islam and why - st. thomas episcopal church, thomasville · 2017. 10. 30. · 3 islam &...

1

Islam and ISM

Dr. Mohamed Esa, McDaniel College

Why

Islam & Fundamentalism © 2015 Mohamed Esa McDaniel College

2

do they hate US? Who? Whom?

The US the Muslim World? Arabs and Muslims the US?

Islam & Fundamentalism 3

Questions after 9/11

Ø  Is there a clash of civilizations between the West and the Muslim world?

Ø  Is Islam a religion of peace or violence? Ø  Is Islam more militant than other religions? Ø  Does the Qur’an condone violence and terrorism? Ø  Does Islam condone suicide bombers? Ø  What does the Qur’an say about Jihad? Ø  Are Islam and democracy compatible? Ø  Can Muslims in Europe and America be loyal citizens? Ø  Does the Qur’an promise “terrorists” 72 virgins in

paradise? © 2015 Mohamed Esa

McDaniel College Islam & Fundamentalism © 2015 Mohamed Esa

McDaniel College 4


Terms and Definitions

Fundamentalism, conservatism, traditionalism, Islamist, Islamicist, extremist, fanatic, militant, terrorist, Jehadist, … The term “fundamentalism” originated in America early in the 20th century, when it was applied to “ultraconservative Protestant Christian biblical literalist who propounded a list of “fundamentals” that all true Christians should follow.” (Denny, 340) © 2015 Mohamed Esa

McDaniel College Islam & Fundamentalism 6

Terms and Definitions

Ø  In Defenders of God: the Fundamentalist Revolt Against the Modern Age, 1989, Bruce Lawrence defines fundamentalism as “the universal affirmation of religious authority as holistic and absolute, admitting of neither criticism nor reduction; it is expressed through the collective demand that specific creedal and ethical dictates derived from scripture be publicly recognized and legally enforced.” (27)

Ø  Fundamentalists “fight back”, “fight for” (their worldview), “fight with” (their resources, weapons), “fight against” (others), “fight under (God or some transcendent reference) [“Fundamentalism Project” by the University of Chicago]

© 2015 Mohamed Esa McDaniel College

2


Milestones in recent Islamic History

1948 Establishment of Israel ⇒ Nakba (catastrophe) for the Palestinians

1966 Sayd Qutub is executed in Egypt 1973 OPEC’s Oil Embargo against the West 1979 Iranian Revolution - US Hostages in Teheran 1979 Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, makes Peace with

Israel 1979 Soviets march into Afghanistan 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran War 1981 Sadat is murdered by members of Islamic Jihad in

Egypt 1982 Israel invades Lebanon ⇒ Death of thousand of

innocent civilians, especially in Sabra and Shatilla




1982 Hesbollah was created in Lebanon as a militia in response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon

1983 First suicide bombing against the US in Lebanon (250 US soldiers die in the attack)

1987 First Palestinian Intifada (rebellion) against Israeli occupation, death of many hundreds of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and settlers Establishment of HAMAS as a resistance movement and as an alternative to the PLO.

1988 Soviets are defeated in Afghanistan with the help of thousands of foreign (mainly Arab) Mujahedeen

1990 Iraq invades Kuwait




1991 Gulf War I, liberation of Kuwait with close to 400, 000 US soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia U.N. embargo against Iraq ⇒ Death of up to 1,5 million civilians due to the effects of embargo and Sadam’s ruthless rule

1992-95 War in Bosnia. Systematic ethnic cleansing by the Serbs against the Muslim population. An estimated 100 000 Muslims are killed.

1993 First Bombing of World Trade Center - 6 die 1993 Oslo Peace Accord between Israel and the Palestinians

Hope for a peaceful solution of the problem. Famous handshake between Yesser Arafat (PLO Chairman) and Yitzhak Rabin (Israel’s Prime Minister) on the South Lawn of the White House

© 2015 Mohamed Esa

McDaniel College Islam & Fundamentalism 10


1994-96 First Chechnya War (80 000-100 000 die) 1994 First Suicide bombings in Israel by Hamas in

response to a massacre committed by Dr. Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish settler who immigrated to Israel from the USA, in which he killed 29 Muslim worshipers from behind in Hebron during the Friday prayers. Goldstein is killed in the attack as well. He is considered a “hero” (gever) in Israel and there is a shrine that was built for him Goldstein Memorial Site.

