Includes bibliographical references and index.

List of illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Note on transliteration and translations -- The clash within Islam: a sampling of representative quotes -- Introduction: Wasaṭī Islamism -- 1. Wasaṭiyya, an innovating Salafism: reform (iṣlāḥ) and renewal (tajdīd) -- 2. The Wasaṭiyya school as shaped by Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwī: from the Muslim Brotherhood to Wasaṭiyya -- 3. al-Qaraḍāwī, al-Azhar, and the Muslim Brotherhood -- 4. Wasaṭiyya: between the Muslim Brotherhood and Jihadi Salafism -- 5. The conception of jihad: Wasaṭ apologetics, Jihadi Salafī selective reading, and liberal claims of distorted interpretation -- 6. Principles of Wasaṭ judicial decisions: Salafī and Wasaṭ dogmatism versus liberal openness to reform -- Conclusion: Islam at a crossroads -- Appendix A. Fundamental principles of the Wasaṭiyya and renewal movement -- Appendix B. The neoliberal platform by Shākir al-Nābulsī -- Glossary -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

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One of the most prominent Sunni clerics in the Muslim world today, Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi influences the discourse around matters central to the Islamic faith and to Islam's relationship with Western culture. As the spiritual leader of the wasat.iyya movement, he is the voice of the moderate current in contemporary Islam. In this volume, Polka explores al-Qaradawi's life and development as a Muslim scholar and likewise examines the philosophy of the wasat.iyya movement. In so doing, Polka compares wasat.iyya to two rival schools of contemporary Islamic thought-jihadist Salafism and secular liberalism-creating a thorough analysis of the Islamic tradition. Polka offers a broad panoramic view of these three trends and their positions on core issues debated in the Muslim world: Islamic reform, democracy and human rights, feminism, the concept of jihad, and suicide attacks and the killing of civilians. Through his writing and preaching, al-Qaradawi has become the Islamic legal authority for Hamas and for the current generation of the Muslim Brotherhood but remains a controversial figure. While his many students admire him as their spiritual mentor, others have accused him of exploiting his pulpit and his media stardom in order to promote terrorism and violence toward both Muslims and non-Muslims. Polka helpfully explores this duality, providing a much-needed comprehensive analysis of al-Qaradawi's philosophy and the centrist approach within Islamic thought.