Islamic World Research Articles

“Islam” and “Muslimisme” in the official discourse and categorical apparatus of the French authorities in the 1920s

Throughout history, France and the Muslim world have been connected in various ways. Their interactions have ranged from constructive collaboration to colonial (or semi-colonial) domination and mutual animosity. In this article, the author seeks to examine the nuances of the discursive mobilisation and contextualisation of terms such as “Islam” and “Muslimisme” within the public and secret documents of French diplomacy and colonial administration during the 1920s. He attempts to address the following questions: What was the terminological and semantic conflict surrounding the aforementioned concepts? What were the objectives of the French officials in articulating one or another aspect of “Islam” and “Muslimisme”? Contemporary neocolonialism and a necessity to study its historical genesis and forms determine relevance of the article. The author makes use of insufficiently researched archival and published material. This, in conjunction with the nature of the research question, provides the rationale behind the originality of the analysis presented in the essay. He employs the methodology of the “history of concepts” and comparative-historical analysis to examine the intricate interrelationship between the discursive mobilisation of “Islam” and “Muslimisme”, on the one hand, and the practical policies of Paris, on the other. The author draws on a range of sources to inform his analysis, including French diplomatic documents, the notes and reports of Marshal Hubert Lyautey, books and pamphlets by various French experts and public figures, and material from the French and Algerian press. He concludes that the semantic colouring of “Islam” and “Muslimisme” in the French official discourse of the 1920s was not homogeneous. This perception included a sense of superiority close to Orientalism, a perception of the backwardness of “Islamic civilization” and its incompatibility with the Western socio-political order, and a perception of “Islam” as a potential danger, especially if it was combined with other religious (pan-Islamism) and/or socio-political challenges (pan-Turkism, Bolshevism). Concurrently, the Third Republic’s authorities frequently regarded Islam as a means of securing Muslim allegiance and enhancing France’s “soft power”.

“The Revival of Islam”: a French view of the Islamic Revolution in Iran

In this article, the author investigates the responses of French diplomats and experts to the events occurring in Iran during 1978–1979 and their consequences. This analysis is conducted primarily in the context of the rising prominence of religious considerations in international relations. To this end, the author draws on materials from the archives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In France, the dual nature of these events was acknowledged. Firstly, there was a notable “re-Islamisation” of the populations in Muslim countries. In many of them, Islam became an influential factor in the formation of national identities after independence, serving to unify and stabilise communities. Secondly, French diplomats emphasised that while religion played a part in these developments, it was not the sole driving force. Rather, it was employed by local leaders as a political tool to advance their own agendas. The French experts demonstrated a tendency to overestimate the degree of Western influence on educated and wealthy sections of Muslim populations, while simultaneously underestimating the capacity of nationally oriented Islamic leaders and movements to modernise their respective countries. Furthermore, these experts also underestimated the ability of these leaders and movements to defend their right to development in accordance with their own customs and traditions. It is notable that many of the conclusions drawn by French diplomats at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s do not align with the contemporary interpretations of the French authorities. A review of the French Foreign Ministry notes from 1978 to 1979 revealed no mention of the issue of Islamic influence and its radical form in the Maghreb and the Middle East on the Muslim community in France.

Doubt Method Between (Al-Ghazali and Descartes)

This research, The Method of Doubt between (Al-Ghazali and Descartes), interprets and explains the similarities and differences of the two philosophers on the issue of knowledge from doubt to certainty. In order to understand the truth and different dimensions of this issue, which belongs to two different worldviews and eras in the medieval Islamic and modern European world, the theses and arguments of both philosophers on doubt as the beginning and path to knowledge and certainty are discussed. This is done by highlighting their main views on their chain of reasoning, how arguments begin with the precedence of doubt until they reach the truth. Although most of their arguments are similar, but they differ in the way they get rid of doubt and reach certainty. This radical difference is that Descartes reaches certainty and truth through doubt, within rational thinking, and his Cogito (I think, Therefore I am), but Al-Ghazali in his Sufi Philosophical journey (Mysticism), he waits for the truth to be revealed to him by God (Allah) and put into his heart as a bright and illuminating light, which is a kind of enlightenment of the heart. However, despite the methodological differences between both of them in the Rational and the heart knowledge, doubt and the method of doubt for both are steps towards achieving certain knowledge beyond all doubt, to access emphatic knowledge, but each gives different status to consciousness and emotion, as well as to mind and heart. As a result, we find that the experiences of both philosophers in sustaining preconceptions and methods of arriving at truth are important and unique, even though they belong to two different philosophical and religious worldviews.