1995 Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated by a right-wing Israeli opposed to the Oslo Accord

1995/96 Bombings of US installations in Saudi Arabia (inspired by Bin Laden’s ideology)




1996 The Taliban come to power in Afghanistan 1998 Bombing of US embassies in Kenia and Tanzania by

Al-Qaida. US responds with bombing of Afghanistan and a pharmaceutical (chemical) factory in Sudan

2000 US brokered peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians fails. 2nd Intifada starts. Bombing of US-Cole in Yemen

2001 9/11 and War against Afghanistan 2003 Invasion and Occupation of Iraq 2011 Arab Spring (Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria) 2013 ISIL/ISIS in Iraq and Syria



The religion of Islam does not support, preach, or advocate violence, discrimination, or terrorism in any way, shape, or form. Contrary to popular belief in the West, jihad is not one of the five pillars of Islam. In the West, the concept of jihad has been improperly translated as 'holy war.' Instead, jihad refers, in particular, to the personal struggle that every Muslim engages in to lead a peaceful, virtuous and good life.

Islam and Violence


3


1.   jihad of the tongue: speaking about faith; 2.   jihad of the hand: putting their faith into action by

good works; 3.   jihad of the heart: making their faith real as a

spiritual force in their lives; 4.   jihad of the sword: the right and obligation to

defend Islam and the Muslim community when they fear it to be under attack.

Meanings of Jihad

Islam teaches Muslims that they must “strive” or work hard to make their religion real in their lives and in their societies. This should be done by JIHAD on four levels:



“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.” (Sura 2:190) “But if the enemy inclines towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace.” (Sura 8:61) There are several occasions which would prompt Muslims to apply the jihad of the sword. They are: 1) to defend oneself, one’s family, country, and religion (4:75); 2) to defend fellow Muslims who are helpless and oppressed (8:72); and 3) to secure religious freedom.

What does the Qur’an say?

“War is permissible in self-defense, and under well defined limits. When undertaken, it must be pushed with vigor (but not relentlessly), but only to restore peace and freedom for the worship of Allah. In any case strict limits must not be transgressed.” (The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an by ‘Abdullah Yūsuf ‘Alī.)



15

Ø  purity of intention; Ø  declaration of war; Ø  It must be a legitimate authority and not an individual

declaring that war. Ø  War should be the last resort. Ø  responding to peaceful initiative; Ø  no attacks on non-combatants (children, men, women,

monks, rabbis, trees, crops, buildings, natural resources);

Ø  human treatment of all those who are injured; Ø  Peace should not be withheld when the enemy comes

to terms.

Rules about war and fighting:


Suicide Bombers

Ø  “Traditionally, suicide is unconditionally forbidden in Islam, because only God has the right to take the life he has granted.” (John Esposito. “Islam: The Straight Path, 2005, page 257). “O you, who believe! Do not consume your wealth in the wrong way—rather only through trade mutually agreed to, and do not kill yourselves. Surely God is Merciful toward you.” (Sura 4:29)

Ø  The Prophetic traditions (Hadith) frequently, clearly, and absolutely prohibit suicide: "A man was inflicted with wounds and he committed suicide, and so God said: My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for him.” (Hadith)



Fiqh Council of North America

A few years ago, the Fiqh Council of North America reaffirmed Islam's condemnation of terrorism and religious extremism by issuing the following fatwa, or formal religious ruling.

Read Fatwa Source: http://www.fiqhcouncil.org/Default.aspx?tabid=99



What is the problem?

Leaders rely on religious rulings (fatwa) from Ulema (religious scholars) who often enjoy “royal patronage.” Citing verses incompletely or simply out of context: example: the sword verses: “When the sacred months have passed slay the idolaters (the Meccans) wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush.” (Sura 9:5) However, the next verse is equally important but is seldom quoted: “But if they repent and fulfill their devotional obligations and pay zakat (charitable tax), then let them go their way, for God is forgiving and kind.” (9:6)


4


The Wahhabis/ Salafis

Late 18th century Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhāb (1703-1792), a strict Muslim reformer and Muhammad ibn Sa'ūd, leader of a local tribe in Dariya in Najd (now Saudi Arabia) formed a partnership. 'Abd al-Wahhāb would provide religious leadership and teaching and ibn Sa'ūd would serve as the political leader. Later on the Sa'ūdi royalty would be born.



20


Ø  Puritan form of Islam Ø  No saint veneration Ø  simplicity in architecture Ø  No intercession through anyone other than Muhammad

(only on the Day of the Last Judgment) Ø  Making any vows except to God (Allah) Ø  Obligatory congregational worship Ø  Strict examination of personal character Ø  Smoking, shaving the beard and using bad language

would be punished by a police unit called “Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”), similar to the one that the Taliban have set in Afghanistan in the early 1990s.

What is “Wahhabism”/ “Salafism”?




“Many of [Wahabi Islam’s] preachers and followers tend to be literalist, rigid, puritanical, and intolerant, believing that they are right and all others (Muslims as well as people of other faiths) are wrong. Presenting their version of Islam as the pristine, pure, unadulterated message of the Prophet, Wahhabis have sought to propagate and impose their strict beliefs and interpretations throughout the Muslim world as well as Europe and America” (John Esposito. “Islam: The Straight Path, 2005, page 261).



