“War on terror”-style rhetoric was not always directed against Salafi jihadis. Its targets were once Sufi Muslims. It is hard to believe that Sufism, which today is associated with political quietism and docile pacifism, was…
I have been teaching courses on Islam and world religions for almost a decade now. I have not only taught undergraduate and graduate courses at various institutions, but also engaged with local faith communities. Throughout…
In popular and, to a degree, in academic literature as well, jihad is assumed to be a monovalent concept referring exclusively to “military/armed combat.” Even in academic discourses, jihad is often explained as a term…
I begin with three questions: What is the spiritual significance of jihād? What does this have to do with Islamic economics? Why does a proper understanding of jihād show the need for a new economic…
The creation and strategic utilization, and selective sectarianization of sacred history is a key component of contemporary conflicts between competing social movements and armed groups around the world. This article will highlight the deployment of…