Shame, Modesty, and Honor in Islam - by Ayang Utriza Yakin & Adis Duderija & An Van Raemdonck (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

With a particular emphasis on definitions, continuities, and change, this edited volume examines the historical role and function of haya' - or feelings of shame, modesty, and honor - in Islamic theology and law, and explores contemporary Muslims' engagements with the concept. The book explores various conceptions of haya' and the practices associated with the concept in both Muslim majority and minority contexts.

The empirically rich contributions reveal how haya' is socially constructed in varying social and cultural environments across the globe. From medieval Islam to the modern day, this book demonstrates the importance of haya' and its temporal and spatial transformations.

Review Quotes

"Shame, Modesty and Honor in Islam provides important clarifications and correctives regarding three concepts that are often seriously misunderstood when considered in Islamic contexts. This volume offers a range of perspectives, paying attention to the historical development and contemporary interpretations of shame, modesty and honor. The illustrative case studies cover majority Muslim countries as well as the challenges faced by Muslim living in minority situations." --Carool Kersten, Research Professor Islamic Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

"This valuable volume focuses on the world of Islam and considers concepts of shame, modesty, and honor with a rigor long absent in cultural studies. The book focuses particularly on specific local conceptualizations. What are the best equivalents in Islamicate languages? To whom do the terms apply? How important is Islamic religion to the application of these terms? These and other enlightening questions are asked of concepts assumed to be central to Islamic and Islamicate culture." --A. Kevin Reinhart, Associate Professor of Religion, Dartmouth College, USA

"Diving deep into the anthropological exploration of concepts related to shame, modesty, and honor in Muslim societies, this book is an invitation to better understand Islam-oriented normativities in action and context." --Baudouin Dupret, Research Director, National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France

About the Author

Ayang Utriza Yakin is a guest lecturer in Islamic law and research associate at UCLouvain, Belgium, and a postdoctoral researcher at Sciences Po Bordeaux, France.

Adis Duderija is Senior Lecturer in Islam and Society and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue at Griffith University, Australia.

An Van Raemdonck is postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Research on Culture and Gender, Ghent University, Belgium.