[Review] : Transnational islam in interwar Europe: muslim activists and thinkers

Abstract

Though scholarly production on Islam in Europe is increasing with almost a geometrical progression, there are still several “areas” that, to my mind, have not been covered sufficiently. One of them is Muslim presence in interwar Europe. Transnational Islam in Interwar Europe: Muslim Activists and Thinkers co-edited by Götz Nordbruch and Umar Ryad seeks to alleviate the shortage of research on this short yet very colorful and interesting period. The volume is a collection of eight chapters, seven of which are historical case studies. As probably with most edited volumes containing contributions by a dozen or so authors, editors have a tough task to make sure that the book is consistent and the individual chapters somehow relate to each other, if not through direct referencing then at least in their subject matter, and certainly follow the main idea of the volume. This main idea in most cases can be read from the title of the book and in this particular case it must have revolved around the transnationality of Islam in interwar Europe. In the introductory chapter by the editors this is made explicit. The question of Islam’s transnationality, or transnational nature, is in general a very interesting one. Some could probably argue that Islam in its nature is transnational as it arguably disregards geographical and cultural boundaries. In other words, Islam is meant to be global. Others, though, might counter that in its history Islam has actually been more local than global—every Muslim community on a daily basis would practise its “own” Islam and very often these islams would differ significantly. In such a case, Islam would become transnational only when taken by the agents of one version to other geographical spaces, Muslim or not. Interaction of agents of different local islams among themselves and the resulting new forms of it would probably also be a case of Islam’s transnationality.[...]