Ben Hayward Book order

A critical guide for teacher educators and early career mentors in supporting the development of professional judgement and intuitive practice.

Deleuze and Guattari suggest that every religion harbors an inherent atheism, particularly noting Christianity's unique role in this regard. However, this perspective is limited, as theological explorations of Deleuze often remain rooted in Christian frameworks, resulting in a form of Christian atheism. In this context, Michael Muhammad Knight presents an innovative approach by engaging Deleuzian concepts through the lens of Islamic tradition. He argues that while Deleuze may not have viewed himself as a theologian, integrating his ideas with Islamic thought poses a challenge typical of comparative theology: it risks oversimplifying the rich diversity within both traditions. Knight emphasizes that a Deleuzian perspective on Islamic theology must recognize the absence of a singular, universal "Islamic theology" that represents all Muslims across different historical contexts. Instead, it should focus on the dynamic power struggles among various interpretations of Islam, which contest notions of authenticity and authority. The discussions in this work reveal the vast potential within Islam, drawing from both canonical texts like the Qur'an and lesser-known sources that defy a singular interpretive tradition. Ultimately, Knight illustrates that Islam, much like Deleuze's concept of a rhizome, is characterized by its complexity and multiplicity.

Analysing classical Muslim literary representations of Muhammad's body as they emerge in Sunni hadith and sira from the eighth to the eleventh centuries, Michael Muhammad Knight argues that early Muslims' theories and imaginings about Muhammad's body contributed in significant ways to the construction of prophetic masculinity and authority.