Living Islam Muslim Religious Experience in Pakistan's North-West Frontier [Hardcover]

Marsden's 2005 book is a powerful contribution to the understanding of religion in the Muslim societies of southern Asia and beyond.Popular representations of Pakistan's North West Frontier have long featured simplistic images of fanatical religion. The radical Taliban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan enhanced the region's reputation as a place of anti-Western militancy. Magnus Marsden shows that the life of a good Muslim in Chitral is above all a mindful life. Challenging much that has been assumed on the Muslim world, this study makes a powerful contribution to the understanding of religion and politics in the Muslim societies of southern Asia and beyond.Popular representations of Pakistan's North West Frontier have long featured simplistic images of fanatical religion. The radical Taliban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan enhanced the region's reputation as a place of anti-Western militancy. Magnus Marsden shows that the life of a good Muslim in Chitral is above all a mindful life. Challenging much that has been assumed on the Muslim world, this study makes a powerful contribution to the understanding of religion and politics in the Muslim societies of southern Asia and beyond.Popular representations of Pakistan's North-West Frontier have long featured simplistic images of tribal blood feuds, fanatical religion, and the seclusion of women. The rise to power of the radical Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan enhanced the region's reputation as a place of anti-Western militancy. Immersed in the lives of the Frontier's villagers for more than ten years, Magnus Marsden's evocative study of the Chitral region challenges all these stereotypes. His exploration contributes much to understanding religion and politics within and beyond the Muslim societies of southern Asia.1. Introduction; 2. Rowshan: Chitral village life; 3. Emotions upside-down: affection and Islam; 4. The play of the mind: debating village Muslims; 5. Mahfils and musicians: new Muslims in MarkalcÀ