Transcript Islam in a Globalized World

Islam in a Globalized
World
Muslim Brotherhood - Origins
• Founded 1927 by Hasan al-Banna in Ismailia
• Reaction to:
– Colonialism
– Secularism: ex. Orientalists in Azhar, Ali Abd al-Raziq,
Taha Husyan
• Main features:
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Grass-roots Islamic revival = mobilizing Abduh’s reforms
Anti-colonial
Anti-Zionist
Highly Organized: usra to murshid al-aam
• By 1940’s in Egypt it was almost state within a state,
with hospitals, companies, etc
• Sent volunteers to aid in 1948 war
• Violence against gov. and after 1948 against Jews in
Egypt  1949 Banna gunned down
Egyptian MB post 1952
• 1954 crackdown: dozens hung and
Brotherhood disbanded and banned
• Sayyid Qutb: Jahiliyya / Hakimiyya
• Slight rehabilitation under Sadat after
1970
• 1981: mass arrests of over 1500
• Umar al-Tilimsani and Mahdi Akef: nonviolent political opposition movement
• Numerous Journals: ex. Al-Da’wa
Islam is the Answer
Ikhwan in Other Arab Countries
• Syria: repression and rebellion (1981)
– Hama and Damascus branches
– MB attacks  1980 death sentence on members
– 1982 Hama uprising: 5000-20,000 civilians
killed
– Since 1980s call for shura, independent judiciary
• Sudan: forming a shaky government
– National Islamic Front founded 1976 with Hasan
Turabi as leader (attorney general in 1979)
– 1989 coup by Gen. Umar al-Basheer and Turabi
– Turabi’s platform: all Sudanese equal, no hadd
until ideal state achieved, women and men totally
equal
• Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco…
Yusuf al-Qaradawi (b. 1926)
• Student of Muhammad al-Ghazali and
Ikhwan member… jailed several times in
Egypt until he left for Qatar
• Global Mufti:
– Al-Jazeera show ‘al-Sharia wa al-Hayat’
– Popular writer: ex. Al-Halal wa al-Haram fi alIslam
• Fatwas:
– Suicide bombing in Palestine
– US troops allowed in region to defend, but
Muslims can fight US military
– Kufr and rejecting truth?
Fethullah Gulen (b. 1941)
• Head of largest group of Said Nursi (d.
1960)’s followers (Nurju)… bases his
writings on Said Nursi’s
• Served as preacher for 30 years for
Ministry of Religion, based in Izmir
• Compatibility of Islam, democracy, science
and human rights, global economy
• Movement focuses on building schools and
interfaith dialogue
• Since 1997 living in the US
Gülen in The Messenger of God Muhammad
show the Prophet as the embodiment of the
moderate and holistic religious vision: "The
problems of our time will be solved by
following the way of Muhammad.”
Only the Prophet’s model offers us the ideal
healthy and holistic combination of science
and religion, worldliness and spirituality:
“the Prophet Muhammad perfectly combined
a philosopher's intellect, a commander’s
valor, a scientist's genius, a sage's wisdom, a
statesman's insight and administrative
ability, a Sufi master's spiritual profundity
and a scholar's knowledge in his own
person.”
Gulen on spousal abuse
Tablighi Jama’at
• Founded outside of Delhi in 1926 by
Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas
• Reaction to Hindi proselytizing
movements
• Hugely influential in South Asia: massive
annual meetings in India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh
• Faith revival, tied to Deobandi school and
mild Sufism
The Six Directives
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All Muslims must know the shahada
… How to pray properly
… basic Islamic beliefs
All Muslims must honor fellow Muslims
Muslims must always be honest and
sincere
6) All Muslims must devote time to
preaching to others.
Tablighi Jama’at around the World
• Very active on university campuses
• Malaysia and Indonesian focus on moving
‘Mulims’ away from syncretic practices
• Non-political, although it receives tacit
and sometimes mild active support from
some Muslim governments like Pakistan