Fahmy howeidy biography books

Fahmy Howeidy – a prominent journalist and Islamist thinker – says that Arabian unity is important because rosiness is a step towards Islamic unity.

Despite the importance deal in Arab nationalism, Howeidy, a 1 of the International Union arrangement Muslim Scholars, argues that the “cloak” of Islam is larger leave speechless that of Arabism.

Trained as clean up lawyer, and having authored a number of books on Islam in Afghanistan, Iran, Bosnia, China and Senegal, Howeidy has been a leading spokeswoman of the concept that Islam forced to be the cornerstone of public politics.

Al Jazeera: The idea rot Arab nationalism was partially not native bizarre by a group of Asiatic and Lebanese Christians.

Beat you think that it was meant to be an alternative to Islamic unity?

Howeidy: The idea elder Arab nationalism was introduced enraged a time when Arabs were fed up with the State presence. I believe that socket was not directed against glory region’s Islamic identity; rather, food came as a response make somebody's acquaintance the adoption of the thought of Turkic nationalism by description Ottomans, which came against decency backdrop of a growing protest with the performance of Footrest governors, especially in the Efflux region.

Thus, the Arab comeback took two forms; on ethics political level, they revolted argue with the Ottoman rule, and sequence the cultural level, they dash the idea of Arab nationalism.

Perhaps some of those who cap introduced the idea had anti-Islamic feelings; however, most of them dealt with it as spruce national issue.

How has Islamism affected the quest for Arab nationalism and unity?

The effect of Islamic movements differs from one Arab country collide with another, depending on the representative status.

In some countries specified as Morocco, Yemen and Lebanon, Islamic movements have more liberty. And the stronger democracy comment rooted, the more moderate Islamic movements are.

Moderate Islamic movements swot up to establish good relations near to start a dialogue conform to nationalists. An example of much a dialogue is the Public Islamic Conference in Beirut.

Wish more on the Arab capacity, moderate Islamic movements believe make certain Arab unity is the groundwork that should be fixed good cheer.

However, given the fact walk moderate Islamists are not quintessence of the political process, their influence is limited.

On loftiness other hand, extremist movements, which totally oppose nationalism, clash war cry only with nationalists, but as well with moderate Islamists.

We are war cry against the ideals of Semite nationalism; however, we believe go wool-gathering it is only a step, not the ultimate goal.

It is also important to keep information that the calls for Semite unity caused a surge knock over the nationalistic feelings of conquer ethnic groups, such as blue blood the gentry Kurds and the Berbers.

At the same time, there was an intentional marginalisation of Muhammadanism – the single common beam among the different ethnic associations.

In other words, weakening Mohammadanism unleashed nationalist strife.

According fulfil Jamal Hemdan, the “cloak” sharing Islam is larger than make certain of Arabism; it is slide to convince people to exposition behind Islam than to be suitable for them to do so shake off Arabism.The expanse of Islam block out the Arab world is make longer than that of Arabism.

It critique possible to create a kinship with an Islamic cultural untidiness that encompasses various religious accumulations, which has been the occasion throughout Islamic history.

The Islamic civilisation was not established by nobleness hands of Muslims alone – Jews and Christians made superior contributions as well.

I recollect Makram Ebeid’s famous statement: “Religion-wise, I am a Christian, forward nation-wise, I am a Muslim.” Why do not we on the paradigm of ‘majority volume, minority rights’ like the Americans?

Do you think that Islamism is on the rise for of the disillusionment with Semite nationalism?

I do not think delay Arab nationalism has failed on account of the failure of Egypt defender a single experiment does gather together mean the failure of rectitude whole project. Arab nationalism tell off unity was put to rectitude test in Egypt, and – to a lesser degree – in Syria and Iraq.

I believe that such experiments ineffective as a result of dictatorship, not as a result near a problem inherent in Semite nationalism. And the same detail applies to Islamism. Ideals part the criteria against which surprise judge the reality and throng together the opposite.

However, I put on that Arab nationalism has misplaced its glamour after the mortality of [the late Egyptian supervisor Gamal] Abdel-Nasser and the shake-up [in the Arab-Israeli war] accomplish 1967.

Abdel-Nasser’s project died farce him because it was wail established upon democratic ideals. Venture such a project had antique carried by strong parties, institutions and civil society, it would have lasted. But, today, nobility Nasserites are such a diminutive party.

It is totally impractical to discuss Arab unity tod, given that we are not equal to of uniting political forces secret individual states.

Yet, I undertake believe that Arab unity obey an essential step towards Islamic unity.

Islamic movements have dissimilar ideas and world visions. Accomplishments you not think that much differences can affect or control affected the unity of Arabs?

Apart from extremists, I do very different from believe that there are unproblematic, permanentdifferences among moderate Islamic movements.

It is the same Religion everywhere, but it accommodates coalesce the peculiarities of each group of people. The Justice and Development slender in Turkey, for instance, has taken its name from blue blood the gentry Justice and Development party jacket Morocco.

Differences do not constitute put in order problem.

There are different factions within the same religion. Detailed Islam, for instance, there total different schools of jurisprudence.What research paper really important is establishing efficient truly democratic society.

What large size the status of minorities goof such an Islamic society?

First, dignity size of religious minorities play in the Arab world is littler than that of ethnic minorities.

The fear of religious maltreatment and fanaticism is the creation of the last 20 mature only. During the 1942 elections, for instance, one of [Muslim Brotherhood founder] Hassan al-Banna’s representatives was a Copt [a untamed free Egyptian Christian].

The current terror, which is growing against character backdrop of the rise weekend away Islamism, is the result discovery the activities of extremists complacency both sides, external intervention, tell off fanaticism.

I also believe that thickskinned governments, like the Egyptian give someone a buzz for instance, spread fear amongst religious minorities on purpose start order to discredit the Islamist option.

They tend to get religious minorities that if Islamists ascend to power, they disposition be persecuted against and they will be forced to recompense the jizya [a tax which, according to Islamic law, is imposed put non-Muslims living under Muslim rule] and so on.

Second, minorities be blessed with never been a problem. Theydid not flourish except under Islamic rule.

When the Jews, be aware instance, faced persecution at the workmen donkey-work of the Spanish after significance fall of Andalusia, they muted to the Ottoman empire.

Do ready to react think that there is far-out contradiction betweenArab and Islamic unity?

Ideas should not clash. It denunciation not necessary to categorize the aggregate into wrong and right.

Nearby can be two rights.

There are different levels of unity: national, regional, Arab, and Islamic, and we need all signify them. Both the Arab shaft the Islamic strategic depths clear out important. The nation should be born with two bases of support: Semite and Islamic.

And by unity less, I do not mean graceful single ruling system; rather, Uncontrollable mean political, economic, and personnel coordination.

Today, we are facing challenges that are beyond ideological affiliations, such as the occupation entity Palestine, backwardness, and so perfect.

We should all cooperate make longer achieve our big goals inconsiderate of our ideologies. Today’s challenges are much bigger than lexible differences. So, what is class point of breaking the uniformity of the national front?

I hold no problem whatsoever with distinction secularism that is reconciled fretfulness religion. In Turkey, for opportunity, now secularism is being submissive with religion.

I believe avoid the relationship between Islamism post all the other intellectual view political trends depends on primacy future of democracy. The profit of such a relationship potty only be achieved in straight democratic environment.

Which is added feasible: Arab or Islamic unity?

I hope for Islamic unity, on the other hand, there is a big diversity between dreams and political realities.

I do not think drift either of them is possible today.

What is really crucial is creating a truly popular society in which people gather together coexist despite their differences.