Ahmad Qābel and contemporary Islamic thought : rational Shariah in twenty-first-century Iran / Lloyd Ridgeon.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- 1. Biography of Ahmad Qābel: Crossing Redlines -- 2. Jurisprudence: Rational Shariah -- 3. History: The Faces of Imam Hosayn -- 4. Politics: Qābel's View of Velāyat-e Faqih -- 5. Gender: Women's Rights -- 6. Apostasy and Freedom of Religion -- 7. Society: The Role of Islam in Society -- 8. Reason and Superstition -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1: "Reason and Sharʻ" -- Appendix 2. "Re-Reading Narrations with the Criterion of Reason" -- Bibliography.

"Ahmad Qābel (1954-2012) was one of the key figures in the "New Religious Thinking" trend of reformist thought, whose radical views were some of the most daring of his generation, seeking to rationalize and modernize Islamic law. In this comprehensively researched and accessibly written book, Lloyd Ridgeon offers an original examination of Qābel's writings, including his seminal work Shari'at-e 'Aqlāni (Rational Shariah). Throughout his career, Qābel crossed many political and religious redlines, resulting in several prison terms and hastening his premature death while under hospital arrest. Chapters covering topics from jurisprudence and politics to gender relations and society unravel Qābel's worldview, introducing and illuminating his work for all readers. With extended translations from Qābel's compositions, including two whole chapters from Shari'at-e 'Aqlāni, Ridgeon offers the necessary context to understand the resounding significance of Qābel's ideas and arguments"-- Provided by publisher.