Hizbu'llah: Politics and Religion (Critical Studies on Islam Series) (Critical Studies on Islam)

Hizbu’llah is the largest and most prominent political party in Lebanon, and one of the most renowned Islamist movements in the world. In this volume, Amal Saad-Ghorayeb examines the organisation’s understanding of jihad and how this, together with its belief in martyrdom, brought about the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese territory in May 2000. Saad-Ghorayeb explores the nature of the party’s struggle against the West by studying, among other issues, its views on the use of violence against Westerners. Crucially, she also addresses the question of whether Hizbu’llah depicts this struggle in purely political or civilisational terms. The existential nature of the movement’s conflict with Israel is analysed and the Islamic roots of its anti-Judaism is unearthed. The author explores the mechanics and rationale behind the party’s integration into the Lebanese political system, and sheds light on how it has reconciled its national idenitity with its solidarity with the Muslim umma. Hizbu'llah is the largest and most prominent political party in Lebanon, and one of the most renowned Islamist movements in the world. In this book, Amal Saad-Ghorayeb examines the organisation's understanding of jihad and how this, together with its belief in martyrdom, brought about the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanon in May 2000. Saad-Ghorayeb explores the nature of the party's struggle against the West by studying its views on the use of violence against Westerners. Crucially, she also addresses the question of whether Hizbu'llah depicts this struggle in purely political or civilisational terms. The existential nature of the movement's conflict with Israel is analysed and the Islamic roots of its anti-Judaism is unearthed. The author explores the mechanics and rationale behind the party's integration into the Lebanese political system, and sheds light on how it has reconciled its national idenitity with its solidarity with the Muslim umma. Saad-Ghorayeb (Lebanese American University) describes the Hizbu'llah organization's conception of jihad, its belief in martyrdom, and the uses of each in forcing the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. She describes the party's views on violence (especially against Westerners), its attitudes toward Lebanese national identity, and the nature of its struggle against the West. The complex ideological configurations between Anti-Zionism, Anti-Judaism, democratic ideals, and the Islamic state are articulated. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Ch. 1. Political Accommodation And Violence In Non-islamic States -- Ch. 2. The Islamic State And Democracy -- Ch. 3. The Concept Of The Guardianship Of The Jurisprudent -- Ch. 4. Islamic Universalism And National Identity -- Ch. 5. The Struggle With The West. Amal Saad-ghorayeb. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 235-242) And Index. The cornerstone of Hizbu'llah's intellectual structure is the Islamic state ideal.