Ø  “The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them, and then those who follow the latter (i.e. the first three generations of Muslims or salafi).” Hadith by Prophet Muhammad

Ø  “The principal tenet of Salafism is that Islam was perfect and complete during the days of Muhammad and his companions, but that undesirable innovations have been added over the later centuries due to materialist and cultural influences. Salafism seeks to revive a practice of Islam that more closely resembles the religion during the time of Muhammad.” (Wikipedia)




Muslim Brotherhood

Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/arabunity/2009/02/2009525185757654836.html


5


Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966)



26

Muslim Brotherhood - History

“The Egyptian-founded Muslim Brotherhood - which spawned Hamas, gave underpinnings to al-Qaida and now publicly endorses peaceful reforms - is confronting unprecedented challenges to its leadership as the Muslim world is torn asunder. Competing forces of moderates who seek engagement with the West and radicals who choose confrontation are locked in a struggle for the hearts of the 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe - an ideological clash of Cold War proportions.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hSTszYlrdE]


27 Islam & Fundamentalism 28

Theology of Hate

Ø World is black and white: Ø World of belief vs. unblief Ø Land of Islam vs. land of warfare Ø Forces of good vs. forces of evil “Those who are not with them, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, are the enemy and are to be fought and destroyed in a war with no limits and no proportionality of goals or means. … Most militants and movements have been directly or indirectly influenced by Sayyid Qutub. … Bin Laden’s upbringing and exposure to Wahhabi Islam coupled with his exposure to Qutub’s ideas and disciples at university and in Afghanistan transformed this somewhat shy, serious, devout, polite young man into a grandfather of global terrorism.” (Esposito, 258)


ISIS- Latest Developments

Ø  Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, an offshoot of Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) or Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI).

Ø  Leader: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (since 2010)

Ø  2013 formation of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levent (ISIL) or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (the Arabic term)

Islam & Fundamentalism © 2015 Mohamed Esa

McDaniel College 29

ISIS - Latest Developments

Ø  2014 Establishment of a “worldwide caliphate” with Al-Baghdadi as its caliph, to be known as "Caliph Ibrahim”

Ø  Rejection from all sides: “The declaration issued by the Islamic State is void under sharia and has dangerous consequences for the Sunnis in Iraq and for the revolt in Syria. The title of caliph can only be given by the entire Muslim nation, not by a single group.” (Qatar-based theologian Yusuf al-Qaradawi)


30

6


31 Islam & Fundamentalism © 2015 Mohamed Esa McDaniel College

32

Progressive Muslims

1998: Internet community: Progressive Muslim Network (PMN) 2003: Book: Progressive Muslims: On Justice, gender, and Pluralism. In his article, “Islam without borders,” Farish a. Noor (Malaysian human rights activist, political scientist and columnist) writes: “We need to forge a new chain of equivalences that equates universal concern with Muslim concerns and universal problems with Muslim problems. The Muslim heart cannot bleed when it sees Muslim tears. If we are not moved by the plight and suffering of others, if we cannot feel the pain and anxieties of others, if we cannot share the joy and aspirations of others, then we cannot claim the same rights and entitlements for ourselves. … Our concerns for justice, equity, rights, and freedom need to be articulated in a borderless world where our audience is not only ourselves but the world as a whole, both now and in the future.”


Progressive Muslims

In his article, “The Ugly Modern and the Modern Ugly: Reclaiming the Beautiful in Islam,” Khaled Abou El Fadl speaks of “supremacist Puritanism as a politically oriented ‘siege mentality’ in Islam” which has limited the free rational discourse on religion and ethics among Muslims. He writes: “In its siege mentality, there is no room for analytical or critical thought, and there is no room for seriously engaging the Islamic intellectual heritage. There is only room for bombastic dogma, and for a stark functionalism that ultimately impoverishes the Islamic heritage.“ The “Luther of Islam” is the Iranian philosopher, Abdoulkarim Soroush, one of the moderate and liberal voices in Iran. He propagates flexibility and pragmatism in Islam.



Muslim Women Scholar-Activists!

Book: Windows of Faith: Muslim Women Scholar-Activists in North America” (2000) Ø  Amina Wadud “Alternative Qur’anic Interpretations and the

Status of Muslim Women.” Ø  Maysam al-Faruqi: “Women’s Self Identity in the Qur’an and

Islamic Law” Ø  Asifa Quraishi: “Her Honor: An Islamic Critique of the Rap Laws

of Pakistan froma Woman-Sensitive Perspective.” Al-Fatiha: A lively Web site for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Muslims. http://www.al-fatiha.org/


Shukran!

Thank You! May God

Bless You All

islam and why - st. thomas episcopal church, thomasville · 2017. 10. 30. · 3 islam &...

Documents