Posts

Bridging the Divide: Beyond the Ethics of Disagreement,Bridging the Divide: Beyond the Ethics of Disagreement, by Dr. Taha Jabir Al-Alwani

Reviewed by: Dr Nazar Ul Islam  Imam Abu Hanifa is reported to have said, "Ours is no more than an opinion; we do not oblige or coerce anyone into accepting it. Whosoever has better judgment, let him advance." The difference of opinion and the disagreement among the Muslims is rooted in history, in philology, and in the phenomenology of Muslim culture and tradition. The greatest ever divide - between Shia and Sunni- is rooted in political, theological, and socio-cultural factors, primarily arising from contentious issue of succession of leadership after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In the same manner, the juristic difference among the Muslims within Shia (Ja‘fari, Zaydi, Isma‘ili) and Sunni creed created intra-sectarian divides in the form of sectarianism. The question, however, remains is how can this Ummah return to unity? We observe various efforts being made to understand and explicate the methods to unite Ummah through revival and reform. Over the past four ce...
Post a Comment
Read more

America’s Other Muslims; Imam W.D Muhammad, Islamic Reform, and the Making of American Islam

America and Islam portrays an impression of an intricate fusion post 9/11, but an unremitting resilience to violent extremism by the black African American Muslims enslaved from Africa who preserved Islamic traditions and American nationalism during the arduous times is a unique phenomenon this book documents. The work connects the African Islam to African American Islam through the lived experiences of an American Muslim Revivalist Imam Warith Deen Muhammad (1933-2008) whose pedigree stretches back to agonizing sixteenth century forcible enslavement of western Africans who survived America’s long history of persecution and bondage. Muhammad Frazer Rahim, the author the book, has undertaken a pioneering research that delineates the perpetual endurance of Imam W.D. Muhammad and his fore fathers that evolved into an Islamic continuum, carried out at least forty-four-year counter-radicalization programme, and fostered thousands of sympathizers and adherents of American culture. Muhammad...
Post a Comment
Read more