Ibn Taymiyya and his Times

Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328) is one of the most controversial thinkers in Islamic history. Today he is revered by what is called the Wahhabi movement and championed by Salafi groups who demand a return to the pristine golden age of the Prophet. His writings have been a source of inspiration for radical groups to justify acts of violence and armed struggle.

In order to explain the widespread present-day influence and prominence of a rather obscure medieval figure, this volume offers a fresh perspective on his life, thought and legacy. The articles contained herein, written by some leading authorities in the field, study Ibn Taymiyya’s highly original contributions to Islamic theology, law, Qur’anic exegesis and political thought. Contrary to his current image as an anti-rationalist puritan, this collection shows Ibn Taymiyya to be one of the most intellectually rigorous, complex, and interesting personages in Islamic history.

This is the first comprehensive academic treatment of Ibn Taymiyya to appear in a Western language in over half a century. It should be of major importance to scholars of Islamic intellectual history, as well as to students of modern Islamic movements and ideologies.