Power & Subjugation In the Islamic Middle East Then and Now

1. Power & Subjugation In the Islamic Middle East Then and Now Leo A. Gher, Professor Emeritus Southern Illinois University

2. Ccc The Islamic Civilization and Its People Shia vs. Sunni

3. Ccc ISLAM Sunni Shia Schools of Jurisprudence Schools of Jurisprudence Sufi Twelver Zaidi Ismaili Hanafi Hanbali Maliki Shafii Alawite Druze Jafri Nizani others… Orders Salafi Wahhabi Mevlevi Bektashi Naqshbandi Bukhari Qadiri many others… Quietists Activists Jihadists Leo Gher LIR 2017 Indonesia, etc. Western, etc.

4. Islam Essentials All Muslims rely upon the… Quranand Sunnah as the two primary sources of theology & law. Quran is the Word of God, written in Arabic, and unaltered for 14 centuries Sunnah is "the way of the prophet”

5. Islam Essentials In practice, Muslims believe that… • Muhammad is the best model for all Muslims • Adhering to Sunnahfulfills the divine injunctions • Sunnahis best for carrying out religious rites, and • molding life in accordance with the will of God. Instituting Sunnah was a part of Muhammad's responsibility as a messenger of God. Sunnahincludes worship rituals like Salat, Zakat, Hajj, and fasting during Ramadan as well as customs like circumcision.

6. Islam Essentials The Three types of Sunnah Qawliyyah– Muhammad’s specific words Fiiliyyah– Muhammad’s explicit habits and practices Taqririyyah – Muhammad’s silent approvals

7. Islam Essentials So, what is Hadith? Hadithis a written record of Sunnah Hadithsare revered and received as a major source of religious law (Sharia) and moral guidance. The two most highly respected collections of Hadithare the authenticated collections the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

8. People of Islam Where Do They Live? 1.8 billion Pew Research. April 2017 Pew research pril

9. Worldwide: Sunnis – 1.5 billion | Shiites – 250 million

10. Shia vs. Sunni Sunnis believe … Sunnah (the path) is considered to be as powerful as the Koran itself Sunnah is the traditions or interpretations of Qur’anic law After Mohammed died, he left no indication about who his successor should be (Abu Bakr followed) Sunnis decided that a chosen caliph would be the “elected head” of all legitimate secular power Sunnis “tithe”zakat (a small payment) of income

11. Shia vs. Sunni Sunnis elect an imam to lead Friday prayers Sunnis pray with folded arms Sunnis are mostly Arabs, and speak Arabic Sunnis make up about 85% of all Muslims Sunnis names: Bakr, Omar, Uthman Sunnis believe …

12. Sunni Islam Schools of Thought Hanafi – (Imam Abu Hanifa), is considered the school most open to modern ideas. It is prime In Egypt, Iraq, Turkey and in western countries. Hanbali – (Ahmad bin Hanbal)is considered the most conservative of schools. Hanbali jurisprudence is predominant among Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula Maliki – (Imam Malik) this school is practiced in North Africa and West Africa. It is the second-largest of the four schools, followed by approximately 25% of Sunni Muslims. Shafi’i – (Imam Shafi’i) is practiced throughout the Ummah, but is most prevalent in Somalia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, and is officially followed by the government of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

13. Shia vs. Sunni Shiites believe… Koran is absolute and divine “inner revealed history” (like Gnosticism) Authority should only continue through Mohammed's family (Fatima, daughter, and Ali, son-in-law) First three caliphs were usurpers, and that Ali was the true successor of Mohammed Shiites “tithe”khum (20%) of income, pluszakat(a small payment)

14. Shia vs. Sunni Shiites believe… Shiites believe in a “messiah” called the “mahdi” Shiites pray with arms at side Shiites are mostly Iranians, and speak Farsi Shiites make up about 15% of all Muslims Shiite names: Ali, Hussein, Abdel Zahra

15. Shia vs. Sunni Real difference … • differentiation is NOT religious! • Both sects believe in the main principles • of Islam: Infallibility of Koran, Prophet Muhammad, and Five Pillars of Islam. • differentiation IS the product of 13 • centuries of social, political and • economic inequality and mistrust • The SCHISM occurred in 10 A.H. (632 • CE) soon after Mohammed’s death

16. Shia vs. Sunni Real difference … • Majority (Sunnis) believe in an elected • Caliph: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman • Minority (Shiites) believe in an heredity • Caliph: from Mohammed to Ali to • Hussein to the (12th Imam) Mahdi • Ali was murdered in 39 A.H., and his • son, Hussein, became Imam • Two forces met on the battlefield in • Karbala in 58 A.H. Hussein was killed • and then decapitated. Ashura is the Shia • remembrance of Hussein’s death.

