Islam and the Arab Revolutions: The Ulama Between Democracy and Autocracy

The Arab revolutions of 2011 were a transformative moment in the modern history of the Middle East, with initial success stories like Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt. This book explores the role of prominent religious scholars in these revolutions, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa and Abdullah bin Bayyah, who have either championed the revolutions or supported their repression. It concludes that their approach is attributable less to premodern theology and more to their modern commitment to the authoritarian state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The Arab revolutions of 2011 marked a significant turning point in the contemporary history of the Middle East, as people across the region rose up against long-standing autocrats, demanding bread, freedom, and dignity. Over time, the outcomes of these revolutions have been mixed, with initial success stories such as Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt, supported by several Gulf states. In this book, the focus is primarily on Egypt, exploring a relatively understudied dimension of these revolutions: the role of prominent religious scholars. While pro-revolutionary ulama have justified activism against authoritarian regimes, counter-revolutionary scholars have provided religious backing for repression, and in some cases, the mass murder of unarmed protestors. Usama al-Azami delves into the public engagements and religious pronouncements of several prominent ulama in the region, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa, and Abdullah bin Bayyah, to examine their role in either championing or supporting the Arab revolutions. Al-Azami concludes that while a minority of noted scholars have enthusiastically endorsed the counter-revolutions, their approach is more attributable to their modern commitment to the authoritarian state rather than premodern theology.

The Arab revolutions of 2011 were a transformative moment in the modern history of the Middle East, as people rose up against long-standing autocrats throughout the region, demanding bread, freedom, and dignity.

Over time, the outcomes of these revolutions have been mixed, with initial success stories such as Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt, supported by several Gulf states.

In this book, the focus is primarily on Egypt, exploring a relatively understudied dimension of these revolutions: the role of prominent religious scholars.

While pro-revolutionary ulama have justified activism against authoritarian regimes, counter-revolutionary scholars have provided religious backing for repression, and in some cases, the mass murder of unarmed protestors.

Usama al-Azami delves into the public engagements and religious pronouncements of several prominent ulama in the region, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa, and Abdullah bin Bayyah, to examine their role in either championing or supporting the Arab revolutions.

Al-Azami concludes that while a minority of noted scholars have enthusiastically endorsed the counter-revolutions, their approach is more attributable to their modern commitment to the authoritarian state rather than premodern theology.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 137 x 216 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787388222