Over the last twenty years independent Islamic schools have emerged in many countries where Muslims are a minority, among them South Africa. Although these schools differ in religious and... Show moreOver the last twenty years independent Islamic schools have emerged in many countries where Muslims are a minority, among them South Africa. Although these schools differ in religious and pedagogical orientation, they all aim to offer an excellent education and a space where the Islamic identity of Muslim children can develop. While the curricula of some of these schools hardly differ from those of public schools, other schools are Islamizing their teaching materials and methods. Show less
Secularism is often seen as anathema to Islamic traditions. The findings from research on the responses of Muslims in Cape Town to state secularism and societal secularization in postapartheid... Show moreSecularism is often seen as anathema to Islamic traditions. The findings from research on the responses of Muslims in Cape Town to state secularism and societal secularization in postapartheid South Africa indicate the emergence of an ambiguous accommodation between Muslims and the secular state, and thus challenge reductionist assumptions about the relation of Islamic traditions to secularism. Show less
The Sufi tradition in South Africa—with roots going back to the seventeenth century— regained momentum in the 1990s. Capitalizing on the reduced authority of the ulama, the new Sufi leaders could... Show moreThe Sufi tradition in South Africa—with roots going back to the seventeenth century— regained momentum in the 1990s. Capitalizing on the reduced authority of the ulama, the new Sufi leaders could claim to represent a normative South African version of Islam. Moreover, their focus on the grassroots has increased their visibility in many townships and allowed them to provide spiritual solutions to everyday social issues. Show less
