The Prophet S Pulpit

In this collection of twenty-two Islamic sermons, Khaled Abou El Fadl, distinguished law professor and classically trained Islamic jurist, delivers incisive commentaries on the current state of Islam and the Muslim world from the symbolic pulpit of the Prophet of Islam. Part Qur'anic exegesis and part socio-ethical commentary, this volume showcases the knowledge, enlightenment, and dedication to justice that once propelled the Islamic civilization to great heights of human achievement. It attempts to illuminate the spiritual and ethical path forward for Muslims amid the challenges of injustice, oppression, and the rising tide of Islamophobia in our world.

Praise for The Prophet's Pulpit: Commentaries on the State of Islam, Volume I "In this volume, one of the most gifted and influential Muslim scholars of our time critically examines the contemporary state of Islam, offering a set of inspirational meditations on its essential, but neglected, teachings. The result is profound, powerful, and transformative. This is a must-read." Ziba Mir-Hosseini, author of Journeys Toward Gender Equality in Islam "The Prophet's Pulpit represents a courageous witness to our time's most pertinent injustices...Khaled Abou El Fadl is one of the few remaining scholars to deploy his pen and pulpit in service of the lowly, the wretched, and the oppressed. More than ever, the Prophetic message of universal justice and beauty must ring louder than the mainstream resignation to a morally weak and quietist Islam." Farah El-Sharif, Associate Director, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, Stanford University "If you crave an Islam that speaks to every part of your life, that speaks to you as a living, thinking, loving, struggling, questioning person in the here and now, seeking affirmation of one's purpose in this complex, beautiful, brutal world, this is the book for you." Randa Abdel-Fattah, author of Coming of Age in the War on Terror In this collection of twenty-five Islamic sermons, Khaled Abou El Fadl, distinguished law professor and classically trained Islamic jurist, delivers incisive commentaries on the current state of Islam and the Muslim world from the symbolic pulpit of the Prophet of Islam. Part Qur'anic exegesis and part socio-ethical commentary, this second volume to the series expands upon the learning from Volume I and adds new sections that delve into current themes of racism, power, dignity, and raising Muslim youth.

Muslim preaching has been central in forming public opinion, building grassroots organizations, and developing leadership cadres for the wider Islamist agenda. Based on in-depth field research in Egypt, Patrick Gaffney focuses on the preacher and the sermon as the single most important medium for propounding the message of Islam. He draws on social history, political commentary, and theological sources to reveal the subtle connections between religious rhetoric and political dissent. Many of the sermons discussed were given during the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and Gaffney attempts to describe this militant movement and to compare it with official Islam. Finally, Gaffney presents examples of the sermons, so readers can better understand the full range of contemporary Islamic expression.

In this collection of 26 Islamic sermons, Khaled Abou El Fadl, American law professor and classically trained Islamic jurist, delivers incisive commentaries on the current state of Islam and Muslims from the symbolic pulpit of the Prophet.

Poverty has several definitions, depending on who's defining and from what perspective. For this discourse, we define it as emptiness that borders on acute lack--be it spiritual, social, material, economic, financial or political; the absence of basic provisions that makes a person's life meaningful and bearable. It's not just the absence of food, shelter or clothing but also the absence of health-care (by whatever definition), social rights and access to education, justice and public political space to shape events in the social environment. It's a measure of societal development (Seers 1977). Poverty level defines social status--which determines social access. Poverty is better explained or defined fully by the person experiencing it, with the right words and/or images for others to understand. Poverty is personal yet very public, As its presence is a collective condemnation of society (secular/spiritual). Paradoxically, poverty from close quarters (trusted by us), Is like friendly fire in a combat zone. Armies train their soldiers to take on enemy fire, and prevail. Friendly fire? It's not only a different kind of fire, it's unanticipated and response is difficult. Its impact is painful and response is challenging because relationships are involved. There's a shocking devastation because of its source. Poverty from a close quarter like a pulpit is really difficult to comprehend left alone deal with. Though difficult, friendly fire requires a response and to get on with the war at hand. We need the same approach in dealing with poverty from a very close source like a pulpit. Poverty from the Pulpit is a Christian-sociological analysis of poverty within the body of Christ in this era of "prosperity theology" that pervades Christendom today. it asks Christians everywhere to question their perception of poverty and see where the source of their poverty is and where the solution lies.

We live in an increasingly hostile political climate, and even within the church we can find the signs of political division. Yet the truth of the matter is that political dialogue has been around for millennia—even in the epic tales of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses—and the social and political issues during the time of Jesus’s public ministry are not that different from those we are encountering presently. Pulpit Friction looks at the challenges facing the church today as it seeks to strike a balance between its prophetic call and the political and social issues causing so much turmoil in our world. Author Ken Kinton offers both biblical and historical insights in an attempt to help Christians and the secular world live more harmoniously. In order for the church to have a meaningful impact on our nation’s political process, it needs to contribute to the political integrity of the process. By learning more about the church’s role in shaping political discourse, we as Christians can together become agents of positive change.