Critical-Progressive Muslims: On Islamic hermeneutics, Gender and Interreligious Dialogue

When “Qur’an and Sunna” Become Slogans: Why Recognising Islam’s Plural Interpretive Traditions Is Our First Defense Against Islamist Extremism By Adis Duderija When it comes to understanding   Islam, there is a truth that some people don’t want to hear, namely the idea that although from the very beginning of Islam, Muslims have appealed to the Qur’an and Sunna for guidance in matters of belief, ethics, law, and politics yet these same sources, across centuries and continents,   have been used—often in good faith, sometimes in bad—to justify profoundly different theologies and value systems, from mystical universalism to strict legal formalism, from quietist piety to revolutionary activism. That historical fact is not necessarily a deficiency of the tradition ( “Islam” is after all an idea constructed by human minds like any other religion) ; it is a reality of interpretation. Acknowledging this reality   is the first, necessary step to avoiding the ideological traps...

  We need to Stop Pretending Religion Is Either Everything or Nothing in Violent Radicalisation   Adis Duderija For two decades, policymakers and pundits have swung between two extremes when explaining violent radicalization: either religion explains everything—a sweeping “war of ideas” narrative—or religion explains nothing, reducing faith talk to camouflage for grievances or group dynamics. A recently published volume, Rethinking Religion and Radicalization , edited by Michele Grossman and H. A. Hellyer, dismantles both positions. Its message is clear: if we want realistic analysis and effective policy, we must take religious motivations seriously without making them exclusive causes. The editors’ introduction sets the tone. Grossman and Hellyer urge readers to see religion not only as content—beliefs, rituals, identities—but also as social practice, affect, and political mobilisation. They frame religion as a system that seeks to “connect with the transcendent … an...

   The Nine Keys to a Flourishing Mind: Why Intellectual Virtues Matter Now More Than Ever This essay is based on the insights from the following work : Baehr, Jason, ed. 2016a. Intellectual Virtues and Education: Essays in Applied Virtue. Epistemology (New York: Routledge). In an age defined by dizzying technological change, relentless information overload, and often bitterly divided discourse, how we think is just as important as what we know. The cultivation of certain intellectual virtues is no longer an abstract academic exercise; it is a vital necessity. These virtues are practical tools for navigating the complexities of modern life, forming the foundation of a truly flourishing mind. They empower us to think critically, engage empathetically, and act responsibly in a world that often seems chaotic. Based on insights from intellectual virtue theory, this post explores the nine essential virtues that can unlock your intellectual potential, enhance your pe...

  On Authority and Interpretation in Contemporary Islamic Thought Adis Duderija In the landscape of contemporary Islamic thought, the concept of authority and its interpretation occupies a pivotal role in shaping both scholarly discourse and theological practice. The dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity presents significant challenges and opportunities for the understanding of authority. In this essay, I aim to provide a normative and analytical account of interpretive authority that transcends two reductive moves prevalent in both traditional and modernist discourses. The challenge is to construct an understanding of authority that is both rooted in the rich epistemological heritage of Islam and responsive to contemporary social realities as synthesised in progressive Islam/Muslim thought. Reevaluating Authority: A Critique of Traditionalism and Modernism Traditionalists often locate authority within fixed institutional frameworks or specific schools of thought ...

  The Ethical Imagination in Islamic Thought: Mona Siddiqui’s   Call for Shared Humanity Adis Duderija   “"An ethical imagination must lie at the centre of Islamic thought. Imagination is about seeing and understanding the world and this is inherently a moral activity. It is through observation that we become aware of human freedom to think and act, of our relational existence, of a moral impulse to make things better for all. Yet in our increasingly pluralist societies, faith in God should be a vessel for a shared imagination. This requires thinking beyond our personal struggle and beyond our personal salvation." Mona Siddiqui   Human struggle: Christian and Muslim perspectives. Cambridge University Press. p.155   In today’s world of rapid change and intricate socio-cultural dynamics, the concept of ethical imagination takes on an urgent significance, particularly within Islamic thought. Drawing on the insights of Mona Siddiqui , we can argue that et...

  The Concept of Wisdom in the Qur'an Adis Duderija ( the concept of this article based on SAQIB HUSSAIN’s Ph.D.thesis accessible here )   The concept of wisdom, or ḥikmah , stands as a pillar within the teachings of the Qur'an, offering a lens through which divine guidance can be understood not merely as prescriptive law, but as profound insight into the nature of reality and morality. Far from being a simple synonym for knowledge, ḥikmah in the Qur'an is a multifaceted term that has engaged scholars for centuries, prompting diverse interpretations that reflect its complexity and centrality to the faith. Exploring this concept reveals how the Qur'an synthesises earlier wisdom traditions and articulates a vision of spiritual and ethical understanding that resonates across time. From the earliest attempts at Qur'anic commentary, scholars wrestled with defining ḥikmah . Some early interpreters equated it with the normative practice of prophet   Muhammad , ...

  Belonging, by Fact and by History: Why Islam is Part of the West Generated using copilot for my Islam and Muslim Communities Op-Ed assessment taks  Hook If Islam were truly alien to the West, our cities would look different, our libraries would be thinner, and our classrooms would be missing entire chapters of what we call Western thought. Yet the empirical record says otherwise: in England and Wales alone, about 6.5%—roughly four million people—identify as Muslim [AD1]   , a minority share but a settled and visible one, in societies that have grown steadily more diverse over the last decade. That is social fact, not rhetoric. Thesis The assertion that Islam and Muslims “do not belong” to the West collapses under three kinds of evidence: demographic reality , attitudinal nuance , and civilisational history . When we look closely at how people live, what publics say, and what our intellectual inheritance contains, Islam is already inside Western life—culturally, so...

  Why Islamic Thought Needs a Hermeneutical Revolution By Adis Duderija In an age where religious discourse is often reduced to soundbites, legalism, or ideological posturing, the edited volume Philosophical Hermeneutics and Islamic Thought (Springer, 2022) offers a bold and necessary intervention. It argues that the future of Islamic thought hinges not on new rulings or apologetics, but on a deeper rethinking of what it means to interpret—indeed, to understand—within a living tradition. This is not merely a call to apply Western hermeneutics to Islamic texts. Rather, the volume stages a two-way conversation: Islamic intellectual traditions are not passive recipients of European theory but active interlocutors capable of reshaping the very horizons of hermeneutics itself. The result is a rich, multi-vocal collection that spans classical philosophy, Sufism, political theology, and contemporary reformist thought. At its heart lies a simple yet profound insight: interpretatio...

  Reconceptualising Sunna in Islamic Legal Thought: Epistemology, Authority, and Hermeneutics The essay below is based on academic book I edited and contributed to that was published 10 years ago titled " The Sunna and Its Status in Islamic Law: The Search for an Authentic hadith", Palgrave ,2015. Introduction The concept of sunna has long served as a cornerstone of Islamic legal and theological discourse. Traditionally paired with the Qurʾān as a primary source of normativity, sunna has been invoked to define orthodoxy, delineate legal authority, and shape communal identity. Yet, as The Sunna and Its Status in Islamic Law , edited by Adis Duderija, demonstrates, the meaning, function, and epistemological grounding of sunna have been far from uniform across Islamic intellectual history. This volume offers a critical intervention into the study of Islamic legal theory by interrogating the historical processes through which sunna became increasingly conflated with hadith ,...