Farid Esack is a South African Progressive Muslim writer and scholar. In modern times there have been a number of liberal movements within Islam (sometimes called in Arabic: الإسلام الإجتهادية or interpretation-based Islam, also الإسلام المتقدمة or Progressive Islam). These generally denote religious outlooks which depend mainly on ijtihad or re-interpretations of scriptures. ...

He did his undergraduate studies in Islam at Jami'ah Ulum al-Islamia and graduated from Jami'ah Alimiyyah al-Islamia with a Bachelors Degree in Islamic Law & Theology. He did post-graduate research in Qur'anic Studies at Jami'ah Abu Bakr (all in Karachi) and completed a doctoral degree in Qur'anic Hermeneutics at University of Birmingham (UK). In 1994-95 he was a Research Fellow in Biblical Hermeneutics at Philosophische Theologische Hochschule, Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt am Main. In 1984-89 he was the National Coordinator of Call of Islam. As a person committed to inter-religious solidarity for justice and peace and the struggle against apartheid, he played a leading role in the United Democratic Front, The Call of Islam, the Organisation of People Against Sexism, the Cape Against Racism, and the World Conference on Religion and Peace. He has been a regular political columnist for the Cape Times, Beeld and Burger and a socio-religious columnist for Al Qalam, Islamica, and Assalaamu Alaikum. In addition to a number of articles published in different parts of the world, he is the author of a major work on Islamic Liberation theology, Qur’an, Liberation and Pluralism (1996). He has also written On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today (1999). His current research projects include “In Conversation with Progressive Islam: The Struggle for Authenticity, Justice and Belonging” and “AIDS and the Search for an Islamic Theology of Compassion”. Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... Theology is reasoned discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, word or reason). It can also refer to the study of other religious topics. ... Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... The University of Birmingham is an English university in the city of Birmingham. ... Frankfurt am Main [ˈfraŋkfʊrt] is the largest city in the German state of Hessen and the fifth largest city of Germany. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Malawi political parties ... The Cape Times is an English language morning newspaper published in Cape Town, South Africa. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... // Overview In essence, liberation theology explores the relationship between Christian theology (usually Roman Catholic) and political activism, particularly in areas of social justice, poverty, and human rights. ...

Source: http://www.jhfc.duke.edu/ducis/civilizations/_esack.html

External Links

• Official Website
• Blog to which Esack contributes
• Race Matters - Farid Esack
• CBC Radio One's 'Tapestries' - Interview with Esack (requires Real Player)