Islamic Discourse Research Articles

The Rejection of Prophetic Traditions: Analyzing the Inkar Sunnah Movement in West Sumatra, Indonesia

This article explores the ideological stance of the Inkar Sunnah movement, which rejects the prophetic traditions (Sunnah) as a source of Islamic law, focusing on its development in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Historically, this movement can be traced back to political and sectarian conflicts in early Islamic history, such as those involving the Khawarij, Shia, and Mu'tazilah sects. Over time, skepticism towards hadith, fueled by fabricated traditions and modern Orientalist critiques, gained traction. Prominent figures like Dalimi Lubis and Nazwar Syamsu have continued to propagate Inkar Sunnah beliefs in modern Indonesia, advocating that the Qur’an alone suffices for Islamic jurisprudence. This research adopts a qualitative library approach, analyzing primary texts by these figures and secondary sources on hadith scholarship. The study critically examines their arguments and the socio-political context that allowed their ideas to proliferate, as well as strategies to counter this ideological challenge within Indonesian Islamic discourse. The findings reveal a persistent tension between traditional Sunni orthodoxy and reformist interpretations that seek to minimize or outright reject the role of the Sunnah, posing significant implications for Islamic legal and theological frameworks.

Mapping the Islamic Discourse on Knowledge: The Relevance of the New Islamic Discourse

Abstract: In the aftermath of independence, the ex-colonized Muslim countries were caught up in a comprehensive process of Westernization of Muslim life and thought. In this context, fundamental questions have been raised: What is the vision of knowledge? What is the position of the existing traditional Islamic and modern Western knowledge? This study aims to map existing trends in the interpretation of knowledge and measure the relevance of what Elmessiri calls the “New Islamic Discourse”. Descriptive, analytical, and comparative methods are used in the entire study. The first major finding is that there are seven Islamic discourses according to how they respond to critical questions. The second major finding is that the relevance of the “New Islamic Discourse” is based on five main features namely, (1) Modern science is not neutral, (2) Secularization of life and knowledge is part of the Modern crisis, (3) Islamic view of knowledge is neither modernist nor traditionalist, (4) Islamic view of knowledge is neither positivist nor relativist, and (5) Islam is a worldview that has implications for life and knowledge (on epistemology and methodology).

“What Do They Say in Mosques? Islamic Discourse on Limiting Ritual Expenses”

This article examines the changes in religious policy, Islamic beliefs, religious life, national values, and family rituals in Uzbekistan during the years of independence. Particularly, it analyzes a series of fatwas, guidelines, and theses on Friday prayer topics published by the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan in recent years. The author substantiates the amalgamation of religious and national perspectives in Uzbek family rituals, encompassing childbirth, marriage, and mourning ceremonies, drawing on ethnographic materials. Furthermore, it delves into the views of Islamic scholars and imams concerning the reduction of specific expenses and extravagances in these rituals, citing examples from Friday prayers and various social networks. Through anthropological observations of modern Uzbek society, including Muslims' public activities, Friday prayers, neighborhoods, and community events, as well as through various TV talk shows and radio broadcasts, the article explores "Aqiqa" ceremonies, circumcision weddings, marriages, and mourning rituals conducted by Uzbek imams in matters of family and marriage. The author highlights the discussions of "Amru Ma'ruf" topics during ceremonies, widely debated on mosque websites, imams' pages, and social media platforms (Telegram, Facebook, Instagram). The article underscores the impact of Islamic scholars' and imams' ongoing efforts, noting changes in the balance of expenses in the ceremonial life of the Uzbek people, particularly evident in marriage ceremonies. Moreover, it analyzes changes and transformative processes in Uzbek family rituals from the perspective of ritual economy.

