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English edition
Jan
2011
320 pp.
Hardbound
15X23 cm
$29.95
LE 150.00
ISBN
978 977 416 499 6
For sale worldwide
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Understanding Islamic Fundamentalism
The Theological and Ideological Basis of al-Qa‘ida’s Political Tactics
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Sayed Khatab
Historical perspectives on today’s al-Qa‘ida
Beginning with an examination of medieval Islamic fundamentalist movements such as Kharjism, Ibadism, Hanbalism, and Wahhabism, Sayed Khatab looks at the similarities and differences between them and present organizations such as al-Qa‘ida. It may be surprising that many of the radical narratives embraced by modern groups have not emerged recently. Identifying these roots can lead to a better understanding of al-Qa‘ida’s theological and intellectual narratives, and how they effectively indoctrinate youths and attract many of them to violent acts of terrorism.
The book then focuses on al-Qa‘ida’s theology, ideology, and tactics; the geographic contours and implications of al-Qa‘ida’s political strategy in relation to the western and eastern countries which are considered enemy states; the impending clash of cultures; and the ideological war within al-Qa‘ida.
Innovative in its concept, examining political Islamic thought from a historical to a contemporary perspective, Islamic Fundamentalism generates new understanding of the many complexities of political Islam, and the role of violence and terrorism.
Sayed Khatab is a senior research fellow at the School of Political and Social Inquiry and Global Terrorism Research Centre, Monash University in Australia. He is the author of Democracy in Islam (with G.D. Bouma), and has written extensively on the subjects of Islamist movements, relations between the Muslim world and the west, and counter-terrorism strategies.
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Reviews
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"This book focuses on disparate Islamic political thought and explains how such ideas were interpreted and applied by Islamist groups in the contemporary era. The main case study is the Al-Qa’ida group. The book explains the different schools of Islamic thought (from Kharijism to Wahhabism) and explains what the factors are that determine the shift from mainstream religious ideology to fundamentalist religious ideology.
It is on this basis that the author focuses on Al-Qa’ida – not because of its structural organization or its political dynamics, but rather, why, on the basis of its Islamic platform, it emerged as a preeminent international terrorist organization. As such, the author delves into the Islamic platforms that explain and at times appear to justify to such group members extremist Islamic thought and, more worryingly: putting such thought into practice.
... the author explains the various ideologies and nature of contemporary political Islamic thought in order to give the reader an intelligent idea of the reasons behind the current Islamist activities.
I believe this book is an important contribution to political Islamic thought from a historical to contemporary perspective, and in the English language, there is nothing, as far as I am aware, that compares.
...this book is a jewel in that it will be beneficial to all English readers as a reference to understanding the nature and development of Fundamentalist Islamic thought from a religious perspective. ... this book will give the English reading audience – from academics, students, diplomats to basically anyone interested in this topic – access to knowledge that is normally reserved for a Muslim audience who have a strong knowledge of Arabic and Islam: in other words, a normally exclusive group."
--Maye Kassem, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, The American University in Cairo
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