In His groundbreaking study, SherAli Tareen presents the most comprehensive and theoretically engaged work to date on what is arguably the most long-running, complex, and contentious dispute in modern Islam: the Barelvī-Deobandī polemic. The Barelvī and Deobandī groups are two normative orientations/reform movements with beginnings in colonial South Asia. Almost two hundred years separate the beginnings of this polemic from the present. Its spectre, however, continues to haunt the religious sensibilities of postcolonial South Asian Muslims in profound ways, both in the region and in diaspora communities around the world. Here is my conversation with Dr Sher Ali Tareen about his book Defending Muhammed in Modernity. Listen to our conversation on his intellectual journey and the journey of writing this book, including how we can engage with his work in relevance to today's world. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handle: @Indiacolonised or visit us on www.indiacolonised.com. Don’t forget to visit our website for book recommendations and a complete reading list if you want to read more on India’s Modern History!  SherAli Tareen hosts New Books in Islamic Studies : https://newbooksnetwork.com/hosts/profile/1d16c8c8-d755-4cdb-9909-ecbf4bc5c37d  Suggested talk by Dr Sher Ali Tareen : Debating Hindu-Muslim Friendship after Empire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH9lHQ33aeg&t=362s