Be Like Adam’s Son

Theorising, Writing and Practising Peace in the Arab Region

Edited by Fernanda Fischione Edited by Arturo Monaco

Book cover: Be Like Adam’s Son

Extent: 360 pages

Publisher: Equinox Publishing

Subjects: Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, Religious Studies

Series: Religions and Peace Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(January 2024)

ISBN: 9781800503854

6.1 x 9.17 inches

Price: $35.00

In stock

Hardback (Published)

(April 2024)

ISBN: 9781800503847

6.14 x 9.21 inches

Price: $100.00

In stock

Discussions of the issue of peace in Arab literature, philosophical and theological thought, and both institutional and grassroots practices of intercultural and interreligious mediation.


The twelve chapters collected in the volume criticise, analyse, and discuss the issue of peace in Arab literature, philosophical and theological thought, and both institutional and grassroots practices of intercultural and interreligious mediation. The volume consists of three parts. Part 1 explores the contribution of prominent Islamic intellectuals to the interpretation of jihad and the elaboration of a Quranic theory of nonviolence. Part 2 deals with the Arab literary production, with a focus on Iraq and Morocco. The four chapters on Iraq consider the themes of pluralism and peaceful coexistence in light of the continued condition of war, highlighting the complexity of the Iraqi literary field between domestic and diasporic. The two chapters dealing with Morocco focus on the literature stemming from the reconciliation process that has taken place in the country since the beginning of the new Millennium, shedding light on how institutional processes of internal pacification have also affected its literary field. Part 3 considers the practices of mediation and includes four chapters dealing with conflict-avoidant strategies in Egyptian literature, interreligious and intercultural dialogue in premodern time, and mediation practices carried out by religious institutions and grassroots organizations in Palestine and Jordan.

Table of Contents Foreword Isabella Camera d’Afflitto Introduction Fernanda Fischione,Arturo Monaco Part 1. Theorising Peace and Nonviolence 1. From Ǧihād “until the Day of Resurrection” to Nonviolence: The Debate on War and Peace in the Mid-1960s Post-Nahḍah Arab Generation Paola Pizzi 2. Kun ka-ibn Ādam: Nonviolence and Quranic Interpretation in Ǧawdat Saʿīd’s Thought Pietro Menghini Part 2. From Literature of War to Literature of Reconciliation 3. The Iran-Iraq War in Iraqi Novels: Oblivion and Disappearance Ronen Zeidel 4. The Painful Path towards Civil Liberties and Social Justice Followed by the Iraqi Hayāt Šarārah Elvira Diana 5. Pluralism and Ethno-Religious Identities in Iraqi Fiction: ʿAbdullāh Ṣaḫī’s Trilogy on Thawra City Antonio Pacifico 6. In Search of the Virtuous City: Coexistence and (In)Hospitality in ‘Alī Badr’s ʿĀzif al-ġuyūm Annamaria Bianco 7. Literature as a Mirror: The Search for Peace and Pacification in Moroccan Society as Depicted in Banāt al-ṣubbār (2018) by Karīmah Aḥdād Paola Viviani 8. Youssef Fadel’s Trilogy: Testifying Violence to Negotiate Peace in Moroccan Literature Cristina Dozio Part 3. Practices of Mediation 9. Lā tuṣāliḥ in the Sīrat al-Zīr Sālim: A Hymn to Long-term Peace Daniela Potenza 10. Twofold Slavery: Slave in Malta, Slave to Love of his Beloved Master: The Peaceful Letter a Muslim Sent to Baldassarre Loyola Mandes S.J. (1631-1667) Federico Stella 11. Peace and Justice: A Catholic Palestinian Response to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Paolo Maggiolini 12. A Thousand and One Jordans: The Story of Rafedìn Odetta Pizzingrilli Index of Names Fernanda Fischione,Arturo Monaco Index of Subjects Fernanda Fischione,Arturo Monaco

  • Edited by Fernanda Fischione
  • Edited by Arturo Monaco