Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: One of the issues in contemporary Islamic thought which has attracted much attention amongst Muslim scholars and within the Muslim community is the valid and appropriate attitude of Muslims to relationships with non-Muslims.A major source of confusion and controversy with regards to this relationship comes from the allegation that Muslims must reserve their love and loyalty for fellow Muslims and to disavow people of the Religious Other.This allegation is manifested through the concept of Al-Wala" wal Bara" (Loyalty and Disavowal).This paper explores the conception of the Religious Other by contemporary Muslim extremists.It highlights how Muslim extremists justify their hatred and enmity of the Religious Others in the name of Al-Wala" wal Bara".To understand their perception, the paper looks at the contents of Surah or Chapter of Al-Mumtahanah, the sixtieth chapter of the Quran and shows how the Quran, particularly this chapter and the concept of Millat Ibrahim (Religion of Abraham) play an important role in formulating Muslim extremists" perception of the Religious Other.The paper will conclude with some debates by contemporary Muslims on the notion of loving and hating the Religious Other.In addition, it is also from this surah that the concept of Millat Ibrahim (The religion of Abraham) 1 is believed to be taken by Muslim extremists to illustrate the importance of disavowing the Religious Other.They refer to Millat Ibrahim to show the urgency of following the footsteps of Prophet Abraham in disavowing non-Muslims.2 This paper illustrates how Surah Al-Mumtahanah and the idea of Millat Ibrahim in the surah, contribute significantly to the formulation of Muslim extremists" perception of the Religious Other.It attempts to show how the extremists reading of the surah"s text and their interpretation of its context has transformed these particular Quranic injunctions, which seems to warn the early Muslims of the dangers of forming alliance with their hostile enemies into the foundation of a radical ideology.In particular, it highlights how violent Islamists interpret verses from this surah in light of the current political issues and development and combine it with the concept of takfir(excommunication)against Muslim rulers.The paper begins with an introduction and a general understanding of Surah Al-Mumtahanah.It will highlight the reason behind its revelations, historical context and common themes of the surah.It then proceeds to explain the concept of Millat Ibrahim and show how this concept has shaped the extremist perception of the Religious Other.Finally, the paper will expose some debates on the issue of loving and hating the Religious Other.
DOI: 10.15640/jisc.v6n1a9
Author: Mohamed Bin Ali
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2886530697