Book Chat: Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West with Dr Zainab Kabba

Knowledge, Authority, and Islamic Education in the West: Reconfiguring Tradition is the culmination of seven years of academic research, in which Dr Zainab Kabba draws on archival research and immersive fieldwork in the United States, Canada, and Turkey, to illuminate the transformative experiences of young Muslims on their quest for religious knowledge. This book unravels the significance of four residential learning settings, revealing their role as catalysts for reshaping Islamic tradition. Delving into the interplay between technology’s pervasive influence and the decentralized nature of Islamic interpretation, Dr Kabba unveils a vibrant tapestry of knowledge producers vying to shape religious understanding and practice among Western Muslims. 00:07 Introduction 00:39 Dr. Zainab’s Background 01:00 Book Overview – Summary of the book’s themes 03:00 Personal Journey to Writing the Book 04:50 Immersive Learning Spaces 06:40 Narratives and History 08:50 Challenges in Fieldwork 12:00 Diversity in Pedagogical Approaches 16:40 Authority as Relational 23:40 The “Muslim Education Industrial Complex” – Discussion of how Islamic education has become commodified within capitalist systems. 28:20 Tensions in Islamic Learning – Balancing spiritual education with the demands of modern technology and social media. 35:00 Future Directions in Islamic Education – Advocating for localised and community-focused educational models.