Martyrdom in Modern Islam
Piety, Power, and Politics

An in-depth analysis of modern Islamic martyrdom and its various interpretations, positing martyrdom as a vital component of contemporary identity politics and power struggles.

Meir Hatina (Author)

9781107063075, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 April 2014

286 pages, 3 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.2 cm, 0.52 kg

'[This book] is a well-written and comprehensive study of the historical and contemporary dimensions of martyrdom in Islamic thought, one that is firmly situated within the broader Abrahamic tradition and theoretical understandings of martyrdom as a form of witnessing and preaching. Hatina makes extensive use of both key primary and secondary sources as well, providing one of the best studies of the topic that has yet to be published.' Christopher Anzalone, The Muslim World Book Review

The Islamic resurgence in modern times has received extensive treatment in scholarly literature. Most of this literature, however, deals with the concept of jihad and disputes between radicals and their rivals over theological and political issues, and far less with martyrdom and death. Moreover, studies that do address the issue of martyrdom focus mainly on 'suicide' attacks - a phenomenon of the late twentieth century and onward - without sufficiently placing them within a historical perspective or using an integrative approach to illuminate their political, social and symbolic features. This book fills these lacunae by tracing the evolving Islamic perceptions of martyrdom, its political and symbolic functions, and its use of past legacies in both Sunni and Shi'i milieus, with comparative references to Judaism, Christianity and other non-Islamic domains. Based on wide-ranging primary sources, along with historical and sociological literature, the study provides an in-depth analysis of modern Islamic martyrdom and its various interpretations while also evaluating the historical realities in which such interpretations were molded and debated.

Introduction
1. Defying the oppressor: martyrdom in Judaism and Christianity
2. Dying for God in Islam
3. Modern Islamist perceptions
4. 'The army of shrouds' - 'suicide' attacks in ethno-national conflicts
5. Al Qai'da's transnational martyrdom
6. Martyrs as preachers
7. Debating 'suicide' attacks
8. Approaching 'suicide' attacks
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], History of ideas [JFCX], Islam [HRH]