The worlds that Islam made

Engelsberg Ideas

James McDougall’s Worlds of Islam: A Global History argues Islam's global expansion stemmed from pragmatic adaptability and trade, not primarily coercive power, exemplified by its early presence in Guangzhou, China, and later in Indonesia. Merchants facilitated this spread, integrating into local cultures and shaping a malleable Islam that accommodated diverse traditions.

The article contends that post-9/11 Western debates about a “true” Islam, from alarmist critics to President George W. Bush's “Islam is peace” narrative, often overlook the religion's inherently constructivist nature. Islam's lack of a centralized clergy fosters democratized, contested interpretations, which can be exploited by those seeking confrontation with modernity. This is compounded by Islam's self-perception as humanity's final chance for salvation, leading some to resist compromise. Fitzroy Morrissey’s The Renewal of Islam: Thinkers and Believers of the Modern Era explores how Muslim scholars, including Mohammed bin Salman, navigate modernity through concepts of _mujaddid_ (renewers) and _al-maslaha al-mursalah_ (public good), promoting subjective interpretation and toleration.

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