As-Suffah

The West’s Far-Right Movement

11 July 2021

“The history, evolution, and resurgence of far-right groups, and comparison and contrast of their discourse with the old binary Orientalist narratives.”

Western Discourse on “Islam and Violence”

11 May 2021

Violence is arguably the most misconstrued issue related to Islam in the Western psyche. Western media has succeeded in linking Islam to violence that now dominates public opinion in the West. Even Hollywood has played a part in promoting global fear and anxiety in their screen portrayal of Islam and Muslims. The Western discourse of “violence in Islam” existed historically from the middle ages, but it has intensified in the past two decades post September 11, 2001 attacks. In the middle ages

Orientalism - an attempt to define the elusive European identity

10 May 2021

In his seminal work “Orientalism,” Edward Said (d. 2003) argues that European colonial domination over the Orient depended on the discourse about the Orient or how the Orient was conceptualized, researched and talked about in Europe. The term “Orient” in Orientalism refers to the East of Europe and is contrasted to the “Occident” which refers to Europe itself. These two terms together form a conceptual binary that informs in succinct way, not only the geographical reference, but also contrasting and mutual exclusive cultural values and moral conduct. This conceptual binary can best be captured in Rudyard Kipling’s poem, The Ballard of East and West, “East is East, and West is West, and never shall the twain meet.

Western View of “Women in Islam”

09 May 2021

By the 18th century during the colonial era, Europeans, men and women, of all walks of life, were sure and of one mind that Muslim women were oppressed by their religion and culture. The European standard list of oppressions facing Muslim women is long and includes the practice of polygamy, laws of divorce, laws of inheritance, laws of witness, gender separation, and the status of Muslim women in marriage. Women’s bodies and clothing were always used by the West as the social and political battleground with Islam and dominated the Western public discourse about “Women in Islam.”

European Attitude Towards the Muslim Heritage

06 May 2021

Europeans not only see Islam an alien religion and rival to their culture, but they tend to deny and erase Muslims’ great contributions and relevance to their own intellectual and cultural rise. Today, if you think there is misunderstanding in the West about Islam, there is even more misunderstanding about the debt the West owe to Islam and Muslims. The lowest moment of European history was towards end of the 5th century when Barbarians from the North had put an end to the classical civilization of the West that was centered in Rome.

Evaluation of Qur’an Scientific Exegesis from Classical to Modern Period

17 February 2021

The Qur?an is Islam’s foundational scripture, encompassing its message as the religion’s primary source of guidance and legislation. The Qur’an directs and legitimizes Muslims’ lives and actions. Muslims across sectarian divides unanimously agree on the divine source of the Qur?an, its authenticity, its authority, and the binding nature of its commands. Differences occur, however, over how to interpret these commands.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): If you truly knew him, you would love him

01 December 2020

Today, the Muslim world is commemorating the Prophet’s birth, whilst recently the world witnessed an attack on Islam and denigration of its Prophet by the French President, Emanuel Macron, under the pretext of “freedom to speech” or rather “freedom to insult.” This is despite the fact there is no absolute freedom of speech protected by law anywhere in the world.

How do we understand evil and suffering in Islam?

01 January 2018

Theologians of Monotheistic religions have been interested in the issue of evil and suffering, or “theodicy” as it is more often referred to, for over millennia, and for good reason, because it brings into question the fundamental pillar of religion: How can a powerful, just and perfect God allow evil and suffering in a world which He says He has created in perfect balance, with a purpose, and for the well-being of His servants? The underlying assumption that a good God should not let evil and suffering coexist may be true with some Judeo-Christian view of God, but is an unthinkable disregard to God`s omnipotence, omniscience and benevolence in Muslims’ understanding. Thus, the objective of theodicy in Islamic thought is not to question God’s existence or His power, justice and wisdom, but rather to help man navigate through the existing imperfect world with practical guiding principles to overcome some of the challenges of evil and suffering. This paper will argue that human and animal suffering in this world is compatible to belief in a compassionate God, destiny and free will.

Articles

The West’s Far-Right Movement

Western Discourse on “Islam and Violence”

Orientalism - an attempt to define the elusive European identity

Western View of “Women in Islam”

European Attitude Towards the Muslim Heritage

Evaluation of Qur’an Scientific Exegesis from Classical to Modern Period

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): If you truly knew him, you would love him

How do we understand evil and suffering in Islam?

test