17. Shia vs. Sunni Real difference … • the argumentis ethnic, tribal, clannish! • EACH society is fighting for political • and economic domination! • Sunni rulers maintain power by • excluding Shiites from the military • and government office • Western powers have historically allied • with the Sunnis… for example: • Sisi in Egypt… • King Abdallah in Jordan… • the Saudis in Arabia

18. Sufism So… who are the Sufis? and How are they different from the two main branches of Islam, Shiites and Sunnis? Mystic Ahmad Ghazali

19. Sufism Classical Sufis were characterized by their asceticism, the practice of remembrance of God. They gained adherents among a number of Muslims as a reaction against the worldliness of the early Umayyad Caliphate Whirling Dervishes

20. Sufism Sufi orders are based On pledge of allegiance The pledge was first given to Muhammad by his companions. By pledging allegiance to Muhammad, the companions had committed themselves to the service of God. "The Sufi is the one who wears wool on top of purity.” Sufi al-Rudhabari

21. Sufism Mainstream scholars of Islam define Sufism (Tasawwuf) as the name for the inner practice of Islam Sufism = inner practices esoteric Sharia = outward practices exoteric

22. ABCs ofSufism Sufi Islam = mystic Islam … believe it is possible to draw closer to God in this present life … aim is to please God by restoring Fitra, the primordial human nature described within the Quran. In this spiritual state nothing one does displeases God, and all is undertaken with the single motivation of love, Ishq. Sufi Muslims

23. ABCs ofSufism Similar esoteric movements: Jewish Kabbalah – a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an unchanging, eternal, and mysterious “infinity” and the mortal and finite universe of God's creation. Zen Buddhism – ways to enlightenment (Nirvana), emphasizing rigorous self-control, meditation-practice, insight, and personal expression of insight in daily life. Christian Gnosticism – mystic knowledge the material world (the flesh) is created by the Divine spark (the spirit); the way to God is an inner journey. Sufi Muslims

24. Sunnahwas being practiced by the Christians, Jews and the Arab descendants of Ishmael – Arabized Arabs/Ishmaelites. • From Quran; surah 17, ayah 77: "(This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our ways.” • Muhammad reinstituted the practice of Sunnahas an integral part of Islam. • Sufis argue that the external customs alone lose meaning without the inner Sunnah. Sufi Muslims

25. Sufism is known in the Islamic world as Tasawwuf. • It is the aspect of Islam that deals with purification of the inner self. • Accordingly, true Sunnahis Muhammad’s inner state. • His attitude, piety, and character constitute a deeper meaning of Sunnah. Sufi Muslims Sufism

26. “Striving in the path of God” Greater Jihad • A struggle against one's own evil inclinations • Finding one’s primordial human nature • Becoming acceptable with and to “the Beloved” Lesser Jihad (of pen or sword) • To convert unbelievers • To construct a morally superior society • In classical Sharia, term refers to armed struggle against unbelievers – defensive war Sufi Muslims In Twelver Shia Islam jihad is one of the 10 Religious Practices. A person engaged is called mujahid(plural mujahideen).

27. The West knows of Sufism mainly because of the Mevlevi Order, the Whirling Dervishes. • Sufis argue that the external customs alone lose meaning without the inner Sunnah. • Hadith (a written record of Sunnah) is simply an old custom of Arabs, not something that is unique to Muhammad. • Sufis are known for their gentle, non-violent nature. Sufi Muslims

28. Orders The Mevlevi Order is better known in the West as the "whirling dervishes". The Naqshbandi Order was founded in 1380. It is Considered to be a "sober" order known for its silent, “remembrance of God” rather than the vocalized forms common in other orders. The Ni'matullahi Order is the most widespread Sufi order of Persia. There are many suborders, the most influential follows Javad Nurbakhsh, who brought the order to the West following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The Qadiri Order is one of the oldest Orders. The order is one of the most widespread of the Sufi orders in the Islamic world, and can be found in Central Asia, Turkey, Balkans and much of East and West Africa Sufi Muslims

29. Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi … was a 13th century Iranian poet … a “master” of Sufism … his sway transcends borders and ethnic divisions … poems have been widely translated into many world languages Rumi has been described as the "most popular and "best selling poet" in the United States. Sufi Muslims

30. Rumi's poetry is tawhid– union with Beloved (God) “At the next charge I will die to human nature, I may lift up my head and wings among the angels, Everything perishes except His Face, Once again I will become sacrificed from the angel, Truly, to Him is our return.”from the Masnavi, 1258 CE Sufi Muslims Rumi is generous to every person… On the seeker’s path, wise men and fools are one. In His love, brothers and strangers are one. Go on! Drink the wine of the Beloved! But he venerates Islam and the Quran above all… I am the servant of the Qur'an as long as I have life. I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen one.

31. Salafi Basics So… who are the Salafis? and How are they different from the Sufis Shiites or Sunnis ? Salafi Muslims

32. Ccc ISLAM Sunni Shia Schools of Jurisprudence Schools of Jurisprudence Sufi Twelver Zaidi Ismaili Hanafi Hanbali Maliki Shafii Alawite Druze Jafri Nizani others… Orders Salafi Wahhabi Mevlevi Bektashi Naqshbandi Bukhari Qadiri many others… Quietists Activists Jihadists Leo Gher LIR 2017 Indonesia, etc. Western, etc.