LINGUISTIC MARKERS OF EXTREMISM IN ISLAMIST TEXTS OF THE RELIGIOUS GENRE “SERMON”: METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT

Linguistic examination of texts with allegedly extremist content is carried out using special methods. The most popular today are lexical-semantic, semantic-syntactic methods, as well as the method of discourse anal-ysis, which allow an expert linguist to make an objective expert opinion on the issues raised. An expert linguist conduc ting an examination of texts with allegedly extremist content has to identify linguistic markers of extrem-ism that are implemented at all language levels. The linguistic examination of Islamist discourse texts involves taking into account genre features of a religious text, having an impact on linguistic markers. Islamist discourse is understood as texts related to political radical trends of Islamism. The article presents fundamental diff erenc-es between the terms “Islam” as a world religion and “Islamism” as a political trend. We propose an algorithm for the me thodology of analyzing texts of allegedly extremist content based on the material of an Islamist text of the “sermon” genre, the main function of which is to instruct believers. Linguistic markers of extremism in the sermon genre are identifi ed during the analysis and are classifi ed according to their main functions: motivation and appeal, negation, demonstration of the superiority of one person or group of persons over other people based on nationality, origin and attitude to religion. These linguistic markers are implemented using the following lin-guistic means: morphological (verbs of obligation, verbs of the 2nd person singular or plural in the imperative mood, the form of the imperative of the 1st person plural); syntactic (particles in imperative sentences, complex sentences with subordinate clauses, addresses in combination with verbs in the imperative mood of the 2nd per-son plural); rhetorical means (rhetorical questions, antithesis); lexical and semantic means (nouns, verbs and oth-er parts of speech with negative connotations); morphemic and word-formation means (comparative, superlative forms). The identifi ed linguistic markers realize the function of demonstrating superiority, appeal, negativity in relation to “strangers”, “others”.

Schema Therapy and Islamic understanding of the inner world of man: conceptual parallels and ways for integration

This article is located at the intersection of Islamic Psychology, Islamic Theology, and Schema Therapy and provides a thorough investigation of the fundamental schema therapy concepts in an Islamic discourse. The paper presents a study of the basic concepts of Schema Therapy in Islamic discourse and, in particular, suggests the consideration of schemas as an analogue of the "imprints" enveloping the heart (qalb). Both the patterns and these imprints are formed in early childhood as a result of good or bad upbringing, and later, in adulthood, they develop – strengthen or weaken – as the spiritual consequences of good deeds or sins. It is proved that the development of positive schemas and the modification, weakening of negative schemas are like "polishing" or cleansing the heart to bring it into an ideal healthy state, or the so-called “qalb salim”. The notion of modes in schema therapy is examined in Islamic discourse by means of a thorough analysis of the three types (parts) of nafs, which is Russian for "soul" or "I" ("Self"). The concepts of al-nafs al-ammarah, al-nafs al-lawwamah and al-nafs al-mutma’innah as types (parts) of nafs are compared to some modes from the schema therapy model (child modes, parent modes (critics), Healthy Adult mode).The conceptualization of the relationship between the components of the nafs was substantiated by comprehending the processes of interaction between modes found within the theoretical model of schema therapy. This enabled the identification of the strategic practical tasks of both the individual spiritual process of tazkiyat al-nafs, which is Arabic for "purification of the soul," and spiritually oriented psychotherapy for Muslim clients: 1) to develop and strengthen al-nafs al-mutma'innah, providing it with knowledge and wisdom, primarily from Islamic sources, and aiming it at "leadership" among other parts of nafs in order to keep them within established boundaries and moderation, as well as to help the qalb (heart) to find peace; 2) to orient al-nafs al-lawwamah to fulfill its originally inherent functions (the requirement of abstinence from sinful behavior and performance of duties), to prevent its excessive activity and switch it from destructive criticism to constructive; 3) through reminders from an-nafs al-mutma'innah, as well as reasonable and moderate demands from an-nafs al-lawwamah to keep an-nafs al-ammarah within the boundaries established by Allah, in the "golden mean", within the framework of the Islamic principle of wasatiyyah (moderation). This should ultimately contribute to achieving a healthy heart, or qalb salim, and harmony of nafs with fitrah, that is known as the very essence of human nature.

