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Sachiko Murata, The Tao of Islam: A Sourcebook on Gender Relationships in Islamic Thought (London & New York: Routledge, 2022). 236 pp. ISBN: 978-1-032-12330-1 (hbk); ISBN: 978-1-032-12331-8 (pbk); ISBN: 978-1-003-22411-2 (ebk).
Sachiko Murata's Tao of Islam has been regarded as a unique masterpiece in the traditional Islamic studies by numerous critics. Due to its masterly accomplished content and brilliantly reflected context, the book became one of the essential classics written by an erudite and distinguish scholar of Islamic though in contemporary times. Its excellence is not to be only judged on the basis of the author's thoroughly exposition of the fundamental themes within Islamic studies which includes numerous translations of the classical texts by leading Muslim scholars in theology, phyilosophy and mysticism such as Ibn 'Arabi (d. 1240). al-Ghazālī (d. 1111). Ibn Sīnā' (d. 1037) and many others, and comparing some of the relevant Islamic themes with the Taoist doctrine of yin and yang in light of the metaphysical domain, but also on account of the author's dazzling defense of the traditional Islamic principles and values regarding the gender issues that are often misinterpreted and misunderstood by many scholars and critics in both, the West and the East. The book comprises of four main parts, apart from the foreword composed by late Annemarie Schimmel, yet another excellent expositor of the traditional islam, and the introduction written by the author. In addition to that, the author has attached to the main content of the book, two appendixes, detailed trifold indexes, and a postscript.
In the introductory chapter the author has discussed those elements that were crucial for the composition of the book. After elaborating the key subjects of the book that are often falsely judged in the West and elsewhere, namely the issue of gender and woman position within Islamic tradition, Murata went on to explain the standpoint she took to explore and present the main research question in her work. She underlined the importance of distinguishing between the intellectual tradition of Islam on the one hand, and the legal system of Islam on the other hand. Although, there might be no differences in principle between the two, but their approaches to Islamic matters are very different and need to be considered when dealing with Islamic...