Violence as a Tool

This article studies violence in the region of North-Western Africa in the 20th century, which witnessed a radical shift in the perpetrators of violence. While at the beginning of the century it was Sufi marabouts who issued the call to arms, in the course of the century they were succeeded by Salafi nationalists, Islamists, and jihadists. The motivations for violence also changed. In the first half of the century, acts of violence committed by Muslim groups in the region often had a “side” agenda and were used as a tool by Sufi and Salafi to achieve some un-religious goals. Later, following changes in the whole Muslim world, violence became a tool of religion, used by Islamists and Salafi movements to hijack the system. The explanation for these changes lies not just in theregion itself but also in its changing political and religious landscape.

Macroeconomic Forces Affecting Islamic Performance Indices

This study aims to investigate the macroeconomic factors that impact the performance of Malaysia's Islamic stock market. This study looks at six independent variables that affect the performance of the Islamic stock market in Malaysia: the world oil price, inflation rate, Islamic interbank rate, money supply (M2), industrial activity index, inflation rate, Islamic interbank rate, exchange rate, and world oil price. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Bursa Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, and Eikon Thomson Reuters were among the secondary data sources used in this study's quantitative data gathering methodology. The research was carried out over four years (2019–2023) using monthly data. A theoretical model was created to investigate the suggested relationship after it was analyzed using the E-views software. The success of the Islamic stock market was found to be significantly correlated with the inflation rate, money supply, Islamic interbank rate, and exchange rate. These determinants are exerting a direct influence on the Islamic stock market in Malaysia, particularly in its macroeconomic aspects. The present study aims to enhance comprehension regarding the possible effects of different elements on how well the Islamic stock market performs. Different results could come from more research into the various elements affecting the Islamic stock market's performance.

World War I and World War II: Their Effects on the Islamic World and Afghanistan

The tremendous effects that World War I and World War II had on the Islamic world are investigated in this research, with a particular focus on Afghanistan. The aftermath of World War I resulted in the breakup of empires, most notably the Ottoman Empire, as well as the restructuring of political boundaries. The study aims to explore and analyze the far-reaching impacts of World War I and World War II on the Islamic world, with a particular focus on Afghanistan. The study seeks to examine how these global conflicts reshaped political, social, and economic dynamics in Muslim-majority regions, leading to the disintegration of empires, the rise of nationalism, and the realignment of power structures. The significance of this study lies in the fact that it shades light on a relatively unexplored facet of world history, namely the manner in which the Islamic world, and Afghanistan in particular, was impacted by the two World Wars. Specifically, it sheds light on the growth of nationalism, decolonization, and geopolitical competition, all of which played a role in shaping the position of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Middle East within the global system. This work employs the doctrinal research methodology along with descriptive, explanatory, and analytical research approaches. It is worth mentioning that this research study is entirely based on library sources. Most of the sources are reputable and trustworthy textbooks, scholarly published and unpublished journal articles, law reports, and online websites related to the research area. One of the main findings is Both World Wars accelerated the disintegration of Islamic empires, notably the Ottoman Empire, and paved the way for European colonial powers to carve out new territories in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Afghanistan’s strategic position made it vulnerable to foreign influence, particularly from Britain and Russia. After World War I, Afghanistan gained greater autonomy, but it became a battleground for influence between the Soviet Union and the West following World War II, especially during the Cold War. It is recommended that further research and documents are needed the Islamic world’s experience during both World Wars, which has often been overlooked in global history. Incorporating these perspectives into academic curricula could help reshape understanding of global conflicts from a non-Western perspective.

Analysis of intangible assets reporting standards and automation in KSA within an Islamic context – a case study

Purpose This paper aims to the significance of intangible assets in boosting financial credibility and accounting transparency in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. Moreover, it articulates the indispensable role of information and communication technology (ICT), including cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, inefficaciously mitigating manual challenges while safeguarding the authenticity and reliability of financial information. Design/methodology/approach This study examines relevant literature on national and international standards to define the significance of intangible assets within conventional and Islamic Shari’ah principles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It delves into how automation technologies can improve accuracy and verifiability in reporting intangible assets while adhering to Islamic Shari’ah Compliance (ISC) principles, providing valuable insights into standardization and automation benefits. Findings The study highlights that ISC laws affect intangible asset reporting. Integrating conventional accounting principles with ISC is necessary to establish a unified international standard. Adopting ICT, AI and blockchain is crucial for automating and ensuring consistent, verifiable reporting of intangible assets. Research limitations/implications This case study highlights the importance of intangible assets in KSA, but its findings require validation through workshops with scholars, stakeholders and policymakers to ensure broader acceptance and applicability beyond the specific context. Practical implications This study provides guidance on using AI, blockchain and other ICT tools to ensure accurate financial reporting by validating and verifying intangible assets, benefiting stakeholders, policymakers, accountants, auditors and ISC professionals. Originality/value This study underscores the importance of reporting intangible assets according to Islamic principles in KSA, with relevance to other Islamic countries. Promoting International Financial Reporting Standards and Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants standards enhances accurate reporting and supports Saudi Vision 2030 goal of boosting global investment and trade.

