Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam

"Behind explosive headlines and horrific images of violence is a quieter story of ordinary Muslims around the world drawing on the same faith to build peaceful communities. Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam tells this story. Drawing upon case studies and expanding on existing theory, Qamar-ul Huda takes readers to the largely unknown world of Islam-inspired peacebuilding. The book gives us a rare window into the existing tools and resources inherent in Islam to resolve conflict and promote cooperation. No policymaker, development leader, or civil society worker engaging Muslim societies can afford to miss this book."--- Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies

Crescent and Dove delves into the intellectual heritage of Islam to discuss historical examples of addressing conflict in Islam and exploring the practical challenges of contemporary peacemaking in Arab countries, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia. These essays address both theory and practice, presenting possibilities for nonviolent interventions, peacemaking, the implementation of human rights, the reinterpretation of texts, peace education instruction, and employing successful mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills in an Islamic context.

As Muslim scholars and peacebuilding practitioners, the contributors offer critical perspectives on what works, what opportunities exist, and which areas are fertile for effective peacebuilding efforts. Their experience and analysis demonstrate that fostering a culture of peace in Muslim communities and building effective conflict resolution practices must occur within an Islamic framework and must engage Muslim leaders.

Qamar-ul Huda is a senior program officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Program and a scholar of Islam at the United States Institute of Peace. His areas of expertise are Islamic theology, comparative ethics, the language of violence, interfaith studies, and conflict resolution and nonviolence in contemporary Islam. He is an adjunct faculty member of Georgetown University's Conflict Resolution Program and has taught at Boston College, Brandeis University, and the College of Holy Cross.