@ejazr
I think you are not following me. Islamic Political thought itself is a menace. Religion has no place in politics. Historically Turkey has been successful in this endeavor. But recently Islamists are slowly gaining power there. And that too democratically. Bangladesh also has recently shown positive developments. One hope that the secular trends continue to take root when Begum Zia comes to power.
The Newsweak article that you have posted is a joke. Jihadism is the militant arm of Islamists. Among the "moderates" are our own dear Deobandis
LoL .
No I follow you and agree that politico-Islamic ideology is a problem. Infact, politco-religious ideology be it Hindu politcal thought, Jewish politcal thought (aka Zionists) or Christian politcal thought( Neo-Con/Tea Party) are inimcal for peaceful coexistence. Is it something the can be banned from politics? I dont think that would be consititutional. All voices should be given space. But does it make any less nutty and problematic? ofcourse not. Here the religious scholars from each group should come forward and explain themselves that importance of not using religion for politcal purposes.
What I am trying to explain to you is that the "mullas" and the orthodox ulema be they from Deoband or the "wahabbis/salafis" of Saudi Arabia are AGAINST the politcal Islamic ideology as it has no basis in Islamic theology. It is infact anti-Islamic. Islam is not a politcal theory but a way of life, religions that is universal in nature. Just like all the other major religions in the world.
Interestingly this applies to all other religions as well. You will see that Hindu scholars oppose politicising Hinduism, orthodox Jewish scholars oppose Zionism e.t.c. While mostwestern/modern educated adherents of the religion, many who might noe even be "practicing adherents" champion the cause of politico-religious ideology.
Hence you had Jinnah and Sarvarakar both stanch secularists and hardly practicing muslims orhindu but championing in a way a politico-religious ideology. Similarly Zionists were not practicing Jews for the most and championed the cause of politico-Jewish ideology. You had Zawahiri a medical doctor who further militarised the ideology. OBL a businessman who took iteven further to legitimise killing of civilians. None of them were Islamic scholars.
Ofcourse the politico-religious ideology appeals to a section of middle class disenfranchised youth due to its appealing utopian nature and the sense of community it allegedly creates. Hence the youth, most of them not practicing adhrents clamour to the these politco-religious movements led by a strong and charismatic ideologue. But when it comes to theological justification of this ideology they draw a blank or just make it up. This is where the newsweek article isrelevant.
To explain that a much wider portion of the muslims are now aware of the rejection of the politco-Islamic ideology. Does this mean that this ideology is dead? No, but it is marginalised that even the parties that use to consider this appraoch as sacrosanct like Jamaat-Islamiyah e.t.c. have begun to revisit their core principles of establishing an Islamic state and revising it.