33. Salafi Basics Reactionary… a “movement” not a branch of Islam like Shia or Sunni. … believe “progressive” Islam is an abomination to God … Salafi canon centers on the 7th century way of life as practiced by Muhammad and his earliest followers – the pious forefathers, called the salaf. … worldwide, there are an estimated 50 million practicing Salafists today. Salafi Muslims

34. Salafi Basics … view revealed knowledge (the Quran) as the only truth for all societies … reject Ilm al-Kalam. They consider it a foreign import from the Greeks, alien to the original practice of Islam Salafi Muslims … reject Sufism. … see church & state as inseparable and have the Quran as constitutional law for their society

35. Salafi Basics Ills that have befallen Islam today are caused by Muslims’ turning away from the practices of the righteous forefathers – the salaf. Salafi Muslims Muslims can only be saved by rejecting modernity and TheWest. Salafis believe that Islam is a complete system of morality and justice, and that Sharia Law must be the sole basis of governance and all thing in life. Zakir Naik, Peace TV Dubai, United Arab Emirates

36. Jihadists Activists Quietists King Salman Saudi Arabia Mohammed Morsi Muslim Brotherhood Ayman Al-Zawahiri Al-Qaeda Three Factions of Salafism

37. The Quietists (or “purists”) focus on educational methods (madrassas) of propagating the faith. Activists (or “politicos”) emphasize political activism (parties) to spreading true Islam. Salafi Muslims Jihadis (“terrorists”) call for violent revolution against unbelievers, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

38. Salafi Basics So… who are the Wahhabis? How are they different from other Salafis? Salafi Muslims

39. Wahhabism Salafi Muslims • Established early 1900s by the House of Saud • revolt against the Ottoman empire • 40,000 executions | 350,000 amputations • mid-century oil boom meant riches • Only TRUE ISLAM = Wahhabism

40. Wahhabism … the QUIEST view of Salafi Islam/state sanctioned religion of Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., and Qatar. King Salman: “… pure Islam does not deviate from Sharia law in any way and should be called Islam and not Wahhabism.”The National, Abu Dhabi Media; 12 June 2014 Salafi Muslims Wahhabism is spread around the world by the Saudis’ vast support of madrassas/Saudi support of madrassas in Afghanistan 35 years ago produced the Taliban. 5 million adherents in the Gulf region

41. Muslim Brotherhood (Activists) Salafi Muslims Mohamed Morsi, freely elected Egyptian President and Freedom and Justice Party members 2012

42. Salafi Basics Brotherhood's stated political goal: … to instill the Quranand Sunnah as the "sole reference for ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community, and the state.” Dictums: “Islam is the Solution” “The Quranis the Constitution” “The Prophet is our leader” “Jihadis our way” “Death for the sake of Allah is our wish” Salafi Muslims

43. Salafi Basics Activists and the War on Islam The West is generally seen as a foe – determined to destroy Islam. From Qur’an 3:118: “The Jews and Christians will never be pleased with you until you change your religion.” CONSPRACY THEORY: non-Muslims are the arch enemies driven by a desire to pull Muslims away from their beliefs. Sayyid Qutb

44. Salafi Basics Jihadis and terrorism The Afghan-USSR war served as dangerous incubator of Jihadis by exposing Saudi Salafis to the radical Salafi Muslims teachings of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Israeli-Palestinian conflict | American campaign to control the Muslim world | Russia suppressing separatists actions in Chechnya and Dagestan | India’s slaughter of Kashmiri Muslims All lead Jihadis to a justified “defensive war” against The West.

45. Salafi Basics Osama bin Laden Bin Laden summarized: “The fatwa of any official religious scholar has no value for me. History is full of such clerics who justify economic usury, the occupation of Palestine by the Jews, the presence of American troops on the Islamic holy places. These people support the infidels for their personal gain. Salafi Muslims The true Muslims support the jihad against America. The world was burning as corrupt regimes in the Muslim world continued to advise people to pray for the very leaders who facilitated its destruction.

46. Critics of Salafism • The majority of mainstream Sunni and Shia Muslims worldwide strongly disagree with the interpretation of Wahhabism • Many Muslims denounce Salafism as a "vile sect”. • Islamic scholars from the Al-Azhar University, regularly condemn Wahhabism with terms such as "Satanic faith”. • Wahhabism has been accused of being: • a source of global terrorism” • inspiring the ideology of ISIS • causing disunity in Muslim communities • a fanatical and innovative movement within the tradition of Sunni Islam Salafi Muslims

47. Salafism in all its forms: Quietists | Activists |Jihadis | Muslim Brotherhood | Wahhabism | Taliban | ISIS | terrorism of any kind Fundamentalist Islam of any kind… Islamic theocracies everywhere… DEAD END! Salafi Muslims

48. 21st Century Creed-Culture Based Civilizations Christian West Russian Christian West Islamic Christian Sinic Christian Hindu Christian West Christian West Christian West Christian West