ISLAM & THE PROBLEM OF BLACK S

Sherman A. Jackson is Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and African-American Studies, University of Michigan

The problem confronting the black community is not simply proving that God exists, says Jackson. The problem, rather, is establishing that God cares. For the Muslim, therefore, it is essential to find a Quranic/Islamic grounding for the protest-oriented agenda of black religion. That is the task Jackson undertakes in this pathbreaking work. Jackson's previous book, Islam and the Blackamerican (OUP 2006) laid the groundwork for this ambitious project.. Its sequel,Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering, will solidify Jackson's reputation as the foremost theologian of the black American Islamic movement.

INTRODUCTION ; WILLIAM R. JONES AND CHALLENGE OF BLACK THEODICY ; THE PERDURING PROBLEM OF BLACKNESS: BEYOND ONTOLOGICAL SUFFERING ; 1. The Formative Development of Classical Muslim Theology ; THE ARABIANS AND ATHEOLOGICAL "PERIPHERAL VISION" ; MUHAMMAD B. IDRIS AL-SHAFI'I AND THE ARABIAN VERSUS ARAB REGIME OF SENSE ; TRADITIONALISM AND RATIONALISM: THE RHETORIC OF TRANSCENDENCE AND THE FALSE DETENTE ; 2. Mu'tazilism and Black Theodicy ; EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND BASIC CONTOURS OF MU'TAZILITE THEOLOGY ; RELEVANT DETAILS OF MU'TAZILITE THEOLOGY ; MU'TAZILISM AND JONES ; 3. Ash'arism and Black Theodicy ; EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND BASIC CONTOURS OF ASH'ARITE THEOLOGY ; RELEVANT DETAILS OF ASH'ARITE THEOLOGY ; ASH'ARISM AND JONES ; 4. : Maturidism and Black Theodicy ; EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND BASIC CONTOURS OF MATURIDITE THEOLOGY ; RELEVANT DETAILS OF MATURIDITE THEOLOGY ; MATURIDISM AND JONES ; 5. Traditionalism and Black Theodicy ; EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND BASIC CONTOURS OF TRADITIONALISM ; RELEVANT DETAILS OF TRADTIONALIST THEOLOGY ; TRADITIONALISM AND JONES ; CONCLUSION ; NOTES ; BIBLIOGRAPHY