Confronting such key contemporary issues as racism, justice, sexuality, and gender, this book offers a revealing insight into the real challenges faced by Muslims of both sexes in Western society.

Developed in response to the events of September 11 2001, these 14 articles from leading Muslim thinkers offer a provocative reassessment of Islam's relationship with the modern world.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [333]-340) and index.

Introduction: The times they are a-changin' -a Muslim quest for justice, gender equality and pluralism / Omid Safi — The ugly modern and the modern ugly: reclaiming the beautiful in Islam / Khaled Abou El Fadl — In search of progressive Islam beyond 9/11 / Farid Esack — Islam: a civilizational project in progress / Ahmet Karamustafa — The debts and burdens of critical Islam / Ebrahim Moosa — On being a scholar of Islam: risks and responsibilities / Tazim R. Kassam — Transforming feminism: Islam, women and gender justice / Sa°diyya Shaikh — Progressive Muslims and Islamic jurisprudence: the necessity for critical engagement with marriage and divorce law / Kecia Ali — Sexuality, diversity and ethics in the agenda of progressive Muslims / Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle — Are we up to the challenge? The need for a radical re-ordering of the Islamic discourse on women / Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons — Muslims, pluralism, and interfaith dialogue / Amir Hussain — American Muslim identity: race and ethnicity in progressive Islam / Amina Wadud — Islamic democracy and pluralism / Ahmad S. Moussalli — How to put the genie back in the bottle? "Identity" Islam and Muslim youth cultures in America / Marcia Hermansen — What is the victory of Islam? Towards a different understanding of the Ummah and political success in the contemporary world / Farish A. Noor.