Ahmad Qābel and Contemporary Islamic Thought

Lloyd Ridgeon is Reader in Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow. He has published much on medieval Persian Sufism, including Awḥad al-Dīn Kirmānī and the Controversy of the Sufi Gaze (2018). He also has a keen interest in modern Iran, as reflected in his publication Hijab (2021). He is also the chief editor of the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.

• Introduction; 1. Biography of Ahmad Qābel: crossing redlines; 2. Jurisprudence: rational Shariah; 3. History: the faces of Imam Hosayn; 4. Politics: Qābel's view of Velāyat-e Faqih; 5. Gender: women's rights; 6. Apostasy and freedom of religion; 7. Society: the role of Islam in society; 8. Reason and superstition; Conclusion.

‘This absorbing, carefully researched book provides an unparalleled account of the life, legacy, and intellectual development of Ahmad Qābel. Drawing on an array of primary sources, Lloyd Ridgeon has demonstrated a high level of mastery, adding immensely to our understanding of the religious reform movement.’ Naser Ghobadzadeh, Australian Catholic University