THST: Islam Professor Amir Hussain The Mystery of the 12th Imam: His Effect on Islam in Iran * The recent developments in the Iranian crisis may seem relatively new, or may be evidence of an internal conflict that has been growing for years. The political disparity in Iran stems from two conflicting interpretations and applications of Shi’ism to theocratic society, for each of these interpretations has its own foundations in the social, cultural and religious roots of Iran. To fully understand the situation in Iran today, one must analyze how the crisis started, why it is a crisis and how to potentially solve this crisis. A potential answer to this problem lies within the mystery of the 12th Imam, which is coincidentally the central basis of Shi’ism. Ayatollah Khomeini’s adapted definition of Twelver Shi’ism is what led millions to follow in his vision of a new Iran.
Criticism of the Umayyads These proto-Shi’i movements were one of the many challenges facing the Umayyads in the 740s. Pious opposition to the Caliph was not limited to those calling for the rule of Muhammad’s household. Though the sources that have come down to us, written during the period of ‘Abbasid rule, are perhaps overly critical of the Umayyad family, there does seem to have been a widespread feeling that the caliphs were betraying the true spirit of Islam. The Umayyads were criticised for turning the Caliphate into a dynastic institution, for their over-dependence upon the bureaucracy of the preceding Byzantine Empire, for levying taxes forbidden by the Qur’an, and for their ethnocentric policies. (Pictured is either side of an Umayyad coin
1 Miguel Professor Aguilar Poli Sci 101 5/19/10 Themes Throughout history society has constantly been faced with severe conflicts that often have to do with them simplest misunderstandings or more commonly our failure to address those misunderstandings. While Reza Aslan does not consider the problems Islam and other religions are facing simple, he certainly believes that misinterpretation is at the core of many of those conflicts. Reza Aslan’s first work, “No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and the Future of Islam is a book that is meant to educate on just what exactly Islam is, and where it is headed. One of the problems he is faced with are the various wide-held misinterpretations on the Islamic faith that alienate it. For example, he states that Islam is a religion firmly rooted in the traditions of Jewish and Christian Scriptures or explains how “Jihad” is originally meant only for defensive purposes.
However, more recently there has been a lot of tension between patriotic Britons and Muslims which has led to a lot of anti-Islamic propaganda among the British public. One might ask what the reasons are for this media and campaign portrayal. And are they justifiable? This topic was chosen in light of the tensions building from 9/11, the London Underground Bombings and the Iraq war as well as the more recent murder of British soldier, Lee Rigby, by two Muslim extremists which led to a wave of anti-Muslim propaganda across not only Britain but around the world. Due to the controversy that could be caused by this topic sources from patriotic Britons, Muslims and the media will be used to avoid bias and create balanced and well formulated argument.
Every Muslim goes through this problem in his/her life. In this research paper I will be discussing the world’s attitude towards the Muslim community and how they deal with these crises. But we must remember that it is not always the Muslims who face identity crisis. Anyone who has been previously colonized has to deal with this problem. This happens mainly because the imperial politicians try to create identity problems and use it as a weapon against the colonies.
There are a number of questions that need to be answered before answering this question though. I plan to answer these questions. The fact that there is not one universal definition of terrorism makes the question as to if terrorism can be justified difficult. So in order to answer this question we must first come up with the most logical definition of terrorism. So what exactly is terrorism?
There were several consequences that developed due to the rise of religious fundamentalism that proved to be detrimental on both the regional and global scale. On the regional scale, the rise of religious fundamentalists that were known for their violent nature created political instability and the rise of authoritarian regimes in response as extremists threatened the secular foundations of independent states. Making matters worse, the extremist stance and violent methods that the religious fundamentalists adopted translated into the constant disruptions of peace processes which led to the protraction of regional conflicts. While not all religious fundamentalists had a global outreach, those groups that did have the international network played a critical role in the rise of global terrorism and the undermining of international law due to their illegal and brutal actions. Evidently, the impacts of the rise of religious fundamentalism was undeniably significant and detrimental on both a regional and global level.
By studying different forms of theories regarding cultural and religious acceptance such as Neoconservatism, Multiculturalism and Relativism we would be able to define and learn to accept as well tolerate other societies, culture, and religious beliefs to coexist harmoniously. My paper will speak on key points of Islamic religion, Extreme Islamic religion, Western world and cultural societies acceptance theories. Inside current news around the world on the fight against Islamic extremist and non-Muslims has become an ongoing war on our soil and across the world. Extreme Islam does not share the same mentality or values of their less then extreme Islamic brother’s, nor do they share the same values, religion, and cultures system as the rest of the Western World. Islamic Extremism is driven by totalitarian interpretation of Islam “global Islamic
While other educated officials felt that the fundamentals of Islam are timeless, but the interpretations had to be reevaluated in order to apply in daily life. Therefore, an examination of the Islamic Revolution in Iran advocates a great truth with a myriad of implications: Religion can be a very potent catalyst of mass political action, and is a key foundation to the Islamic empires. As Karl Marx famously stated, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” Therefore, the need for reform was because of changing times, along with the mistakes and corruption of the former political forces. The 1979 Iranian Revolution consequently came to be one of the most important occurrences in modern history. The relation between outside influences effecting society and already established structures was at the heart of the reform.
Islamic Fundamentalism I INTRODUCTION Islamic Fundamentalism, diverse political and social movements in Muslim countries of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, which have as their goal national government based on the principles and values of Islam. Although these movements all seek to restore social justice based on sharia (Islamic law), they differ in the form of government they seek and in how strictly they believe the government should interpret the law. For many people in the West, the term “Islamic fundamentalism” evokes images of hostage crises, embassies under siege, hijackings, and suicide bombers. But these images hardly present a comprehensive picture. The ranks of Islamic fundamentalists include Muslims who provide much-needed services to the poor through Islamic schools, medical clinics, social welfare agencies, and other institutions.