Papers by Aslam Farouk-Alli
This paper examines the life and work of Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ghazālī (1917–1996), an Egyptian refo... more This paper examines the life and work of Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ghazālī (1917–1996), an Egyptian reformist scholar, locating his intellectual output within the framework of the broader socio-political context in which he came into being and emphasising both the psychological and social aspects that have impacted upon the formation of his identity. The theoretical framework of this study relies upon Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of dialogical discourse and approaches identity formation as a process of ‘ideological becoming.’ The paper examines al-Ghazālī’s formative period, outlining his upbringing and thereafter traces his intellectual mentorship in the formal educational environment that subsequently moulded him into a prolific scholar and energetic social activist. Al-Ghazālī’s intellectual bent is then interrogated and light is cast upon his salafi reform agenda. The paper concludes by assessing al-Ghazālī’s impact upon Muslim society, emphasising his influence upon an entire generation of Islamist scholars and activists and argues that he has played an essential role
Using the Qur'an as a mould, two broad definitions of sacred space are explored and contextualise... more Using the Qur'an as a mould, two broad definitions of sacred space are explored and contextualised within the Islamic Tradition. The entire process of sacralisation of space is reflected in the history of the Ka'bah, as recorded in the Qur'an. Sacred Space is found to be a product of cultural labour and not something inherent. Through a process of ritual practice, space is sacralised either on a permanent or temporary basis. Issues pertaining to the politics and contestation of space can be studied and understood in the light of these findings.
Timbuktu’s intellectual heritage has attracted new-found interest after the preservation of the c... more Timbuktu’s intellectual heritage has attracted new-found interest after the preservation of the city’s manuscripts was declared as the first cultural project of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The initiative created a space for researchers interested in studying the content of the manuscripts. This article maps a brief history of Timbuktu and provides some insight into its manuscript collections, before discussing the Timbuktu scientific heritage in light of contemporary debates on the history of science in Islamic societies. It is argued that the pre-modern Islamic legacy currently being unearthed in Timbuktu emphasises the need for a clearer articulation of the relationship between science and religion in Muslim societies.
The religious and the political intertwine in all sectarian conflicts and the violent conflagrati... more The religious and the political intertwine in all sectarian conflicts and the violent conflagration in Syria is no exception. However, sectarianism as an explanatory paradigm is extremely limited; it provides a monolithic reading of a complex phenomenon with a well-established historical pedigree. This paper traces the manifestation of the sectarian dimensions of the conflict, following the development of the heterodox Alawi community from a marginalised sect to its ascendance as Syria’s ruling class. It focuses on how sectarian identity has constantly been exploited by hegemonic powers like the Sunni Ottomans, the French Colonisers and, most recently, the Asad regime. The paper suggests that the only escape from the sectarian minefield is the entrenchment of a strong Syrian national identity within the framework of equal citizenship, pluralistic democracy and the protection of minority rights. This could potentially limit the interference of outside parties, but such an outcome is over-optimistic at the current juncture since vested interests outweigh internal peace and stability.
Conflict between Islam and the West is rooted in contrasting worldviews, informed by alternative ... more Conflict between Islam and the West is rooted in contrasting worldviews, informed by alternative moral underpinnings and differing existential implications. Furthermore, engagement between the Islamic and Western paradigms is defined by imbalanced power relations in which the subaltern Islamic Paradigm is pressured into conformance by the dominant Western Modernist paradigm. Using the issue of freedom of expression as an entry point, this article examines the contrasting cultural conduits that define each community by outlining the main tropes of the Modernist and Islamic worldviews. The article thus attempts to suggest an alternative engagement between Islam and the West that emphasizes convergence over conflict.
Books by Aslam Farouk-Alli
The First Spring: Political & Strategic Praxis of the Prophet of Islam (ﷺ), 2024
This book examines the political and strategic trajectory pursued by the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) du... more This book examines the political and strategic trajectory pursued by the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) during a mission that spanned twenty-three years, and it carefully considers the regional and international contexts within which the Prophet’s (ﷺ) life played out. From an examination of his biography, it seeks out the fundamentals and principles of the new methodology that resulted in the greatest-ever strategic and historic transformation of the international system. The Prophet’s (ﷺ) biography is replete with lessons for individuals, communities, and nations. In this era of unpredictability and rapid change, humanity is in dire need of a new philosophical vision and a fresh start. The western hegemony that has dominated the global stage for the past three centuries has reached a point of bankruptcy, where it can no longer offer creative solutions that might guarantee a secure future for humanity. The world’s civilisational and cultural heritage is rich and diverse, encompassing much wisdom and collective experience that has been accumulated over many millennia. Our present malaise demands that we study this enormous human capital and draw lessons from it so that we might devise solutions for the future that are inspired by a multiplicity of sources, including Islam.