Gender inequality in the public sphere as perceived by Muslim female graduate students at a Pakistani higher education institution – a critical grounded theory perspective

Purpose The subject of gender inequality has been approached by academics of various fields – psychologists, political scientists, developmental economists, feminists, sociologists, among others. Although there is a considerable amount of evidence indicating the presence of gender bias in various aspects of educational and work life in Muslim countries, not many studies have attempted to understand the female perspective during extra- and co-curricular activities in higher education institutions (HEIs) and their coping strategies. Design/methodology/approach A critical grounded theory approach was used. Findings The findings indicate that the role of female “religio-socio-cultural” stereotypes mutually reinforces each other to perpetuate an uneven playing field. Females have evolved many strategies to cope, including creation of sub-private spheres within larger public spheres and restricting their interactions to specific strata within the public sphere. Originality/value The study provides a female perspective regarding participation during extra- and co-curricular activities in a HEI in a Muslim majority context using critical grounded theory.

Ethnic origin of Israeli Jews and psychological responses to the extreme stress of the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza

IntroductionDiscrimination constitutes a source of stress for minority groups, leading to heightened levels of depression. Discrimination can also elicit positive responses aimed at reducing detrimental impacts. The stress experienced by minority groups may impact their mindset and influence their negative emotional responses. Israeli Jewish society comprised for many years two large communities: the dominant Ashkenazi people, who emigrated from East Europe, and the Mizrahi discriminated minority whose members came from Muslim countries. The Mizrahi minority has become a mainstream community over time, and its size equals the Ashkenazi group. This change raises an interesting issue that has not been investigated empirically: What characterizes the psychological responses to the stress of a formerly discriminated minority?MethodsTwo representative samples responded to a similar questionnaire measuring inhibiting and bolstering coping strategies. The first sample of 930 people participated in this structured survey between October 12 and 19, 2022. No external adversity threatened Israel at that time. The second sample of 1,608 Israeli Jews participated between October 11 and 17, 2023, a few days after Hamas attacked the southern region of Israel, killed more than a 1,000 people, and kidnapped 100. We examine the impact of moderate and extreme stress of war on the maladaptive levels of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, we investigated the shielding psychological coping measures of this former minority, as compared to Ashkenazi group’s response.ResultsResults show that the formerly minority Mizrahi group expresses higher levels of depression, anxiety, and sense of danger under extreme stress compared to the Ashkenazi group. Mizrahi individuals compensated concurrently for these negative emotions by fostering enhanced hope and societal resilience compared to the other group.DiscussionThe main contributions of the present study are (a) Demonstration that psychological responses of descendants of a minority group to highly stressful conditions do not necessarily agree with their current status as a mainstream community. (b) Indicating that the phenomenon of concurrently enhanced negative and positive responses in face of extreme stress is associated with ethnic origin and history. (c) Associating the effects of different socio-demographic variables with the psychological response of the investigated groups to extreme and moderate stress.

The Dilemma of Legislative Reform in Line with International Standards on Gender Equality in the Islamic World: The Case of Palestine

The Dilemma of Legislative Reform in Line with International Standards on Gender Equality in the Islamic World: The Case of Palestine

Военная сила в международных отношениях как фактор безопасности и суверенитета России на современном этапе ее развития

The study presents an analysis of Russia's international relations at the present stage of development and their impact on the state of the military-political situation in regional strategic areas, which are of paramount importance for ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation. The authors note that Russia aims to strengthen its contacts with Islamic countries in the context of international relations. It is observed that the Israel-Iran conflict has once again become a key factor in global politics. The features of the negotiation processes, the role and place of Russia in them are revealed. The desire to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, which severely affects the global economy and its major players, remains pronounced. According to the results of the analysis, negative trends have been identified that require the elimination of factors at the international level at the current stage of development, influencing which, it is necessary to stabilize the aggravated contradictions taking into account new threats. The identified threats will ensure strategic stability to confront the collective West, contributing to the construction, functioning and development of the national security system. Proposals are being made on new approaches to solving the negotiation process and the need for a set of legal support measures, as well as the use of existing potential.

