Contesting the Theological Foundations of Islamism and Violent Extremism (Middle East Today)

Analyzes the place of Islam in the world and within Western nation-states Explores the causes of radicalization from theological perspective with an objective to offer critical epistemological responses and sociological understandings Includes contributions containing original and critical research, addressing the broad themes of religious interpretation, violent extremism and Muslim youth radicalization This edited volume discusses critically discursive claims about the theological foundations connecting Islam to certain manifestations of violent extremism. Such claims and associated debates become even more polarizing when images of violent acts of terrorism performed in the name of Islam circulate in the global media. The authors argue that the visibility of such mediated violent extremism, in particular since the emergence of ISIS, has created a major political and security challenge not only to the world but also to the global Muslim community. This is particularly true in relation to the way Islam is being understood and characterized in the modern world. Existing studies on radicalization generally deal with causes and strategies to address violent extremism. The book will appeal to scholars, researchers and students in political science, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Contents 6 Notes on Contributors 8 List of Tables 12 Chapter 1: Introduction: Framing the Debate Around Islamic Theology, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism 13 A Historical Context for Religious Violence 13 Islamist Violent Extremism in the Contemporary World 15 Book Structure 16 Conclusion 21 References 23 Part I: Contesting the Theological Foundations of Violent Extremism 25 Chapter 2: Causes of Radicalisation: Theological Arguments as the Ultimate Trigger 26 Introduction 26 Religious Narratives 29 Jihad 31 Takfir (Excommunication) 34 Dar al-harb (Land of War) 36 Contemporary Scholars’ Stance Against Radicalism 39 Conclusion 41 References 42 Chapter 3: Refuting the Extremist Interpretations of the Text and the Prophetic Traditions: The Case of Qur’an 2:256 46 Introduction 46 The Notions of Jihad and Fighting in Islamic Scriptures 48 The Case of Qur’an 2:256 49 Occasions of Revelations for Qur’an 2:256 50 Various Interpretations of Qur’an 2:256: Not to Force Conversions to Islam 51 Analysis of Qur’an 9:5 and the Issue of Abrogation 52 Defensive War (Jihad Al-Dafʿ) and Offensive Jihad (Jihad Al-Talab) 54 Extremist Interpretations of Prophetic Traditions 55 Forcing Muslims in Their Religious Practices 57 Forced Conversions and Leaving Islam: The Case of Apostasy 57 Conclusion 58 References 60 Chapter 4: Social Construction of Jihad and Human Dignity in the Language of ISIS 63 Introduction 63 The Theory: Social Construction 65 ISIS and the Proclamation of the Caliphate 68 Human Dignity in Islam 70 Jihad in Islam 71 Jihad and Human Dignity in the Language of ISIS and the Social Construction of Reality 72 Conclusion 79 References 81 Part II: The Social and Political Perspectives to Violent Extremism 83 Chapter 5: Orientalism and Anti-Orientalism: Epistemological Approaches to Islam and Violence 84 Introduction 84 Traditional Orientalism: Islamic Texts and History 87 More Orientalism: Ideology and Political Islam 91 Enter Anti-Orientalism: Violence and the Primacy of Material Factors 94 The Negation of Islam: Anti-Orientalism’s Orientalism 97 Conclusion 100 References 102 Chapter 6: Political and Social Changes in the Muslim World with Special Reference to Development, Knowledge and Freedom Deficits 105 Introduction 105 Development Deficit 106 Changing Economic Fortunes 110 Freedom Deficit 111 Knowledge Deficit 113 Concluding Remarks 118 References 119 Chapter 7: Islamism, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism: Perspectives of Young Muslim Australians 122 Introduction 122 Islamism 126 Perspectives of Young Muslim Australians 128 Identity 129 Radicalisation and Violent Extremism 134 Discussion 137 Conclusion 140 References 140 Part III: Religious Leadership and Violent Extremism 143 Chapter 8: Understanding Key Themes in the ISIS Narrative: An Examination of Dabiq Magazine 144 Introduction 144 Dabiq Magazine 145 Dabiq and al-Adnani’s September 2014 Call for “Lone Wolf” Attacks 147 Sayyid Qutb and the Roots of ISIS’ Apocalyptic Narrative 149 Radicalisation, Recruitment, and the Appeal of Positive Messaging 151 Nine Major Themes in Dabiq 152 Justice 153 Goodness 154 Belonging 156 Khilafah 156 Hijra 157 Redemption 158 Sin 160 Judgement 160 Jihad 161 Conclusion 163 References 163 Chapter 9: Potential Impact of the