Fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, University of Michigan. Teach in Judaic and Middle East Studies. Specialist on Islamic movements and Israel-Palestine
Ann Arbor, MI
Joined February 2013
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Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
Happy to share my new article in International Journal of Middle East Studies: “Scouting for God: Metaphysics and Masculinity in the Muslim Brotherhood’s Jawwala Program, 1933–1948" which explores how scouting became a space for rethinking Islam cup.org/3VCXFRb
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
I reviewed three excellent books on Salafism for the @themaydan in November 2025; Rethinking Salafism by @ismail_raih; Wahhabism by @colebunzel, and In the Shade of the Sunnah by @AaronRockSinger.
Check it out here; substacktools.com/sharex/6GG…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
And for a Halaloween treat, read Arthur Zarate's study of the Spiritualism in mid 20th century Egypt. Jinn, zar possession, and sorcery vs. modernism and rationalist modes of spiritualist science. A fascinating essay!
doi.org/10.1017/S00104175251…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
7/ To grapple with this, I draw on three landmark studies: @ismail_raih's Rethinking Salafism, @colebunzel's Wahhabism, and @AaronRockSinger's In the Shade of the Sunna.
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
In a must-read review essay, Contesting Orthodoxy: Salafism, Wahhabism, and the Making of Modern Islam, @FaheemAMHussain engages three monographs by @ismail_raih , @colebunzel , and @AaronRockSinger .
Read: themaydan.com/2025/09/contes… #IslamicThought #Salafism #Wahhabism
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
In this piece I explore Salafism through 3 brilliant academic books by @ismail_raih, @colebunzel and @AaronRockSinger and argue that the divide between Salafism and Sunni tradition can be bridged, and in so many ways already has, through a cultural process of Salafisation.
In a must-read review essay, Contesting Orthodoxy: Salafism, Wahhabism, and the Making of Modern Islam, @FaheemAMHussain engages three monographs by @ismail_raih , @colebunzel , and @AaronRockSinger .
Read: themaydan.com/2025/09/contes… #IslamicThought #Salafism #Wahhabism
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
.@BrankoMilan’s new book on the intellectual history of inequality & @AaronRockSinger’s book on Salafism may sound very different
But actually they have the same methodology:
Contextualising ideas as a reaction to their specific socio-economic context.
👍
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
.@AaronRockSinger’s book is SUPERB!
Instead of concocting stories about why people turn to religion, we should try to understand their beliefs & desires.
So, he studies readers’ letters to Islamists magazines: al-Da’wa, al-I’tisam, & Minbar al-Islam.
What did they want?
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
A short piece I wrote on this for @HooverInst - "Policing Language in the Intelligence Community: The IC DEIA’s Assault on “Problematic Terminology” in Counterterrorism Analysis" hoover.org/research/policing…
US intel community’s DEI office urges abandoning “problematic terms” like “Jihadist” &“Salafi-Jihadist” as these “incorrectly suggest that Islamic beliefs somehow condone the actions and rhetorics espoused by these [FTOs]”; recommends “Khawarij” instead 🤦♂️ dailywire.com/news/internal-…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
"Bunzel’s meticulously researched book is a seminal contribution to this growing literature and constitutes the most theologically sophisticated monograph on the movement"
Thanks to Daniel Lav for his generous review of Wahhābism in Islamic Law & Society brill.com/view/journals/ils/…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
Forthcoming: Michael A. Cook, A History of the Muslim World: From Its Origins to the Dawn of Modernity (May 2024), 960pp
press.princeton.edu/books/ha…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
🔔 NEXT WEEK AT ABBASI:
"In the Shade of the Sunna: Salafi Piety in the 20th-Century Middle East" with Aaron Rock-Singer [@AaronRockSinger]
📅Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
📍Encina Commons, Room 123
#SalafiPiety #Salafism #MiddleEast
islamicstudies.stanford.edu/…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
Salafis, like any modern group, are influenced by current issues and selectively use historical traditions to address today's challenges. Insightful intro to #Salafism by @AaronRockSinger aeon.co/essays/a-history-of-… via @aeonmag
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
Join us tomorrow for a timely discussion on the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine. The event will take place in-person but will be open to the public via Zoom. Link is below. Hope to see all my students & colleagues @POMEPS @WomenKnowMENA @UW_GndrWomenSt @uwpolisci @ps_mena
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Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
MEI Faculty Chair Tarek Masoud discusses Egypt's potential role in solutions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza with @FareedZakaria on @CNN’s GPS, happening now!
On GPS, @ 10am & 1pm ET today on @CNN: I’ll ask @NickKristof what the world gets wrong re: Gaza, Harvard’s Tarek Masoud about Egypt’s potential role in solutions, @AmboRudd about managing the US-China relationship and @CindyXiaodanYu what pressures Beijing faces
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
“A central concern of Salafi social practice is a linkage between your ethical project and what you look like – your visibility... people know where you stand by what you wear"
MEI Fellow @AaronRockSinger discusses the emergence of distinctive Salafi practices:
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
Join us Thursday at noon in Bell Hall to hear MEI Fellow @AaronRockSinger discuss his new book "In the Shade of the Sunna," which analyzes the origins and signature practices of Salafism.
Register here: belfercenter.org/event/shade…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
This Mavs broadcaster just eviscerated James Harden ! xitter.cf/BallySportsSW/status/1…
Aaron Rock-Singer retweeted
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR '24/'25 ACADEMIC YEAR:
The Middle East Initiative offers one-year Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowships for research related to governance and public policy in the Arab world and broader Middle East.
Learn more and apply here: belfercenter.org/fellowship/…
