Islamic Images and Ideas: Essays on Sacred Symbolism

These 24 studies on specific symbols, images and icons from the Muslim tradition authored by scholars from around the world. Divided into four sections, the Divine, the Spiritual, the Physical, and the Societal, the work examines theological issues, such as divine unity, creation, wrath, and justice; 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-centred subjects such as the centre, ijtihad, governance, otherness, ""Ashura"", and Arabic. Drawing from the Qur'an and Sunnah, these topics are all tackled with tact and respect from a position that appreciates exegetical diversity while remaining within the realm of unity.