The Spoken and “Unspoken” Political Agenda in the Virtual Space of Russian Muslims

ABSTRACT The article is devoted to the analysis of Russian Muslims’ communications in social networks. I show a unique mode of interdependence of online and offline, which takes shape in the special context of the dominant discourse of traditional Islam and the securitization of Islamic activism. The construction of “right” and “wrong” Islam determines the special structure of media consumption of Russian Muslims and the content of the political agenda. In addition to verbalized political agendas, I describe the phenomenon of an “unspoken” political agenda hidden beyond religious messages and identified precisely only through background by actors transmitting it.

The Dynamics of Mass Media in Turkish Politics and Its Role in the Construction of Contemporary Turkish Islamic Discourse

The Dynamics of Mass Media in Turkish Politics and Its Role in the Construction of Contemporary Turkish Islamic Discourse

Memory Writing and Cosmopolitan Identity in Timothy Mo’s Pure

ABSTRACT In his recent novel Pure (2012), Timothy Mo maps the complex interaction between memory and identity in the post-9/11 context. The novel interweaves the memory narratives of four protagonists and mainly describes the protagonist Snooky’s attempts to negotiate between the Islamic world and the West. This essay draws on memory studies to explore how memory shapes the protagonists’ cosmopolitan identity. The novel contests the binarism prevalent in both Western and fundamentalist Islamic discourses and proposes a cosmopolitan identity that extends beyond the established narrative. This paper argues that the novel explores the otherness inherent in seemingly homogeneous memory narratives and thus nuances the self-versus-other narrative. It suggests that the normative role of collective memory in identity formation may compromise cultural reconciliation. Pure criticizes the constraints of collective memory and reveals the challenges to cosmopolitan identity in a conflict-ridden world.

Book Review: Historicizing Sunni Islam in the Ottoman Empire, c. 1450–c. 1750

The book examines Ottoman Sunnism’s evolution, orthodoxy, and spatial dimensions. Divided into three chapters, it critically engages with historical narratives, doctrinal debates, and socio-political dynamics shaping Ottoman Sunnism. Chapter I reevaluates Sunnī orthodoxy by tracing its historical dialogue with the past and the present. It examines the emergence of a new hadith culture in the sixteenth century, challenges conventional views through Shāhzādah Qorqud’s writings, explores the influence of Ibn Taymiyyah on Ottoman thought, redefines knowledge boundaries in Ottoman catechisms, and scrutinizes perceptions of heresy in Ottoman society. Moreover, Chapter II focuses on the spatial dimensions of Sunnitization, exploring how pious communities were constructed within urban institutions and convents. It investigates the transformation of spaces like the ʿimārah into mosques, the integration of Abdāl-affiliated convents into Khalwatī darwīsh networks, and the role of imāms in congregational prayers during the Ottoman Sunnitization era. Chapter III delves into the contextual and genre-specific nature of confessional politics, shedding light on the complexities of Sunnī-Shiʿī’ relations and Ottoman-Safavid diplomacy. It reexamines the portrayal of Qizilbash actors in Ottoman borderlands, evaluates Ottoman historical writing through the lens of Islamic history, and explores Islamic discourse in Ottoman-Safavid diplomatic exchanges.

Muslims for and Against Slavery: Debates on the European Abolitionism Within the Muslim Elite of Saint-Louis, Senegal (1844)

ABSTRACT This article explores the efforts of an inquiry in Saint-Louis, Senegal to abolish slavery in the nascent French colony between 1842 and 1844. It discusses the perspectives of a professional Muslim elite and highlights those who resisted slavery and those resisting abolition. The article thus demonstrates the complex positions Muslims took in facing emancipation and their implications for relationships between them and French colonialism. On the one hand, those Muslims in favour of the ransoming of enslaved people cited the Quran to assert the conditions under which slavery was permitted or denied, stressing the illegality of the current practice in Saint-Louis. On the other hand, those resisting emancipation claimed that abolitionism would destroy their society and traditional ways of living. Debates revolved around the organization of labour markets and the indemnity proposed by the French government to release captives from African or European masters. Those for and against slavery both drew their arguments on Islamic tenets, which shows that different ideas of liberty and society were mostly grounded in social classes rather than a single Islamic discourse.

