Book contents
- Respectable Muslims
- Cambridge Studies in Social Theory, Religion, and Politics
- Respectable Muslims
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on Transliterations and Translations
- 1 The (Un)Making of Respectability
- 2 Proving Frenchness
- 3 Allaying Suspicions
- 4 Keeping Order
- 5 Practicing Discreetly
- 6 Uplifting the Community
- 7 Facing Hostility Graciously
- 8 Respectable Citizens in Uncertain Environments
- Bibliography
- Index
5 - Practicing Discreetly
Moderate Muslims under the Secular Gaze
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2024
- Respectable Muslims
- Cambridge Studies in Social Theory, Religion, and Politics
- Respectable Muslims
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on Transliterations and Translations
- 1 The (Un)Making of Respectability
- 2 Proving Frenchness
- 3 Allaying Suspicions
- 4 Keeping Order
- 5 Practicing Discreetly
- 6 Uplifting the Community
- 7 Facing Hostility Graciously
- 8 Respectable Citizens in Uncertain Environments
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The ethos of responsibility promoted by Muslim leaders of the UOIF assumes a particular flavor in the context of tight secular constraints. In France, the renewal of public discussions on laïcité since the 1990s has resulted in the consolidation of a hard, exclusivist understanding of secularism. Against the backdrop of such constraints and aligned with the revivalist tradition of contextually adapted Islamic rulings, Muslim leaders emphasize the importance of low-profile, unobtrusive forms of religiosity over more public forms. They exhort their coreligionists to practice discretion and self-restraint, whether in their sartorial practices, in the architecture of their mosques, or during the celebration of Ramadan. This requirement for discretion goes hand in hand with the celebration of an “intelligent” reading of the Scriptures. This class-layered exercise goes against the “ignorant” interpretations of migrant workers and Salafi followers while being aligned with the Islamic tradition of moderation (wasaṭiyya). The chapter concludes by delving into the case of Tareq Oubrou, a renowned Muslim scholar in Bordeaux, who advocates for a “theology of acculturation” in harmony with French republicanism. Oubrou’s theological endeavors further exemplify the reflective, intellectualized approach to religion promoted by UOIF leaders, as well as their middle-class sensibilities.
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- Respectable MuslimsMorals and Manners of Minority Citizens in France, pp. 116 - 147Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024