Public Culture and Islam in Modern Egypt
Media, Intellectuals and Society
Hatsuki Aishima
224 pages | ~6 hrs
Public Culture and Islam in Modern Egypt
Media, Intellectuals and Society
By Hatsuki Aishima
In contemporary Egypt, the intersection of faith, education, and social identity creates a complex landscape that shapes how individuals understand their place in society. This scholarly exploration delves into the evolving role of intellectuals and religious authorities in modern Egyptian culture, examining how traditional Islamic scholarship adapts to contemporary social pressures.
Through the lens of 'Abd al-Halim Mahmud, a prominent Sufi scholar who served as Grand Imam of al-Azhar, this study reveals how religious knowledge and teaching have become intertwined with questions of authenticity, class, and cultural identity. Mahmud's unique background, combining French academic training with deep Sufi spirituality, offers a compelling case study of how Islamic scholarship navigates between traditional wisdom and modern intellectual frameworks.
The book addresses pressing questions about what it means to be truly educated and spiritually grounded in today's Egypt. As economic changes reshape society's middle class, the author examines how religious authority and cultural authenticity are perceived, represented, and sometimes commodified through media and public discourse.
For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions maintain relevance in rapidly changing societies, this work provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between Islamic scholarship, social class, and cultural identity. It offers a thoughtful analysis of how religious knowledge adapts to contemporary challenges while preserving its essential spiritual foundations.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Egypt, politics and government
- ✓ Explore Intellectuals
- ✓ Explore Social life and customs
- ✓ Explore Egypt
- ✓ Explore Islam and culture
- ✓ Explore Middle class
- ✓ Explore Intellectual life
- ✓ Explore Social conditions
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2015
- Publisher
- I. B. Tauris & Company, Limited
- ISBN-13
- 9781780766218
- ISBN-10
- 1780766211
- Pages
- 224
- Language
- EN