The Competitiveness and Export Performance of Indonesian Coffee in The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Since its establishment in 1969, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has served as a platform for Islamic countries worldwide to cooperate in various sectors, including economic, social, and cultural. One longstanding form of economic cooperation among OIC countries is in the field of trade. Indonesia, as one of the major producers and exporters of coffee, has engaged in coffee trade with OIC countries, and this cooperation has continued to the present day. This research aims to assess the competitiveness and export performance of Indonesian coffee to OIC using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Constant Market Share (CMS) methods. The results show that Indonesian coffee exports to OIC are competitive but have a declining growth rate. Meanwhile, the export performance of Indonesian coffee to OIC demonstrates good performance in following market distribution trends but shows shortcomings in meeting market preferences. Therefore, enhancing internal trade cooperation within OIC, partnering strategies with competing countries, and measures such as improving technology accessibility and evaluating responsive export policies are necessary.

The laughter effect: Enhancing cross-cultural learning and cohesiveness in a virtual environment

This practice report investigates the role of humor in enhancing cross-cultural learning and group cohesion in virtual education settings. Most collaborative international learning training focuses on structuring content, co-teaching, and managing coursework for specific outcomes (Rubin & Guth, 2015). Beyond including time for icebreakers for students to become acclimated with each other, often much of the rest of the experience emphasizes task completion; this serious focus may contribute to discomfort and reduced engagement among diverse students. After witnessing this our first year working together in a collaborative online international learning experience connecting North American students with those from Muslim-majority countries, we explored how modeling and creating opportunities for shared laughter in synchronous group exercises might better promote a relaxed and engaging learning environment. Our findings, derived from qualitative feedback and quantitative surveys, demonstrate that humor enhances group cohesion and cultural exploration. Students reported increased comfort, enjoyment, and willingness to engage and humor-driven activities consistently rated as the most impactful and enjoyable aspects of the course.

Religion and responsibility in international relations: Thatcher, Mahathir, and The Satanic Verses

Abstract The crisis over Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses exposed the contrasting ways Western and Muslim actors understand the place of religion in international order and the responsibilities of states in religious controversies. No other Muslim national leader supported Ayatollah Khomeini’s call for Rushdie’s death in 1989, but many Muslims expressed anger and disbelief that Britain and Western powers could not restrict a book that caused so much international disturbance. This paper seeks to understand this discord through the overlapping but conflicted language games of Western and Muslim national leaders. It analyses a previously unreported exchange of letters between British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, along with other recently released archival material from the diplomatic crisis. These letters reflected different unwritten rules informing the actors’ understandings and practices of international order, despite their shared acceptance of the sovereignty of national states. For Mahathir, the Western world was itself a religious identity, and its collective propagation of The Satanic Verses compounded a religious insult to the Muslim world. But Thatcher and other British actors did not see religious identities, especially their own, as basic elements of international relations, instead reasserting the secular primacy of national states.

The Changing Muslim World: Energy, Extraction, and the Racialization of Islam in Protestant Missions

This essay examines the role of Anglo Protestant missions in the Persian Gulf in racializing “the Moslem world” for the emergent white world order at the beginning of the 20th century. More specifically, I consider the way Protestant missionaries extracted knowledge about Islam, racializing “the Moslem world” as a civilizational “unit” devoid of energetic life—and therefore incompatible with the modern world—even as they simultaneously mediated the rise of oil extraction along the Persian Gulf in that same period. Extraction was not only evident in the material relations of empire, but also in the way Protestant missionary discourse shaped “the Muslim world” into a racial unit in need of management and optimization. I consider two energetic grammars used by Protestant missionaries to signify the changes occurring in “the Moslem World”, namely, Samuel Zwemer’s use of “disintegration” and Basil Mathews use of “ferment”. I argue that it was in these material and discursive entanglements of oil extraction where knowledge about Islam became an important tool of European colonial governance, and where energetic grammars of religion became critical to the biopolitical production and management of racialized Muslim populations.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Key Factors of Burnout Among Tunisian Oncology Nurses

