Author: Syed Riffat Ali

Syed Ameer Ali was a prominent Indian jurist, author and political leader during the British Raj. In <i>The Spirit of Islam</i> he draws on his broad knowledge of Western historical research and Islamic sources to highlight the enlightened and socially progressive tendencies in the Islamic tradition. Some parts the text counter the Orientalist scholarship of the time, which was largely hostile to Islam, while others articulate the author's vision of Islam as a modern faith. His discussion of sectarian controversies is influenced by Shia beliefs. Pronunciation note: the Arabic words and names found in the text are pronounced based on their native form, rather than the spelling used by the author, which reflects Persian and Indian pronunciation. (Summary by Kazbek)