Hierarchy and Egalitarianism in Islamic Thought

Description

By analyzing a wide range of Arab and Persian literature, Louise Marlow demonstrates that Islam's initial orientation was markedly egalitarian, but the social aspect of this egalitarianism was soon undermined in the aftermath of Islam's political success. Although the memory of its early promise never entirely receded, social egalitarianism was soon associated with political subversion. The originality and chronological scope of Louise Marlow's book will ensure a wide readership of Islamic historians and of scholars assessing the impact of the recent Islamic revival. COVER Brief Introduction Title TABLE of CONTENTS Preface Introduction PART I - Sources for Islamic Social Ideals Chapter 1 - Egalitarianism and The Growth of A Pious Opposition Chapter 2 - The Muslim Reception of Greek Ideas Chapter 3 - The Muslim Reception of Iranian Models PART II - The Taming of Islamic Egalitarianism Chapter 4 - The Dissociation of Egalitarianism and Opposition Chapter 5 - The Didactic Literature of The Courts Chapter 6 - Rationalisations of Inequalities Chapter 7 - Hierarchies of Occupations Conclusion Bibliography Index to Quranic Verses General Index Back Cover