Background Nurses play an essential role in patient care, and nurse-patient relationship are a fundamental aspect of healthcare delivery. Research has indicated that oncology nurses are particularly susceptible to burnout. However, there is limited research on nurse burnout in oncology, particularly in the Arab Muslim world. Objective This study aimed to investigate burnout among oncology nurses and analyze its association with professional and sociodemographic factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with oncology nurses at the Salah Azaiz Institute. We assessed socio-demographic data, work variables, job satisfaction, and burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results Of the nurses surveyed, 78 responded correctly to the questionnaire. The median age of participants was 37 years, with a predominance of females (52.6%). The median duration of oncology work was 11 years. Regarding job satisfaction, 30.8% were somewhat dissatisfied, and 24.4% were not satisfied. The prevalence of burnout was 89.9%, with 73.1% experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion, 48.7% high levels of depersonalization, and 25.6% a low level of personal accomplishment. Personal medical and psychiatric history, along with job satisfaction, emerged as the strongest predictors of burnout in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion This study highlights the significant prevalence of burnout among nurses in oncology settings. In Tunisia, there is an urgent need to prioritize the psychological well-being of oncology nurses. Preventive strategies should emphasize enhancing working conditions to reduce these risks.

Liquidity and credit risks during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a dual banking system

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between liquidity risk and credit risk of Islamic and conventional banks in a predominantly Muslim country (Indonesia) adopting a dual banking system. Design/methodology/approach To investigate liquidity-credit risk nexus, this study used a sample of 72 Islamic and conventional banks in Indonesia for a period between 2019 Q4 and 2022 Q1. This paper used a generalized method of moments (GMM) and generalized least square (GLS) estimators. Findings This study found that there is a nonlinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between liquidity risk and credit risk in dual banking system. Liquidity risk was found to increase credit risk if it is below the optimal threshold, and above this optimal threshold, liquidity risk begins to decrease credit risk, both before and during the pandemic. In addition, the impact of liquidity risk on credit risk is higher in Islamic banks compared to conventional banks. Originality/value This paper reinvestigates the puzzle between credit risk and liquidity risk by taking a sample of a dual banking system country and by considering the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. To the authors’ knowledge, this approach has not been addressed in prior empirical studies.

The Making of Arab Stereotypes: Racist Portrayals in Political Cartoons during the 1970s Oil Crisis

The 1973 oil crisis, a period marked by tensions following the Yom Kippur War and the subsequent Arab oil embargo, was a pivotal, global event with far-reaching economic and political consequences. Political cartoons played a significant role in influencing public opinion and shaping Western perspectives about Arabs and the Muslim world during this time. Many of these depictions resorted to negative stereotyping and vilifying Arabs. This research examines these portrayals by analyzing sixty-eight political cartoons from twenty-nine Western newspapers and magazines. These depictions, conceptualized here, characterized Arabs as violent, arrogant, rich, and indifferent to humanity, contributing to the propagation of long-standing stereotypes. The cartoons also depicted oil as a weapon wielded by Arabs, reinforcing biased perspectives that contrast starkly with the complex reality of Arab societies. This study highlights the influential role of media in shaping public perspectives and underscoring the need for balanced, nuanced portrayals in media representations.

ISLAMISME, MODERASI BERAGAMA, DAN SOLO GENEOLOGI PEMAHAMAN MODERASI BERAGAMA KELOMPOK ISLAM DI SOLO

The diversity of beliefs, religions and cultures of the Indonesian nation is an inevitability that often causes friction between residents. Some groups force their beliefs on other groups and even commit violence in the name of religion to achieve this goal. This is what drives the government through the Ministry of Religion to promote Religious Moderation so that Indonesian people do not get caught up in religious fanaticism. This study is a library research that uses books and journals as the main documents with the background of the city of Solo which is known as one of the pockets of the Islamic movement. The study found that the extreme understanding of Islamic groups is based on their belief that Indonesia is not an Islamic country that must be Islamized and based on their understanding of wala' wal bara' which forms an understanding to be hostile to infidels and reject their leadership. Therefore, strengthening literacy and dialogue are the means that must be carried out to change this extreme understanding.

The Effects of Industrial Value Addition and Energy Consumption on Environmental Deterioration: New Evidence from Islamic Countries

The current research is aimed at finding out the effects of energy consumption and industrial value addition on environmental deterioration. Panel data for the years 2000-2017 was employed to explore the long- and short-term association of variables for the selected Islamic countries. Panel Unit Root Test was used to check the stationarity of the data. Moreover, Fisher panel Co-integration tests, PMG, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square method (DOLS) were also applied to find out relationship between the variables. The study suggested that economic growth, industrial value addition and energy consumption positively affect the CO2 emission. Moreover, high-energy consumption to meet the demands of energy in transportation and production sectors leads to increased environmental pollution. The coefficient of industrial value addition shows significant effect on environmental deterioration in long term. Our study suggests the use of cleaner technology in production system and replacing renewable energy by non-renewable energy sources.