Jeremiah 21-36

Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah is a former Islamic organization in the Middle East that was involved in global terrorism, but later renounced violence and issued a manifesto of modern Islamist thought. This work challenges and enriches prevailing notions about the role of Islamists in fighting extremist politics and anti-Westernism.

Format: Unspecified
Publication date: 29 March 2022

Formerly one of the largest and most militant Islamic organizations in the Middle East, Egypt's al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah is believed to have played an instrumental role in numerous acts of global terrorism, including the assassination of President Anwar Sadat and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In later years, however, the organization issued a surprising renunciation of violence, repudiating its former ideology and replacing it with a shari ah-based understanding and assessment of the purpose and proper application of jihad. This key manifesto of modern Islamist thought is now available to an English-speaking audience in an eminently readable translation by noted Islamic scholar Sherman A. Jackson. Unlike other Western and Muslim critiques of violent extremism, this important work emerges from within the movement of Middle Eastern Islamic activism, both challenging and enriching prevailing notions about the role of Islamists in fighting the scourge of extremist politics, blind anti-Westernism, and, alas, wayward jihad.

Introduction:
Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah, formerly one of the largest and most militant Islamic organizations in the Middle East, has a complex history and a reputation for involvement in global terrorism. The organization is believed to have played a significant role in numerous acts of violence, including the assassination of President Anwar Sadat and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. However, in recent years, al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah has undergone a significant transformation, renouncing violence and adopting a more moderate ideology. This transformation has led to a renewed interest in the organization and its ideas, particularly among scholars and policymakers.

Origins and Early Years:
Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah was founded in Egypt in the 1970s by a group of young Muslims who were dissatisfied with the country's secular government and the influence of Western culture. The organization quickly gained a reputation for its militancy and its opposition to the Egyptian government, particularly during the era of President Anwar Sadat. Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah's ideology was rooted in the teachings of Sayyid Qutb, a prominent Egyptian Islamist thinker who believed in the establishment of an Islamic state based on shari ah law.

Global Terrorism:
Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah's involvement in global terrorism began in the 1980s, with the organization targeting Western interests in Egypt and the Middle East. In 1981, al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah was responsible for the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the former Egyptian president, who was widely regarded as a moderate and pro-Western leader. The assassination was a major setback for the Egyptian government and contributed to the rise of Islamist extremism in the region.

Renunciation of Violence:
However, in the late 1990s, al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah issued a surprising renunciation of violence, repudiating its former ideology and replacing it with a shari ah-based understanding and assessment of the purpose and proper application of jihad. The renunciation of violence was a significant turning point in the organization's history and was seen as a sign of its commitment to peaceful activism.

Shari ah-Based Ideology:
Under the leadership of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was arrested in 1999 and later sentenced to life in prison, al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah adopted a shari ah-based ideology that emphasized the importance of adhering to Islamic law and principles in all aspects of life. The organization's new ideology focused on promoting social justice, economic development, and the establishment of an Islamic state that would be governed by shari ah law.

Controversy and Criticism:
Despite its renunciation of violence, al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah has faced controversy and criticism from both Western and Muslim perspectives. Some critics argue that the organization has not fully renounced its past and that it continues to engage in covert operations and terrorist activities. Others argue that the organization's new ideology is simply a cover for its continued commitment to violent extremism.

Conclusion:
Al-Gama ah al-Islamiyah's transformation from a militant Islamic organization to a shari ah-based movement is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that reflects the changing dynamics of the Middle East and the global political landscape. While the organization's renunciation of violence is a significant achievement, it remains to be seen whether it will be able to fully integrate into the broader society and contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the region.

Dimension: 250 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300262223