***WINNER: Cheryl Frank Memorial Prize, International Association of Critical Realism.*** A Fresh Look at Islam in a Multi-Faith World provides a comprehensively theorised and practical approach to thinking systematically and deeply about Islam and Muslims in a multi-faith world. It makes the case for a contemporary educational philosophy to help young Muslims surmount the challenges of post-modernity and to transcend the hiatuses and obstacles that they face in their interaction and relationships with non-Muslims and visa-versa. It argues that the philosophy of critical realism in its original, dialectical and metaReal moments so fittingly ‘underlabours’ (Bhaskar, 1975) for the contemporary interpretation, clarification and conceptual deepening of Islamic doctrine, practice and education as to suggest a distinctive branch of critical realist philosophy, specifically suited for this purpose. This approach is called Islamic Critical Realism. The book proceeds to explain how this Islamic Critical Realist approach can serve the interpretation of the consensual elements of Islamic doctrine, such as the six elements of Islamic belief and the five ‘pillars’ of Islamic practice, so that these essential features of the Muslim way of life can help Muslim young people to contribute positively to life in multi-faith liberal democracies in a globalising world. Finally, the book shows how this Islamic Critical Realist approach can be brought to bear in humanities classrooms by history, religious education and citizenship teachers to help Muslim young people engage informatively and transformatively with themselves and others in multi-faith contexts. "Muslim communities in the UK have important contributions to make to the local communities and broader societies in which they live. Yet to date, these communities, and Islam more broadly, are often the subject of misunderstanding and vilification. Whereas Islamic legal and political traditions have, at key points, inspired and informed Western political and intellectual traditions and British Muslims have historically made, and continue to make, important contributions at every level of British life, portrayals of their religion and identity still often seem to focus on terrorism, intolerance, and issues such as FGM and forced marriages. A Fresh Look at Islam in a Multi-Faith World makes a comprehensive case for a contemporary educational philosophy in our schools, with a view to playing a key role in creating mindsets that are resistant to radicalisation and encouraging of productive, intercultural relations. Dr. Wilkinson’s analysis of the history curriculum’s potential role in creating a forum for discussion to address the ignorance that leads to the misunderstanding of our communities adds real value to this important discussion, and to the wider debate around how we educate our children" Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Shadow Lord Chancellor & Shadow Minister for London "This book shows how the philosophy of critical realism and the Islamic tradition can meet with the type of intellectual fertility that characterised the meeting of Islamic thought with the philosophy of the ancients that sparked the European Renaissance 800 years ago. It returns to the contemporary Islamic intellectual tradition an intellectual depth and rigour that it has often lacked and it will be of enormous help to teachers of young people who wish to show their charges how Islam can be a productive member of the family of faiths in the modern age." Professor Roy Bhaskar, World Scholar, Institute of Education, University of London "This remarkable integration of Islamic wisdom with critical realist theory energetically tackles some of modern Britain’s most pressing issues in curriculum design and community integration." Tim Winter, Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge; Dean, Cambridge Muslim College "Using detailed research into the experience of Muslim boys, Matthew Wilkinson examines the intellectual, social and spiritual blocks to young Muslims engaging in British democracy and to owning the open-minded intellectual tradition once characteristic of Islam. One important remedy is a rigorous history education. Young Muslims need historical knowledge if they are to connect 'being authentically British to being seriously Muslim' and to participate fully in the civic life of Britain. Far from suggesting that British history is not important, Wilkinson argues that it is centrally important, and that its completeness requires a rigour in identifying interconnections across British, European and world history. History teachers wishing to reflect on the past, present and future relationship of Islam with Britain will find much food for thought in this book." Christine Counsell, Senior Lecturer in History Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge "Matthew Wilkinson combines broad and deep scholarship with practical experien