AKP’s Unofficial Political Islamic Law on the Radicalisation of the Turkish Muslim Youth in the West 167 Introduction 167 Erdoğan’s Long Arm2 in the West: Transnational Mobilisation of the Turkish Diaspora 170 Islamist Unofficial Law and the Radicalisation of the Fatwas in the Erdoğanist Era 172 The Impact of Populist Rhetoric and Radical Fatwas 177 Radicalisation of Turkish Muslim Youth in the West 178 Conclusion 181 References 183 Chapter 10: Said Nursi’s Non-violent Social Activism as a Refutation and Response to the Re-emergent Neo-Kharijite Sect in Islam 189 Historical Foundations of Modernism, Salafism, and Wahhabism and the Rise of Islamic Movements 190 Said Nursi’s Ihyaism (Revivalism), Non-violence, and Apolitical Activism 196 Nursi’s Revival Project and Non-violent Social Activism 201 Conclusion 206 References 208 Chapter 11: Pro-active Religious Rehabilitation for the Prevention of Radicalism and Violent Extremism 211 Introduction 211 Setting the Scene 213 Heightening Hatred and Oppression 215 Perspective: The Hizmet Case 217 Online Sermons 218 Self-Interrogation 222 Acknowledgement of the Path and Showing Patience 224 Positive Action and Mannerisms 227 Conclusion 229 References 231 Index 235 Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction: Framing the Debate Around Islamic Theology, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (Fethi Mansouri, Zuleyha Keskin)....Pages 1-12 Front Matter ....Pages 13-13 Causes of Radicalisation: Theological Arguments as the Ultimate Trigger (Zuleyha Keskin, Fatih Tuncer)....Pages 15-34 Refuting the Extremist Interpretations of the Text and the Prophetic Traditions: The Case of Qur’an 2:256 (Hakan Coruh)....Pages 35-51 Social Construction of Jihad and Human Dignity in the Language of ISIS (Jan A. Ali)....Pages 53-72 Front Matter ....Pages 73-73 Orientalism and Anti-Orientalism: Epistemological Approaches to Islam and Violence (Mohammed Sulaiman)....Pages 75-95 Political and Social Changes in the Muslim World with Special Reference to Development, Knowledge and Freedom Deficits (Riaz Hassan)....Pages 97-113 Islamism, Radicalisation and Violent Extremism: Perspectives of Young Muslim Australians (Halim Rane, Melissa Bull)....Pages 115-135 Front Matter ....Pages 137-137 Understanding Key Themes in the ISIS Narrative: An Examination of Dabiq Magazine (Greg Barton)....Pages 139-161 Potential Impact of the AKP’s Unofficial Political Islamic Law on the Radicalisation of the Turkish Muslim Youth in the West (Ihsan Yilmaz)....Pages 163-184 Said Nursi’s Non-violent Social Activism as a Refutation and Response to the Re-emergent Neo-Kharijite Sect in Islam (Mahsheed Ansari)....Pages 185-206 Pro-active Religious Rehabilitation for the Prevention of Radicalism and Violent Extremism (Cemil Alkan)....Pages 207-230 Back Matter ....Pages 231-232 This edited volume discusses critically discursive claims about the theological foundations connecting Islam to certain manifestations of violent extremism. Such claims and associated debates become even more polarizing when images of violent acts of terrorism performed in the name of Islam circulate in the global media. The authors argue that the visibility of such mediated violent extremism, in particular since the emergence of ISIS, has created a major political and security challenge not only to the world but also to the global Muslim community. This is particularly true in relation to the way Islam is being understood and characterized in the modern world. Existing studies on radicalization generally deal with causes and strategies to address violent extremism. The book will appeal to scholars, researchers and students in political science, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.-- Provided by publisher "This edited volume discusses critically discursive claims about the theological foundations connecting Islam to certain manifestations of violent extremism. Such claims and associated debates become even more polarizing when images of violent acts of terrorism performed in the name of Islam circulate in the global media. The authors argue that the visibility of such mediated violent extremism, in particular since the emergence of ISIS, has created a major political and security challenge not only to the world but also to the global Muslim community. This is particularly true in relation to the way Islam is being understood and characterized in the modern world. Existing studies on radicalization generally deal with causes and strategies to address violent extremism. The book will appeal to scholars, researchers and students in political science, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies"-- Publisher's website