Journal Article

Gewalt im Namen des Islam: Muslimische Fragen und Antworten

Krämer, Gudrun

2022

Overview

Distinguishing Islamism from „mainstream,“ non-Islamist Islam is not always an easy task as far as the basic assumptions concerning the nature of Islam and its normative foundations are concerned. It is with regard to strategy in general and the use of violence (especially against Muslims) in particular, that distinctions tend to become sharply drawn. Islamists aim to transform state, society, culture, and law in light of the normative texts of the Qur’an and Sunna, considering the early period of the prophet Muḥammad and his successors (the “pious ancestors”) as the definitive model of an Islamic order. Jihadist Islam pre-dates 9/11 but was propelled into new directions as a result of these acts of violence. The legitimate use of violence, and of Jihad, has always been a contentious issue among Muslims. Significantly, the religious status and affiliation of those involved (Muslims; recognized non-Muslim communities; non-Muslims living beyond the Islamic realm; self-declared Muslims not recognized as such by their enemies) have played a crucial role in these debates. At the core of contention is , the accusation of unbelief launched against self-declared Muslims, be they Sunni, Shi’i or other. Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) elaborated the theological underpinnings of , but it was militant Islamist groups that took the concept to it extremes and put it into practice. Faced with a jihadist logic based on the Qur’an and Sunna, Islamic scholars and Muslim political authorities have propagated the principle of moderation ( and ) as the truly Islamic model of thought and behavior. While lacks the emotional and medial resources available to its militant opponents, and while it has been denounced as a strategy of containment employed by the powers-that-be, it seems to have been embraced by broad Muslim audiences.

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Subject: Jihadism / Sayyid Quṭb / takfīr / violence / wasaṭiyya