Guardians of Faith in Modern Times: 'Ulama' in the Middle East.

• Author: Voll, John O.
• Position: Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia, vol. 105 - Book review

Guardians of Faith in Modern Times: 'Ulama' in the Middle East. Edited by MEIR HATINA. Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia, vol. 105. Leiden: BRILL, 2009. Pp. xi + 342. $160.

Scholar-specialists in the core Islamic intellectual disciplines have been central to the development of Muslim thought and theology throughout Islamic history. These scholars, the ulama, defined Muslim understandings of law, creed, and practice of the believers. The changing role of the ulama in Muslim societies is a significant part of modern and contemporary Islamic history. The volume edited by Meir Hatina on the ulama as "guardians of faith in modern times" provides important studies of the ways that the ulama continued to be a significant part of Muslim history and experience in the modern era, although often in new ways, adapting to historic change.

Primary goals of this volume are "to present an updated historical and contemporary survey of the 'Ulama"' and "to re-evaluate the position of these 'guardians of faith' in an era of modernization, reform, nationalism and fundamentalism" (p. 5). The studies present a significant revision of the widely held image of the ulama in the modern era as conservatives, opposed to any change and rigidly repeating outdated medieval formulations of the faith. A central theme in the studies is "that modern Sunni 'ulama' did not only respond to new contexts, they also acquired renewed momentum and contributed to the public discourse on ethical, cultural and social issues" (p. 16). The relationships "between tradition and change, old and new, were dynamic and interactive, rather than separate and conflicting" (p. 17).

This basic conceptual foundation gives a sense of integration to a collection of very diverse studies. The volume also has a clearly defined subject matter. It concentrates on Sunni ulama in the Middle East, primarily studying experiences in the Arab world. The four parts of the book each concentrate on a particular theme or aspect of ulama activity, ranging from premodern to contemporary developments.

After a very helpful introduction which frames the themes and conclusions of the studies included in the volume, part one contains two essays on the status of the ulama in premodern history. Michael Winter provides a broad panoramic view of the history of the ulama as a significant clement within Muslim societies. Although he shows their importance in Islamic history, he suggests a decline...