Imams and Emirs: State, Religion and Sects in Islam

By Foad L. Khuri and Fuad I. Khuri

Fuad Khuri's comparative study of Islamic sects in the contemporary Arab world spotlights those that share distinguishing features like geographical isolation, intensity of rituals, and duality of religious organization. He examines not only dogma but also the variables that differentiate a religion from a sect and a sect from a religious community.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0863564267
• ISBN13: 9780863564260
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Saqi Books
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Complex and Diverse Muslim Realities

Fuad Khuri presents a competent and detailed but readable analysis in this carefully written work. Khuri analyzes the relationships of the form of state government and the type of Islam in virtually every country of the world where Muslims live. Not only that he also provides a historical anlysis of each of these, describing how each Islamic sect or order realtes to the particular form of government in every historical period. Khuri has conducted extensive on-the-ground investigation and draws upon his personal experience across the Muslim world. He provides a competent and very interesting analysis with practical conclusions about the role of various types of Islam under various types of governments. His analysis and description proves that the common ideas are too simplistic and overlook important realitites in the Arab and broader Muslim world. The information and analysis here will help westerners to overcome their stilted, limited and steroetyped views of political systems in the Muslim world. Khuri's work is an important resoruce for anyone who seriously wishes to understand the complex intersection of political formats and religious practice across the diverse "Muslim world." Khuri includes excellent historical and cultural information on various ethno-religious groups, historical movements and religious orders as well as political histories that I have not read elsewhere. This book is a rewarding and informative read, and should be annontated and kept accessible for ongoing consultation.