Islamic Society in Practice

When the Gulf War unfolded, publishers rushed out titles on the Middle East, from bios of Saddam to tomes on the region's history. It's a shame Fluehr-Lobban's book wasn't available then because it is an accessible primer on Islamic society, providing a good historical overview with a focus on how Islam is practiced in Egypt, Tunisia and, particularly, Sudan. The Rhode Island College anthropologist lived and conducted research in all three countries for a total of five years over a span of two decades. Her descriptions of Islamic values and social practice, gender relations and the tensions within the umma, or the world Muslim community, are effectively filtered through her own experiences. The commonly used Western term, Islamic fundamentalism, is inappropriate, she says, because among Muslims there is no disagreement about the fundamentals of the religion, and the Arabic translation of fundamentalism (usullyya) conveys little of the meaning and context in English. She suggests the term Islamic revival, which closely matches the Arabic translation. A helpful glossary of Arabic terms and names is included. Without the sweep of Albert Hourani's scholarly History of the Arabs, the book nonetheless is a must for the diplomat, the journalist or anyone with an interest in the Islamic world. (Dec.)