The 'Negro' in Arab-Muslim Consciousness: Second Edition Paperback – October 11, 2024

In the Second Edition of "The 'Negro' in Arab-Muslim Consciousness", Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali expands his pioneering analysis of race and cultural perceptions in pre-modern Arab-Muslim thought. Focusing on the term "Negro" (Zanj) and its usage, the book offers a deep dive into how early Arab historians, theologians, and jurists differentiated between African groups, such as the Moors, Nubians, Ethiopians, Kushites, and Negroes. These distinctions were not merely geographic but reflected beliefs about cultural and racial hierarchies.Dr. Ali draws on prominent thinkers like Al-Mas'udi and Ibn Khaldun, whose climatic theories explained the perceived lack of urbanization (ʿumrān) and industriousness in the regions inhabited by the Zanj. He also examines Maliki legal discussions regarding marital rights, where beauty standards shaped legal rulings on 'Black' women versus Arab women. This second edition improves readability by converting endnotes to footnotes, refining language to American English, and expanding the former appendix on the Maliki School and Race into a full chapter.With its thorough investigation of historical texts, this edition encourages readers to reassess modern ideas about race and cultural superiority. Dr. Ali's work challenges deeply ingrained assumptions and offers a fresh perspective on the dynamics of race, social inclusion, and legal norms in both past and present. Read more