This book advances an Islamic political philosophy based on the concept of Ihsan, which means to do beautiful things. The author moves beyond the dominant model of Islamic governance advanced by modern day Islamists. The political philosophy of Ihsan privileges process over structure, deeds over identity, love over law and mercy and forgiveness over retribution. The work invites Muslims to move away from thinking about the form of Islamic government and to strive to create a self-critical society that defends national virtue and generates institutions and practices that provide good governance.

This book is a study of religious principles of good governance in our contemporary societies. Historically, religion has provided guidance for organizing societies. In modern times, however, religious ideas have been marginalized in social science literature. Contributors to this work explore what values and practices the Qur’an can contribute to governing our economic, political, and social life today.

Presents an analysis of key areas in governance from an Islamic standpoint. This book draws on classical Islam and contemporary sources to provide a comprehensive Islamic governance framework to contrast with the Western position.

As an emerging global phenomenon, Islamic economics and the financial system has expanded exponentially in recent decades. Many components of the industry are still unknown, but hopefully, the lack of awareness will soon be stilled. The Handbook of Research on Theory and Practice of Global Islamic Finance provides emerging research on the latest global Islamic economic practices. The content within this publication examines risk management, economic justice, and stock market analysis. It is designed for financiers, banking professionals, economists, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students interested in ideas centered on the development and practice of Islamic finance.

These 24 studies on specific symbols, images and icons from the Muslim tradition are authored by scholars from around the world. Divided into four sections, the Divine, the Spiritual, the Physical, and the Societal, they examine theological issues, such as divine unity, creation, wrath, and justice, as well as spiritual subjects, such as the straight path, servitude, perfection, the jinn, intoxication, and the status of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Essays also explore the symbolism of physical elements such as water, trees, seas, ships, food, the male sexual organ, eyebrows, and camels; and the significance of more socially-centered subjects such as the center, ijtihad, governance, otherness, Ashura, and Arabic. Drawing from the Qur'an and Sunnah, the essays address these topics with tact and respect from a position that appreciates exegetical diversity while remaining within the realm of unity.

Exploring a new political phenomenon in the Middle East, this book studies the reconciliation of nationalism and Islamism by Islamic political parties in the context of nation states. Islamism in Kurdistan has become significantly framed by the politics of nationalism. Although the concept of religious nationalism has been discussed substantially before, this work highlights a new brand of religious nationalism that has emerged as a result of intertwining nationalism and Islamism. The focus of this study is on the development of religious nationalism in the continuously tumultuous region of the Middle East. The volume investigates whether Islamism in Kurdistan is limited by the politics of nationalism – which is an accentuated example for the whole Middle East region. By looking at the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), the research studies Islamism in the Kurdistan Region to elaborate on this new type of politics. This is essentially due to the absence of a politically recognised nation state, which renders Kurds to be particularly susceptible to various manifestations of nationalism. Offering an account on the spread of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Kurdistan Region, this original research on Kurdish nationalism will be a key text for students and researchers interested in nationalism, Islamism and Middle East politics.

Analysing the rules governing the treatment of foreigners in Islam and situating them in their historical, political, and legal context, this book sets out a new framework for understanding these rules as part of a wider problem of governing through law amidst pluralism.

After barely half a century of experience, Islamic banking has become established as a new niche industry across the world offering new and sophisticated financial products designed to be compliant with the principles of Islamic legal principles and common law. This comprehensive book explores the theory, principles and practices underpinning this rapidly expanding sector of banking. Expert contributors ¿ including eminent scholars and senior practitioners in the field ¿ examine the roots of the principles of ethical Islamic financial transactions, which have evolved over several millennia, on issuesincluding usury, interest rates, financial contracting for funding enterprises, for mortgages, for leasing and other financial transactions. Regulatory and governance issues are discussed, and the practice and operation of Islamicfinancial institutions are explained via three distinct case studies. Importantly, the final chapter looks at what steps are being taken to provide professional accreditation to Islamic banking professional personnel, and prescribes requirements for training in this growing industry.

As many countries are now looking for alternative ways of doing business with a focus on preserving ethics, morals, and values, it is important to understand and consider Islamic business. Islamic business, management, and entrepreneurship are topics that are discussed by many scholars; however, researchers in some countries have yet to comprehensively understand and implement current models, strategies, and applications. Strategies and Applications of Islamic Entrepreneurship considers all aspects of Islamic business, management, and entrepreneurship. The book also provides the best practices and challenges of implementing Islamic business models. Covering key topics such as Islamic marketing, Islamic business environments, and Muslim countries, this premier reference source is ideal for managers, business owners, policymakers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, scholars, instructors, and students.

This groundbreaking book offers in-depth analysis of the modern Islamic state, applying a quantitative measurement of how Muslim majority nations meet the definition. Content for the book was developed through extensive debate among a panel of distinguished Sunni and Shia Muslim scholars over seven years.