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"The progenitor of "Muslim punk rock" and one of today's freshest spiritual voices pushes back against the common assumption that the historic faiths have no occult or magical tradition in this richly learned historical and personal journey through the practice of magic in Islam. Magic in Islam offers a look at magical and occult technologies throughout Muslim history, starting with Islam's earliest and most canonical sources. In addition to providing a highly accessible introduction to magic as it is defined, practiced, condemned, and defended within Muslim traditions, Magic in Islam challenges common assumptions about organized religion. Michael Muhammad Knight's deeply original book fills a gap within existing literature on the place of magic in Islamic traditions and opens a new window on Islam for general readers and students of religion alike. In doing so, the book counters and complicates widespread perceptions of Islam, as well as of magic as it is practiced outside of European contexts. Magic in Islam also challenges our view of "organized religions" as clearly defined systems that can be reduced to checklists of key doctrines, texts, and rules. As a result, Magic in Islam throws a monkey wrench into the conventions of the "intro to Islam" genre, threatening to flip popular notions of a religion's "center" and "margins.""-- "Magic in Islam offers a look at magical and occult technologies throughout Muslim history, starting with Islam's earliest and most canonical sources. In addition to providing a highly accessible introduction to magic as it is defined, practiced, condemned, and defended within Muslim traditions, Magic in Islam challenges common assumptions about organized religion"--… (more)
User reviews
The best thing
I really could go on and on and on, and on...
This was exactly the book I didn't know I wanted until it was there. I need to put a copy on order right now.
Not written in the typical MMK 'gonzo style' with tons of personal history- his book is more like a Made for the General Public watered down thesis. Much more impersonal and journalistic, although there is a surprisingly touching description
MMK argues against the notion of a 'pure' Islam (uninfluenced by history, culture, other religions) and uses the framework of magic to show the porousness of our definitions of magic, science, and religion.
Highly recommended reading for Muslim Book Clubs.