Toward an Islamic Theology of JustPeace: Engaged Sufism, Liberation Theology, and Peace Praxis

Abstract In contrast to the plethora of studies and extensive body of research focusing on Islam and violence, there is a notable scarcity of studies addressing Muslim peacebuilding, with even fewer examples highlighting the critical contributions of Muslim women as peacebuilders. Importantly, the existing literature does not link local and transnational Muslim action for justice with the broader peace studies tradition, missing opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship. Attending to this lacuna, this essay therefore analyzes the Islamic peace praxis of Rabia Terri Harris, founder of the Muslim Peace Fellowship ( mpf ), contending that it is an alternative to dominant forms of Sufism in the modern period and a productive basis for a theology of justpeace. This essay seeks to expand the understanding of the Islamic tradition, by highlighting its capacity for fostering justice and peace through nonviolent approaches. It critically engages with a praxis-centered hermeneutic, a cornerstone of Islamic liberation theology, which demands a bold and robust confrontation with structural violence.