Islamic Minorities of South Asia

Islam and Islamicate South Asia have generated interest since 9/11 as never before. However, Islamic Minorities, specifically, is still a relatively neglected area of study in South Asian Islam. It may be due to the reason that there has been a tendency to look at Islam as a monolithic faith and Muslims as a monolithic population to the western world.

This book focuses on such Islamic Minorities as the Shias (dominant Isna Ashari/Twelver Shias), Ismaili Khoja, Dawoodi Bohra, and Ahmedia/Qadiyani communities and looks at them from the perspective of their interaction with Hindu cultures and traditions. Written in lucid language from a sociological perspective, it should be an important contribution to the field of “Lived Islam” or “Islam in Practice.”

This book will be invaluable to all those interested in the religion, society, and culture of Muslim South Asia.