Abortion as an ethical-religious problem in Islam

The relevance of this article lies in the increasingly active public discussion among Muslims, the challenge posed by the induced termination of pregnancy by Muslims and the problems stemming from it. The increasing calls from Muslims to the spiritual authorities for clarification of this issue in various countries confirm this trend. However, a comprehensive understanding of Islamic attitudes towards induced abortion remains poorly understood. Islamic discourse permeates the entire socio- cultural facet of Muslim society. It is transforming and developing among the communities of modern Muslim countries, matching the dynamics of changes in attitudes on the issue of induced termination of pregnancy from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the ХХI century inclusive. In this regard, the purpose of this work is to describe and reveal the question about the use of abortion in the Islamic world. In the study specific “introductory” examples from the Muslim world are presented for disclosure given by those. In the course of this study, the topic of abortion as a social and medical phenomenon was briefly studied and covered through the lens of terminology, social, medical, religious and legislative factors. The process of transforming Islamic religious ethics with regard to abortion is briefly outlined. In the sequence since the beginning of Islam and the development of this religious speech in the ХХI century, the prism of the views of the Sunni and Shiitic directions, as well as the 4 Sunni theological schools, in the context of solving the problem of abortion. Examples were provided of legislative solutions to the problem of induced termination of pregnancy in some Muslim countries, Asia Minor, the Middle East, North Africa and Australia. The materials of this article contribute to the study of ethical and religious problems in Islam.

The Role of News Translation in Portraying the Islamist Discourse in News Reports Produced (BBC & Al Arabiya)

The Role of News Translation in Portraying the Islamist Discourse in News Reports Produced (BBC & Al Arabiya)

استراتيجيات وممارسات المؤسسات الإخبارية ذات العلاقة في التعامل مع النص الإخباري الذي يتناول قضايا الإسلامويين (حالة دراسية: بي بي سي وورلد والعربية 2022)

This study aimed at identifying news institutions' translation methods and practices to show effect translation practices and policies influence news text output addressing the Islamist discourse. An ethnographic approach is used of conducts a comparative fieldwork analysis and textual analysis of news reports collected between the BBC and Al Arabia media institutions, where it explores the practices and news institutions' translation methods of translation agents in the two news platforms; the English and the Arabic. Results of the study show that the translation strategies and practices of News Institutions in dealing with the texts related to Islamist discourse mainly are deletion, omission, addition, direct quotation, and indirect speech reporting. This study describes the translation strategies and practices of News Institutions in dealing with the texts related to Islamist discourse reveals that strategies used; do not follow one language direction route in their application in the reports or one pattern. The study shows that the translation practices are relate to text selection, news input and the agents. The study concludes by suggesting that an increased awareness of these issues would assist News Institutions to make more effective used of the translation strategies and practices in their new reports related to Islamist discourse.

Islamic communication as an invention of modern-western knowledge: critical analysis toward Islamic communication in Indonesia

ABSTRACT This article questions the idea that Islamic communication is rooted purely in the religion itself. By studying the field of Islamic communication studies in Indonesia, it analyzes discourses which produce knowledge of Islamic communication. Foucauldian archaeological method is employed to examine literatures, textbooks, and other sources which form regulated statements about Islamic communication tradition in Indonesia, developed by both public university scholars and Islamic scholars in the nation. The author argues that Islamic communication traditions in Indonesia are the product of modern developmentalism discourse which dominated in the New Order era (1966–1998). As a consequence, Islamic communication tradition in Indonesia is currently unable to provide an alternative perspective in much broader communication studies. This article proposes revisiting the history of Islamic communication within certain local contexts and use of the Islamic discourse as a criticism toward every kind of domination, including the domination of knowledge termed Islamic.

