Introduction

Few contemporary topics are more controversial than Islamic interpretation. In the West as well as in the Muslim world, interpreting Islam has become a virtual “cottage industry.” The ranks of interpreters are incredibly diverse, including terrorism experts, government policymakers, and journalists as well as religious studies scholars, political scientists, Muslim ‘alims and religious fundamentalists of varied confessional backgrounds. Though traditional religious leaders would not recognize many interpreters’ views as authoritative, interest in how Islam is understood and practiced has expanded dramatically in recent years. Among Muslims as well as among non-Muslims, it seems that everyone has become a stakeholder in the future of Islam.