Preaching as a language of hope is a result of the 7th Congress of the Societas Homiletica that took place at the University of Pretoria in August 2006. Each speaker at the Congress contributed a chapter to the book, resulting in a compilation of work from respected theologians from across the world. Each chapter looks at a specific aspect within the context of preaching hope, thereby examining the apparent hopelessness of humankind, making it clear that the suffering of Jesus brings hope to people who are suffering themselves.

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In our age of globalisation and pandemic, how should we react to the new Islamophobic movements now spreading in the West? Everywhere the far right is on the march, with nationalist and populist parties thriving on the back of popular anxieties about Islam and the Muslim presence. Hijab and minaret bans, mosque shootings, hostility to migrants and increasingly scornful media stereotypes seem to endanger the prospects for friendly coexistence and the calm uplifting of Muslim populations. In this series of essays Abdal Hakim Murad dissects the rise of Islamophobia on the basis of Muslim theological tradition. Although the proper response to the current impasse is clearly indicated in Qur'an and Hadith, some have lost the principle of trust in divine wisdom and are responding with hatred, fearfulness or despair. Murad shows that a compassion-based approach, rooted in an authentic theology of divine power, could transform the current quagmire into a bright landscape of great promise for Muslims and their neighbours.