THE FEATURES OF RELIGIOUS TEXT AS THE TYPE OF RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE AND CLASSIFICATION OF ITS LEXICON

The main aim of this article is to study different standpoints about religious discourse, which includes sacred texts that are the core of universal culture. The article highlights the main linguistic features of religious discourse and combines several scientists’ various descriptions. This research mainly analyses religious texts as one type of religious discourse. Islamic literary and public texts are chosen as the object of research. In order to achieve the main aim of the research, linguistic observation and analysis, contextual and lexicographic analysis, as well as classification methods are used. According to the analysis's findings, it is clear that there are special features of religious discourse, and they are considered specialized texts. There are many levels of the Islamic religious lexicon, they cannot be understood by all people. The study introduces new classification of Islamic religious terms. Due to the canonic nature of Islamic religious texts and the existence of lacunae in the English culture in relation to the lexicon of Islamic discourse, the speaker or writer should be very careful while choosing the appropriate lexicon to achieve adequacy when using them in English.

Ahmad Moftizadeh and the Idea of the Islamic Government: A Discursive Tradition Analysis in the Field of Political Islam

This article explores the idea of political Islam as a discursive tradition within the context of Iranian Kurdistan. It challenges the prevailing essentialist and universalist approaches commonly used in the analysis of political Islam, advocating for a more adaptable and comprehensive interpretation. By conceptualizing political Islam as a discursive tradition, this study sheds light on the complex interconnections, configurations, and historical contingencies influencing Islamist discourses and movements. The paper argues that political Islam should be examined in relation to other phenomena and discourses, acknowledging its dynamic nature within specific temporal and spatial contexts. Focusing on an influential yet underexplored Islamist discursive tradition in Iranian Kurdistan during the 1970s and 1980s, the research acknowledges the hybrid nature of Islamist discourses, drawing from diverse traditions to fulfill particular objectives. In particular, it explores the perspectives of Ahmad Moftizadeh, a Sunni Kurdish Islamist and the founder of the Maktab Quran (MQ). This study investigates Moftizadeh’s views on the Islamic government, positioning it within the framework of discursive tradition. It analyzes his core categories and inquiries within Islamist thought, notably emphasizing Moftizadeh’s alignment of the Islamic government with the Islamic tradition of the Shura, highlighting its central role in the Islamist discursive tradition.

The Paradoxes of Modern Islamic Discourses and Socio-Religious Transformation in the Digital Age

The introduction of the internet brought about many transformations in the political, social, cultural, and educational fields worldwide. This phenomenon of digital transformation introduced a myriad of positive, negative, and paradoxical impacts. This critical essay tackles some of the significant transformations and paradoxes which the introduction of the internet invited in modern Muslim societies, with a special focus on two specific domains. First, the realm of religious authority or obtaining authoritative religious knowledge in the age of the internet. Second, the realm of shifting gendered Islamic identities in the age of cyberspace. In exploring these complex and hybrid phenomena, special attention is paid to the tensions between the opposing forces of tradition and modernity, diversity and cohesion, hegemony and resistance, and globalization and localization in cyberspace, and their numerous and far-reaching effects.

Intellectual Encounter Between Betawi and Banten Scholars: A Historical Perspective