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Today's Islamists are not a reproduction of an ancient legacy, but are modern political actors de... more Today's Islamists are not a reproduction of an ancient legacy, but are modern political actors defined by modern discourses, argues Basheer Nafi in The Islamists. He examines the emergence and development of political Islam in the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, discussing the historical context within which political Islam arose, and relating it to the social movements and political parties that lead the phenomenon today. On questions concerning the state, economics and law, the differences among Islamists are no less than their agreements. Nafi teases out some of these agreements and differences relating to governance, citizenship, pluralism, unity, revivalism, and truth. This very accessible work, intended for both an academic and general audience, highlights these matters by examining the groups and individuals that constitute the broad category of political Islam, considering how they have developed over time, and how they have impacted on the countries in which they operate.
![Research paper thumbnail of [FULLTEXT] Aslam Farouk-Alli (Ed.). 2007. The Future of Palestine and Israel: From Colonial Roots to Postcolonial Realities. Midrand, South Africa: Institute for Global Dialogue.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67370022/thumbnails/1.jpg)
NOW in its sixth decade, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict remains a major challenge in world poli... more NOW in its sixth decade, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict remains a major challenge in world politics and the root cause of polarisation in the region and elsewhere. This timeous study brings together scholars, politicians, and activists of varying persuasions who examine the multidimensional aspects of the conflict. The volume is divided into six parts, representing a series of dialogical encounters, either directly – by presenting two or more perspectives on the same question – or indirectly – by presenting alternative readings of entrenched positions. Part 1 examines the historical dimensions of the conflict. Parts 2 and 3 examine Zionism and the two-state solution respectively, while Part 4 explores alternatives to the two-state solution, drawing the dominant paradigm of the peace process into conversation with fresher approaches. Part 5 examines the role of the international community in critical gaze, while Part 6 explains the rise of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, presenting authoritative insider perspectives that explore past events as well as the current nexus of the conflict. While no clear solution to the conflict is in sight, this volume does show that its parameters are slowly shifting, thereby opening up an important space that enables Israelis and Palestinians – with the support of the international community – to initiate the process of re-imagining the horizons of their collective existence in a manner that affirms our common humanity.
CONTRIBUTORS
Musa Abu-Marzuq, Mustafa Abu-Sway, Heribert Adam, Abdallah Al-Ashaal, Diana Buttu, Naomi Chazan, Abdelwahab M. Elmessiri, Aslam Farouk-Alli, As’ad Ghanem, Shamil Jeppie, George Joffé, Ronnie Kasrils, Rashid Khalidi, Benny Morris, Aziz Pahad, Gideon Shimoni, Azzam Tamimi, Mark Tessler, Virgnia Tilley.
This modern study on bid'ah - or heretical innovation - critically explores the boundaries of nor... more This modern study on bid'ah - or heretical innovation - critically explores the boundaries of normative Islam and outlines the legal debate surrounding the subject. It examines the influence of foreign elements in Islamic thought, focusing on corrupt religious practices, as well as distorted beliefs, acts of worship and customary practices pertaining to religious expression. It emphasizes the importance of embracing normative Islamic practice, even if one has to “walk the solitary path” as a result
Book Chapter by Aslam Farouk-Alli
War, Faith and Politics in the Levant, 2015
No serious scholar of Islam can deny the impact that modernity and postmodernity have had upon co... more No serious scholar of Islam can deny the impact that modernity and postmodernity have had upon contemporary Islamic thought. In this chapter I will outline how current Islamic thought has been impacted upon by these intellectual discourses. I will proceed from the inception of modernity and go on to discuss developments in the post-modern period. In my final analysis I will discuss contemporary Islamic thought and the discontents of modernity and postmodernity. By taking recourse to the work of current-day Islamist thinkers who are responding to the intellectual challenges of modernity and postmodernity we are able to gauge the deep introspection that these two very important paradigms nave effected upon contemporary Islamic discourse. From this perspective then, the impact of modernity and postmodernity upon Islamic discourse can hardly be construed negatively. The secular/Islamist polemic is an essential contributing factor to the emergence of a clearer conception of Islamic identity in current times. While the issue of identity will not be addressed in significant detail, the critique of modernity and postmodernity that is offered is certainly compelling evidence suggesting the emergence of a far more articulate and clearer Islamic self-image. The task of exploring the conception of an authentic Islamic self-image is beyond the scope of this chapter, but interrogating the philosophical discourses of modernity and postmodernity is an absolutely essential preliminary step that lays the necessary groundwork for such a venture.
