The following is is a response paper originally written for the Modern Muslim Thought class that I took as part of my religious studies program at the university I attend. I apologize that I am not able to supply the document that I am referring to in the paper, as I cannot find a corresponding link online already and I do not have permission to publicly distribute the pdf I obtained in my class. However, the topic is certainly research ready: it was an account of a fatwa debate about the Arab-Israeli Peace Initiative that took place between Shaikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Shaikh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz. The paper follows.
Oh, al-Quds / Jerusalem, what a quandary you are. I thought of the
title to this response paper by linking what I understood to be the main issue
at hand. I am also reminded of a song, but think that words should be replaced…
“This land is my land, no this land is my land”… The undying war has
reared its ugly head. I’m going to be upfront and admit my bias. I think they
(the ever fighting siblings, the Palestinians and the Israelis – or if
you prefer, the Muslims and the Jews), aka Ishmael and Isaac)) are all being
idiots. I do want to highlight my use of the word “fighting” as I am only
shunning the ones hell bent on destroying each other. I know that there are
many on both sides praying for peace, and I also know that not all Palestinians
are Muslim. Another cliché comes to mind: “Can’t we all just get along?”
Ok, so now for my take on these fatwas.
Shaikh 'Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz |
Shaikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi |
Shaikh Yusuf virtually spits hatred at Jews. Not just any
particular Jew who has done him wrong, but ALL Jews. To me, he sees a Jew not
as a person, but only as the enemy. I think that he might accept a
situation that does not call for annihilation of all Jews, only if it meant
that they surrendered Israel to Islam. I imagine by his arguments that he would
see them leave as well (at least). Yusuf argues that ibn Baz’s fatwa cannot
hold its own because it doesn’t apply to the reality at hand. He doesn’t see
the analogy of the Quarysh tribe as making sense now. Because, that would only
apply to regular enemies, not the JEW! At least that is how it read to me. The
problem I find with his rebuttal to Ibn Baz is that reality is a matter that is
subjective by nature. I think Yusuf sees surrender as not only weakness, but an
affront to God, because how dare the Muslim give up when God is on his side? My
answer? Perhaps he doesn’t understand God’s plan. What if God’s plan is to
teach these disrespectful, bickering children to get along, once and for all.
What saddens me is what it usually takes to get estranged siblings
to come back together…
I wouldn't be so quick to put either of them in the fundie box. One or two things they may have said doesn't discount their body of work and scholarship.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insight. I acknowledge that my labeling as a "fundie" was based on only the reading that was given to me for this assignment. I did not and have not since looked at the man as a whole, and for that, I should not have labeled him outright. Perhaps it would have been better for me to say that in reference to THIS particular issue and the fatwas that he gave at THIS particular time he comes across as a fundie - to me.
DeleteThe whole paper is a very subjective account of my thoughts on the reading assignment, and didn't include outside sources. It was simply a short response paper to the fatwa "debate" that occurred. That being said, I take your comments to heart and it should be a reminder to myself that a person should not be labeled so quickly and from such narrow an approach.