851861
ISSN
1570-0682
DOI
10.1163/15700682-bja10095
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f4cefe9c-3938-4ed8-8945-2d1cf1d2c92f
date added to LUP
2022-12-12 20:12:52
date last changed
2023-10-08 17:58:52
@article{f4cefe9c-3938-4ed8-8945-2d1cf1d2c92f,
  abstract     = {{In this article we define a new concept that has not previously been theorized: non-Muslim Islam. We argue that theories and methodologies within Islamic studies produce a hierarchy between Muslim and non-Muslim productions of Islam, prioritizing the first. However, this article highlights that Islam may be produced for other purposes than belief in a deity; Islam may for example be important in producing non-Muslim identity, politics, aesthetics, narratives, etc. We therefore argue the case for studying non-Muslim Islam, because: 1) Non-Muslim Islams play an important role in Euro-American societies and are therefore interesting in and of themselves; 2) Non-Muslim Islams have a significant impact on Muslim Islams, and thus, we will not understand Muslim Islams without a clear understanding of non-Muslim Islams; 3) It is a way of insisting on an etic research epistemology. The article ends with a discussion of ethical and strategic benefits of adopting this approach.}},
  author       = {{Petersen, Jesper and Ackfeldt, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1570-0682}},
  keywords     = {{non-Muslim Islam; non-Muslim Islamic authority; non-Muslim tradition of Islam interpretation; Islamic semiotic resources; social semiotics; ethics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2-3}},
  pages        = {{241--259}},
  publisher    = {{Brill}},
  series       = {{Method and Theory in the Study of Religion}},
  title        = {{The Case for Studying Non-Muslim Islams}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700682-bja10095}},
  doi          = {{10.1163/15700682-bja10095}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}