Muslim movements nurturing a cosmopolitan Muslim identity : the Ismaili and Gulen
      movement

Shroff, Sara.

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Shroff, Sara.

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Thesis (M.A.L.S.)--Georgetown University, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references. The convergence of contemporary international affairs with religion calls for a new lens for interaction. This convergence, combined with the global topography of militant ideologies in the name of Islam, the impact of the War on Terror, and the rift in Muslim-West relations has caused confusion and anxiety among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This contemporary reality calls for original thinking and new models to address some of these religious, political and social concerns and to sow the seeds of peaceful and pluralistic cooperation. Several responses that promote international global justice and encourage conflict resolution economic and social development while being Muslim are available to address this new reality. The Ismaili Muslim and the Gulen community are two such examples. By advocating the reinterpretation of the Islamic message in light of contemporary realities and seeking to bridge the gap holistically between the Muslim world and the West, the Ismaili and Gulen movements offer creative possibilities of conception, thought, and action through transnational activism embedded in Islamic principles. To demonstrate these possibilities and realities, this paper seeks to illustrate how the Ismaili and Gulen movements are in fact reinterpreting the message of Islam in light of contemporary realities while playing an active role in the development of educational institutions, philanthropy, and inter-faith dialogues with other communities. They serve as examples of progressive, transnational social movements that are rooted in Islamic tradition while negotiating a new kind of Islam in the modern world. By analyzing the movements four key segments including: vision of Islam, leadership, organizational structure and membership, key program engagements.; The paper seeks to provide a holistic understanding of its emergence, development and transformation. Most contemporary writings on Islam tend to portray global Islamic activism in a negative light, but through strong emphasis on tolerance, service, philanthropy, education, and pluralism, Gulen and the Aga Khan are reshaping Muslim globality and offering an alternative view of Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in today's world. Within the context of globalization, pluralism, multiculturalism, and internationalism, the Ismaili and the Gulen movements serve as modern day articulations of Muslim cosmopolitanism. The movements are reshaping Muslim ethos and a faith based identity while cultivating a new paradigm for cultural, religious, and social engagement and interaction for a more equitable and just world.