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Towards Muslim Pluralism: Dialogue and Discord in Contemporary Sri Lanka

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Emergent Religious Pluralisms

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Abstract

Amidst multiple authoritarianisms in Sri Lanka, Shi’i Muslims use textual practices to challenge exclusionary tendencies and attempts to monopolise Islamic knowledge. As alternatives to Salafism, Shi’i and Sufi scholars articulate visions of Islamic life and practice through competing narratives. This chapter identifies a sense of internal Muslim pluralism in contestations of authority, power and knowledge.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Based on visits in 2012, 2015 and 2017 with support from the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies.

  2. 2.

    Fleeing religious persecution, Christians , Twelver Shia and Ahmadis from Pakistan have entered Sri Lanka where they await processing by the UNHCR before moving to western countries. Hazara Shia from Afghanistan are automatically accorded refugee status due to the well documented massacres of the Taliban.

  3. 3.

    See the work of Farzana Haniffa (2016), Shahul Hasbullah, Qadri Ismail, Dennis McGilvray (2011, 2016), Ronit Ricci and Sharika Thiranagama.

  4. 4.

    For further discussion on the topic of quietism versus activism, see Rainer Brunner, “Shiism in the modern context: From religious quietism to political activism,” Religion Compass 3, no. 1 (2009): 136-153.

  5. 5.

    Respectively Imam Abdallah Dadou, Amri Che Mat, the sons of Shaykh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and Ustad Hajjal Juba.

  6. 6.

    See Ameer Ali, ‘Muslim Markers in Sri Lanka : Changes and Challenges’, Daily FT, 20 June 2018. http://www.ft.lk/columns/Muslim-markers-in-Sri-Lanka--Changes-and-challenges/4-657499 [accessed 19 May 2018].

  7. 7.

    Rasiah (2019).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Holy Names University, Oakland, CA, USA

    Harun Rasiah

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  1. Harun Rasiah
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Correspondence to Harun Rasiah .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park, Windsor, UK

    Jan-Jonathan Bock

  2. Georgetown University, Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    John Fahy

  3. CRASSH, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Samuel Everett

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Rasiah, H. (2019). Towards Muslim Pluralism: Dialogue and Discord in Contemporary Sri Lanka. In: Bock, JJ., Fahy, J., Everett, S. (eds) Emergent Religious Pluralisms. Palgrave Studies in Lived Religion and Societal Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13811-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13811-0_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-13810-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-13811-0

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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