Peoples Linking the Shores: The Indian Ocean as an Islamic Space

Dear Colleagues,

Several publications have been made regarding the Indian Ocean. The role of the exchange of Islamic knowledge has gained special interest in recent research. The Special Issue will allow for research in fields that are still under-researched—although some literature is available—to be deepened.

Contributions that enrich our knowledge of the specific Islamic aspects of the exchange of knowledge in the regions around the Indian Ocean (including the entanglement of Islamic knowledge with other religious traditions) are welcome. The focus of the issue is on pre-modern times. Studies on the role of Sufis in these exchanges will be of particular interest.

The Special Issue focuses not on the role of Muslims without reference to religious aspects but on Islamic actors and ideas. Thus, contributions may discuss questions of:

• Islamic law (Shafiism, Hanafism, etc.);
• The transmission and production of Sufi knowledge (Sufis and texts);
• The circulation of Islamic texts;
• Islamic narratives;
• Descriptions of the Islamic world around the Indian Ocean;
• Hajj studies;
• Stories of ‘saints’;
• Scientific texts, etc.

We request that prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400-600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor ([email protected]) or to the Religions Editorial Office ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purposes of ensuring a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer-review.

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Lohlker
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Islamic world
• Indian Ocean
• pre-modern networks
• Islamic law
• Sufism
• geography
• Hajj
• Islamic texts