International Journal of Islamic Khazanah
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2024): IJIK

Nonviolent Theology in the Syrian Protests: A Critical Analysis of Jawdat Sa‘īd's Qur'anic Exegesis

Rudiger Lohlker ((Scopus ID: 6506783480) University of Vienna)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Feb 2024

Abstract

The non-violent protests in Syria against the government, before eventually being co-opted by armed forces, marked a unique resistance against the regime during that period. Jawdat Sa‘īd, a theorist, writer, and activist, inspired activists during this time by advocating for a theology of non-violence as the authentic foundation for Islamic life. The theological basis was drawn from a specific interpretation of the Quran. Sa‘īd's understanding of the Quranic revelation was analysed using the approach formulated by Shahab Ahmed, demonstrating its validity in comprehending Islamic thought deeply. The research problem addressed the non-violent characteristics of the Syrian protests, while the research goal aimed to unveil the critical role of Sa‘īd's interpretation of the Quran in shaping this movement. Through methods involving text analysis and Sa‘īd's understanding of specific verses, the research findings highlighted the impact of Sa‘īd's non-violent theology on activists and the foundation for peaceful resistance. The research conclusion emphasised the importance of contextual understanding of the Quran and a non-violent perspective in shaping social movements. This study contributes to a better understanding of contemporary Islamic thought and strategies for resistance that can be adopted in similar contexts.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijik

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education Social Sciences Other

Description

IJIK (International Journal of Islamic Khazanah) is an international, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal that publishes original research and critical reviews in the field of Islamic studies. The journal aims to foster scholarly dialogue across cultures by welcoming high-quality contributions ...