Sublime

Picking through that disgusting orientalist history, disgusting tales the Christians told to make the Prophet out as some sex-crazed cult leader,

As will become apparent, the debate over the nature and function of the Quran and the Shariah has in no way ended. Indeed, contemporary Muslim scholars such as Abdolkarim Soroush, Tariq Ramadan, Abdullahi An-Na’im, Amina Wadoud, Khaled Abou El Fadl, and many others have been vigorously pushing the Muslim community to reopen the gates of ijtihad and

In the modern era, as questions of individual religious obligation have entered the political realm, the Ulama’s ability to define the public discourse regarding correct behavior and belief has increased dramatically. They have even managed to broaden their audience by playing a far more active role in the political developments of the Middle East.

Investigations into Palestinian Authority corruption or Abbas’s rejection of peace offers are simply quashed, while exposés of Israeli intransigence merit headlines. Friedman believes the reason is anti-Semitism, the willingness to associate Jews with the worst traits in today’s world, namely, militarism, colonialism, and racism.

In Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Yusuf Azzam (1941–89), professor of Islamic philosophy at King Abdulaziz University, used his influence among the country’s disaffected youth to promote an uncompromisingly belligerent interpretation of jihad that, he argued, was incumbent on all Muslims. “Jihad and the rifle alone,” Dr. Azzam proclaimed to his students. “