This study delves into the intricate connections between the ulama (scholars) of Betawi and Banten, primarily focusing on the dynamics of their relationships as teachers and students or amongst peers who shared the same mentors, particularly during their educational pursuits with the Sheikhs in Makkah. These relationships played a pivotal role in shaping the religious and intellectual landscape of the regions. The research adopts a qualitative approach, emphasizing the depth and complexity of these interpersonal and intellectual connections. Data collection was conducted through a combination of in-depth interviews and thorough documentation studies. Interviews were targeted at experts, historians, and local community leaders with deep insights into the lives and contributions of these scholars. Documentation studies involved an extensive review of historical records, writings of the ulama, and other relevant literature that shed light on the educational and spiritual journeys of these scholars. The findings of this research reveal a rich tapestry of interactions and exchanges among the ulama of Betawi and Banten. It was observed that they shared a close-knit relationship, often forming bonds that transcended the typical teacher-student dynamic, fostering a community of learning and spiritual development. This study underscores the significant role played by these scholars in establishing and advancing Islamic boarding schools and other educational institutions. These establishments not only served as centers for religious and academic learning but also acted as platforms for intellectual encounters and discussions. These interactions and institutions were instrumental in the dissemination of knowledge and the nurturing of future generations of scholars, thereby contributing significantly to the religious and educational landscape in Indonesia. This research provides a nuanced understanding of the socio-religious fabric of Betawi and Banten, highlighting the profound impact of these scholars in shaping the Islamic discourse and education in these regions.

İran, Arabistan ve Amerika'n Ulusal Çıkarları Tipolojisi Bağlamında, 21. yüzyıl Orta Doğu'sundaki Yemen Krizinin Nedenlerinin Analizi

The purpose of this study is to analyze the causes of the Yemen crisis by focusing on the national interests governing the relations between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. If the cooperation or non-cooperation of actors over national interests does not lead to conflict, the national interests are parallel. If there are conflicts between them to achieve the national interest, they have conflicts of interest. If they cooperate in achieving national interests, they have a common national interest. And if the intensity of the conflict between actors is less profound than the conflicting national interest and they seek areas of influence for themselves, their national interests are of a discordant kind. Accordingly, the research raises the question of the causes of the Yemen crisis by focusing on the conflicting, parallel, common and discordant national interests of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States in the 21st-century Yemen crisis in the Middle East? By collecting documentary information and explanatory research methodology, Firstly, it sees the cause of the crisis in the common national interests of Saudi Arabia and the United States and sees al-Qaeda's security, energy, and counterterrorism as the triangle of the Yemen crisis, a handicap for the cause The second cause of the crisis is the discordant national interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia and considers the confrontation of The Discourse of Iranian Shia Islam and the Saudi Salafi Islamic discourse in the Yemen crisis as also disabled for the cause. And the last cause of the Yemen crisis is Iran's conflicting national interests with the United States, and its effect is to deter Iran from infiltrating the 21st-century Middle East Yemen crisis.

Counter Narratives of Extremism: A Study of the Exclusive Islamic Discourse of the Islamic Movement of IAIN Lhokseumawe Students

This research aims to explain the Counter-Narrative of Extremism: A Study of the Exclusive Islamic Discourse of the Islamic Movement of IAIN Lhokseumawe Students. By using a qualitative method that utilizes the main data of interviews, this study found that the exclusive Islamic discourse of IAIN Lhokseumawe students who are members of the HMI, PMII and LEKISMA organisations refers to talks or debates that occur in discussions made by these organisations. Both discussions that are coordinated in organisational activities as well as discussions personally by members of the organisation. In particular, the discussions that take place are related to issues, understanding, and practice of Islam such as those related to tafsir, hadith, fiqh and differences in mazhab, the relationship between Islam and society and politics. It was also found that not all student Islamic movements at IAIN Lhokseumawe hold exclusive views. Organisationally it is not exclusive, but personally there are indications that lead to an exclusive understanding, although not strong. This is due to the lack of religious knowledge as well as the weak reading or literacy of IAIN Lhokseumawe students. IAIN Lhokseumawe students construct counter-narratives of extremism through seminars, lectures and education of awareness of Islamic student activists IAIN Lhokseumawe to be respectful and respectful of those who do not agree or agree with their religious understanding. In general, the construction of counter-narratives of extremism carried out by Islamic students of IAIN Lhokseumawe, HMI, PMII and LEKISMA is with a narrative of religious moderation.