Translating Islam, translating religion

Religion is commonly perceived as an unequivocally defined concept. However, a
historic perspective raises questions about this understanding and reveals religion
as a concept that developed only in a process of negotiation with other religions.
In particular, the 19th century is of special interest in this regard, as the
colonial encounter intensifies tremendously in South Asia. The religions of South
Asia are scrutinised, categorised and compared to Christianity by Europeans, which
leads to the development of religion as abstractum. Missionary and orientalist
critique as well as modern science pose to be an entirely new confrontation for the
Muslims of South Asia. This book aims to analyse Muslim responses to this
confrontation, which imply a translation of Islam as a religion as well as an
adaption of the concept of religion itself. The Aligarh Movement is of particular
interest in this regard, as it intensively engages in these debates, trying to
integrate a re-interpretation of Islam in these discourses.