Jacob Lassner is the Philip M. & Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish civilization Emeritus at Northwestern University, USA. his recent books include Medieval Jerusalem (2017), Islam in the Middle Ages (2010) and Jews and Muslims in the Arab World (2007).

This volume is a long reflection on the construction over time of received memories and their recasting and appropriation in modern political contexts. Lassner is an acknowledged master, possessing broad and deep knowledge of Islamic history, Arabic and Hebrew philology, the historiography of Islamic studies, ancient near eastern studies and biblical studies, and a deep engagement with the texts and artifacts of these fields.

• DEDICATORY PREFACEINTRODUCTION PART ONE: IMAGINED HISTORY AND CONTEMPORANEOUS POLITICAL BEHAVIOR -ESSAY 1-RECOVERING AND INVOKING AN IDEALIZED ISLAMIC PAST Problems and Approaches to Competing Narratives and Historical Memories -ESSAY 2-MYTHS OF MARTYRDOM AND REBELLIONRecalling Muslim Self Sacrifice and Tribal Virtues of Manliness and Honor -ESSAY 3- MARTYRDOM VERSUS LOW PROFILE POLITICS Interpreting the Past for Alternative Paths toward Regime Change and Political Legitimacy -ESSAY 4-'BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY' The Concept and Praxis of a Proper Islamic Revolution PART TWO: IDENTITY POLITICS AND NATION BUILDING IN THE MODERN NEAR EAST -ESSAY 5-FORGING NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN THE MODERN ARAB NATION STATE Inventing Legacies of Near and Distant Histories-ESSAY 6- THE HOLY LAND, CANAAN, AND ARABIA: THE QUEST FOR ARAB POLITY Inventing an Ancient Past in Response to Zionism -ESSAY 7- THE USES AND MISUSES OF MODERN BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP Academic Politics and National Identity: Egypt, Israel, and Palestine

Jacob Lassner is the Philip M. & Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish civilization Emeritus at Northwestern University, USA. his recent books include Medieval Jerusalem (2017), Islam in the Middle Ages (2010) and Jews and Muslims in the Arab World (2007).

This volume is a long reflection on the construction over time of received memories and their recasting and appropriation in modern political contexts. Lassner is an acknowledged master, possessing broad and deep knowledge of Islamic history, Arabic and Hebrew philology, the historiography of Islamic studies, ancient near eastern studies and biblical studies, and a deep engagement with the texts and artifacts of these fields.

• DEDICATORY PREFACEINTRODUCTION PART ONE: IMAGINED HISTORY AND CONTEMPORANEOUS POLITICAL BEHAVIOR -ESSAY 1-RECOVERING AND INVOKING AN IDEALIZED ISLAMIC PAST Problems and Approaches to Competing Narratives and Historical Memories -ESSAY 2-MYTHS OF MARTYRDOM AND REBELLIONRecalling Muslim Self Sacrifice and Tribal Virtues of Manliness and Honor -ESSAY 3- MARTYRDOM VERSUS LOW PROFILE POLITICS Interpreting the Past for Alternative Paths toward Regime Change and Political Legitimacy -ESSAY 4-'BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY' The Concept and Praxis of a Proper Islamic Revolution PART TWO: IDENTITY POLITICS AND NATION BUILDING IN THE MODERN NEAR EAST -ESSAY 5-FORGING NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN THE MODERN ARAB NATION STATE Inventing Legacies of Near and Distant Histories-ESSAY 6- THE HOLY LAND, CANAAN, AND ARABIA: THE QUEST FOR ARAB POLITY Inventing an Ancient Past in Response to Zionism -ESSAY 7- THE USES AND MISUSES OF MODERN BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP Academic Politics and National Identity: Egypt, Israel, and Palestine

Jacob Lassner is the Philip M. & Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish civilization Emeritus at Northwestern University, USA. his recent books include Medieval Jerusalem (2017), Islam in the Middle Ages (2010) and Jews and Muslims in the Arab World (2007).

This volume is a long reflection on the construction over time of received memories and their recasting and appropriation in modern political contexts. Lassner is an acknowledged master, possessing broad and deep knowledge of Islamic history, Arabic and Hebrew philology, the historiography of Islamic studies, ancient near eastern studies and biblical studies, and a deep engagement with the texts and artifacts of these fields.

• DEDICATORY PREFACEINTRODUCTION PART ONE: IMAGINED HISTORY AND CONTEMPORANEOUS POLITICAL BEHAVIOR -ESSAY 1-RECOVERING AND INVOKING AN IDEALIZED ISLAMIC PAST Problems and Approaches to Competing Narratives and Historical Memories -ESSAY 2-MYTHS OF MARTYRDOM AND REBELLIONRecalling Muslim Self Sacrifice and Tribal Virtues of Manliness and Honor -ESSAY 3- MARTYRDOM VERSUS LOW PROFILE POLITICS Interpreting the Past for Alternative Paths toward Regime Change and Political Legitimacy -ESSAY 4-'BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY' The Concept and Praxis of a Proper Islamic Revolution PART TWO: IDENTITY POLITICS AND NATION BUILDING IN THE MODERN NEAR EAST -ESSAY 5-FORGING NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN THE MODERN ARAB NATION STATE Inventing Legacies of Near and Distant Histories-ESSAY 6- THE HOLY LAND, CANAAN, AND ARABIA: THE QUEST FOR ARAB POLITY Inventing an Ancient Past in Response to Zionism -ESSAY 7- THE USES AND MISUSES OF MODERN BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP Academic Politics and National Identity: Egypt, Israel, and Palestine