This book is an attempt to explain how, in the face of increasing religious authoritarianism in medieval Islamic civilization, some Muslim thinkers continued to pursue essentially humanistic, rational, and scientific discourses in the quest for knowledge, meaning, and values. Drawing on a wide range of Islamic writings, from love poetry to history to philosophical theology, Goodman shows that medieval Islam was open to individualism, occasional secularism, skepticism, even liberalism.

This text is an attempt to explain how, in the face of increasing religious authoritarianism in medieval Islamic civilization, some Muslim thinkers continued to pursue essentially humanistic, rational, and scientific discourses in the quest for knowledge, meaning, and values.

The present volume is the first attempt of its kind at presenting Islam as a religion of humanism in the light of the totality of its teachings as gleaned from the original sources, especially the Qur'an and Hadith (Apostolic Traditions). Contrasting sharply with the stereotyped, distorted image of islam, it provides penetrating insights into its broad humanistic aspirations aimed at full flowering of all the physical, intellectual and spiritual faculties man has been allowed with and given the status of being the noblest creature. The book deals in detail with the role played by Islam in the advancement of human thought and progress by opening up large dimensions of reason through inculcation of the spirit of scientific inquiry in man. It also objectively assesses the contribution of Islam as a civilizing agency with special reference to its secular, liberal and humanistic aspects in a manner that enables modern minds to understand and appreciate them fully. It is hoped that this volume will not only acquaint the readers with the genuine image of Islam, but also enlighten them on the chief ingredients of its dynamism.

"The background of this book was an international symposium on 'Humanism in Islam: An Inter-Cultural Discourse', held from 6 to 8 April 2009 in Alexandria, Egypt. This event was among the international conferences convened by the project 'Humanism in the Era of Globalisation - An Intercultural Dialogue on Humanity, Culture and Values' of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI), Essen, Germany. It was held in cooperation with the Goethe Institute Alexandria at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt"--P. [9].