Abstract
Set in the Mamluk Sultanate, several centuries after the canonization of hadiths, this chapter presents a close reading of the influential treatise against imitation of controversial jurist-theologian Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328): The Obligation of Following the Straight Path Is to Be Different from Those Damned to Hell. The chapter argues that Ibn Taymiyya’s discourse of difference is a discourse of power, designed to position Muslims a degree above their rivals. The analysis of the treatise reveals a theorization of Muslim difference that is unexpectedly supple, moderated through notions of the Muslim community as a middle community and grounded in a psycho-spiritual model of intent that resists categorical oppositions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
