Review of Emilio GONZÁLEZ FERRÍN (2024): ¿Qué es el islam?, Senderos, Sevilla, 198 p.

Abstract

The book '¿Qué es el Islam?' (2024) by Emilio González Ferrín, offers a fresh perspective on Islam, examining it from multiple dimensions. The author distinguishes between three types of Islam — religious, civilisational and contemporary — and argues that Islam as a civilisation preceded Islam as a religion. Through historical and critical analysis, he proposes that the Qur'an is a late compilation of monotheistic texts and that the traditional narrative of Islam's origins is a retrospective construction by the Arabised civilisation of the ninth century. The author also examines the evolution of medieval Islam as a centre of cultural exchange, and its subsequent decline in the face of modernity. In the 19th century, European colonialism transformed Islam into a tool of resistance, resulting in the emergence of Muslim nationalisms in the 20th century. González Ferrín critiques the Eurocentric vision of linear progress, advocating an understanding of Islam that is free from stereotypes. His work is a notable addition to Islamic studies, challenging traditional interpretations and providing an interdisciplinary analysis that combines history, religion, and politics. By doing so, he encourages readers to reconsider Islam as a dynamic phenomenon, the essence of which lies in ethics and the liberation of peoples.