Part 1: The Traditional Self-image of Islam 1.1 The unchanging static world 1.2 The finality of Islam 1.3 The self-sufficiency of Islam 1.4 Islam in history 1.5 The idealization of Muhammad and early Islam Part 2: The Religious Institution and its Decline 2.1 The religious institution at the zenith of its power 2.2 Totalitarian strategies of the religious institution 2.3 The loss of legislative and judicial responsibilities 2.4 Changes in education 2.5 The present position Part 3: The Beginnings of Islamic Resurgence 3.1 Responses to the European impact 3.2 The erosion of the traditional self-image 3.3 Conservative reformers and activists (a) Muhammad ‘Abduh (b) Hasan al-Bannā’ (c) Mawdudi (d) Colonel Qadhafi (e) The Ahmadiyya sect (f) Concluding remark Part 4: The Liberal Search for a New Identity 4.1 The early liberals 4.2 Contemporary liberal thinking Part 5: The Self-image and Contemporary Problems 5.1 The recovery of a truer self-image 5.2 Intellectual reconstruction (a) The linguistic expression of religious truth (b) The human element in revelation (c) The uniqueness of Islam (d) The acceptance of historic-critical methods (e) the acceptance of Western science 5.3 The linking of religion and politics (a) The changing shape of the Islamic polity (b) The legitimation of rule (c) The relation of religion to politics 5.4 International politics (a) The perception of a hostile world (b) Islam in the world of nations 5.5 Social issues (a) Opening the gate of Ijtihād (b) Some particular social problems (c) Human rights (d) The position of women 5.6 Islam and other religions 5.7 Towards a truer self-image Part 6: The Iranian Experience 6.1 Shi’ism in Iran 6.2 The Iranian religious institution 6.3 The preparation for revolution 6.4 The revolutionary self-image Part 7: Epilogue Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index.
Biography
William Montgomery Watt