![Research paper thumbnail of “The Tombouctou Manuscript Project: Social History Approaches.” In The Meanings of Timbuktu. Edited by Shamil Jeppie and Souleyemane Bachir Diagne. Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp. 181-189. [co-authored with Mohamed Shaid Mathee].](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/36765912/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The massive collection of manuscripts produced in West Africa has once again dispelled the notion... more The massive collection of manuscripts produced in West Africa has once again dispelled the notion that Africans were incapable of intellectual work -of reading, writing and scholarly endeavour -before the impact of European colonialism and missionary education. While this dense corpus of writing is a cultural and intellectual legacy that can be used in a variety of ways, we believe it must be claimed as an expression of Africa's intellectual heritage and renewal. In this chapter we begin by briefly sketching the genesis of our research project. We then share some of our prefatory readings, describing the content of selected manuscripts, before exploring possible trajectories for future research through a closer reading of two specific texts. Our excurses into the manuscript corpus divides the material into works of general interest (those that cover a broad range of subjects) and legal texts (more specifically, legal responsa or fatawa). We begin with the former but pay more attention to the latter, asking what value the legal corpus may have as a source for historical enquiry.
Encyclopedia Entry by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Arabic Book Translation Series by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Arabic Translation of "Tomorrow is Another Country," which explores the transition from Apartheid... more Arabic Translation of "Tomorrow is Another Country," which explores the transition from Apartheid to democracy and South Africa's negotiated settlement
Arabic Translation of a concise history of the African National Congress (ANC), by Saul Dubow
Book Reviews by Aslam Farouk-Alli
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Papers by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Books by Aslam Farouk-Alli
For more details see: https://dararab.co.uk/en/product/the-first-spring-political-strategic-praxis-of-the-prophet-of-islam-%ef%b7%ba/
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CONTRIBUTORS
Musa Abu-Marzuq, Mustafa Abu-Sway, Heribert Adam, Abdallah Al-Ashaal, Diana Buttu, Naomi Chazan, Abdelwahab M. Elmessiri, Aslam Farouk-Alli, As’ad Ghanem, Shamil Jeppie, George Joffé, Ronnie Kasrils, Rashid Khalidi, Benny Morris, Aziz Pahad, Gideon Shimoni, Azzam Tamimi, Mark Tessler, Virgnia Tilley.
Book Chapter by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Encyclopedia Entry by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Arabic Book Translation Series by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Book Reviews by Aslam Farouk-Alli
Arabic Review of Ahmed Vall Dine's novel, "Danishmand." Accessible at: https://alpheratzmag.com/reviews/2024052301/
For more details see: https://dararab.co.uk/en/product/the-first-spring-political-strategic-praxis-of-the-prophet-of-islam-%ef%b7%ba/
Available throuch Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788711033?
CONTRIBUTORS
Musa Abu-Marzuq, Mustafa Abu-Sway, Heribert Adam, Abdallah Al-Ashaal, Diana Buttu, Naomi Chazan, Abdelwahab M. Elmessiri, Aslam Farouk-Alli, As’ad Ghanem, Shamil Jeppie, George Joffé, Ronnie Kasrils, Rashid Khalidi, Benny Morris, Aziz Pahad, Gideon Shimoni, Azzam Tamimi, Mark Tessler, Virgnia Tilley.
Arabic Review of Ahmed Vall Dine's novel, "Danishmand." Accessible at: https://alpheratzmag.com/reviews/2024052301/
See: Dānishmand - a Novel, by Aḥmad Vāl al-Dīn, (Mascaliana Publications: Tunis, December 2023, 638pp.)
Accessible at: https://newlinesmag.com/essays/a-historical-novel-charts-the-inner-life-of-the-philosopher-al-ghazali/