THE CONFLICT WITHIN ISLAM
Expressing Religion Through Politics
by
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Despite the tragedy of September 11, and the subsequent terrorist acts against Western targets throughout the world, despite the clash-of-civilizations mentality that has seized the globe, despite the blatant religious rhetoric resonating throughout the halls of governments, there is one thing that cannot be overemphasized. What is taking place now in the Muslim world is an internal conflict among Muslims, not an external battle between Islam and the West. The West is merely a bystander—an unwary casualty of a rivalry that is raging in Islam. The violent activities of the extremist groups today show to the non-Muslim world an un-Islamic face of Islam. These activities have become doubly offensive against the scriptural commands, when these are shown as Jihad, and are packaged in religious vocabulary. These are heretical. Unfortunately, the trend of using religion for non-religious goals is not new, and can be traced since medieval times. This is the story of contest between religion and politics where politics was made a sacrament and religion abused. In describing this aspect, the historical and religious part naturally cannot be ignored. The conflict within Islam for the soul of Islam continues. Will the struggle be resolved in the present and the foreseeable future? Or will it make life more difficult for the faithful? This book attempts to find the answers.
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About the Book
This is not a book of history; it does not claim to cover every aspect of Islam religion. It confines itself to the search for the true mission of Islam and how that mission has been hijacked in the struggle of faith and power. This is the story of contest between religion and politics where politics was made a sacrament and religion abused. In describing this aspect, the historical part naturally cannot be ignored. This is not a book of religion either. Since religionand politics overlap each other in this study, theology and jurisprudence have their interplay also. The conflict within Islam for the soul of Islam continues. Will the struggle be resolved in the present and the foreseeable future? Or will it make life more difficult for the faithful? This book attempts to find the answers.
About the Author
The author, currently retired for health reason, has a Master's degree in History and Civilization from University of Karachi, Pakistan. Subsequently, he entered as Research Fellow in the Islamic Research Institute of Pakistan, from 1965-68 under guidance and supervision of highly-renowned eminent scholar and philosopher, Fazlur Rahman, his mentor; also taught in the local colleges taking undergraduate classes in the History of the subcontinent of India-Pakistan. He is currently living in the United States for the last sixteen years and has previously published two books, (i) Muslims in America: What Everyone Needs to Know, and (ii) Believers and Brothers: A History of Uneasy Relationship. They are on sale of almost all anchor booksellers websites. He and his wife are currently living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have four children and seven grandchildren, all in the United States.