The last great heresyA Fury for GodMalise Ruthven324pp, GrantaThe assaults on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001, while they seemed at the time to be thunder out of a blue sky, were preceded by portents that are now seen to be prophetic.Malise Ruthven has set himself, in the light of those burning towers, to examine the remote and proximate reasons why 19 men killed themselves and nearly 3,000 strangers that morning. A Fury for God burrows deeply into the Koran, examines the milieux in Egypt and Saudi Arabia where the killers originated, and describes the chaos in Pakistan and Afghanistan where they came of age. It is an interesting and forceful book.The world dominion of western thought, forms of organisation, technology and military force is not God-given, nor eternal, nor greatly appreciated by the rest of the world. Yet while, the civilisations of China, say, or India seem content to buckle down and try to extract what they can from it, while biding their historical opportunity, the world of Islam threw up the lurid but objectiveless events of September 11. Why?Ruthven begins with jihad. The notion that jihad might in some way be an internal or charitable enterprise, as argued by some Muslim intellectuals living in Christian countries, gets short shrift. Islam, in its actual history, is a belligerent and domineering faith: as belligerent, if less insinuating, as the residue of Christianity now known as western culture.Islam has never treated belief as a matter of privacy, nor tolerated the lukewarm or treated other faiths as anything but distortions or sketches of Islam. Ruthven deploys a phrase worthy of the Infidel himself, David Hume: jihad is “as essential to Islamic identity and self-definition as the Mass is to [Roman] Catholicism”. (For Hume, the one faith is fanatical and the other is superstitious, and a plague on both their houses.)The key for Ruthven is the celebrated “Sword Verse” in the Koran (9:5). “When the forbidden months are past, then kill the idolaters wherever you find them, take them captive, and beseige them and lie in wait for them in every stratagem; but if they repent, and establish regular prayers, and pay the poor tax, then open the way for them, for God is forgiving.”That verse, which is held by many scholars to have abrogated earlier verses such as “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (Koran 2:226), is the theological basis of the bloodthirsty “Fatwa for the jihad against Jews and Crusaders” issued by Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri on February 23 1998.Yet the modern Christian does not go around cursing fig trees at the roadside. The revival of jihad as warfare began as a response of a proud civilisation to the insults of colonialism, and proceeds by way of the writings of Sayyid Qutb (1906-66) in Egypt and Sayyid Abu Ala Maududi (1903-79) in the Indian subcontinent. Ruthven’s brilliant discussion of Qutb’s prison tract, Signposts on the Road (sometimes translated as Milestones), is the strongest section in the book.Qutb, who was hanged by Abdul Nasser in 1966, pronounced the world we live in as pre-Islamic. We live in the jahiliyya, or age of ignorance. Even apparently Islamic regimes are jahili. Once this rhetorical sleight of hand is achieved, the way is open to make war on non-Muslims on the authority of the sword verse. Muhammad Atta, in the note found in his misdirected luggage at Logan Airport in Boston, used the Koranic language of Abraham’s sacrifice (Koran 37:102) to justify cutting the throats of stewardesses.Ruthven insists that much of Qutb’s style and ideology derives from European sources ranging from Nietzsche to the fascists and the revolutionary vanguardism of the 1960s left. He then overdoes it with a comparison of Atta and Ulrike Meinhof.In examining the “model young Egyptians” of the extremist groups that preceded al-Qaida, Ruthven lays great stress on their technical backgrounds as engineers or physicians. For Ruthven, Islamic literalism is a way of placing a signature on an alien body of knowledge. He also sees the sexual frustration of young Muslim bachelors as a tributary cause of extremism. The modern Muslim world is populated by younger sons, with no prospect at all of earning enough money to marry, loafing the streets of Alexandria and Isfahan, or jumping the goods trains at Sangatte. Actually, it is astonishing more did not end up in Afghanistan.Ruthven has nothing but contempt for the naive and irresponsible Islamist policies of both the Saudi royal family and Pakistani administrations since Zia ul-Haq. He reserves particular scorn for the former head of Saudi external intelligence, Prince Turki al-Faisal. He suggests that the west should stop supporting the House of Saud, and permit the Islamists to seize power in the Arabian peninsula. The Arabian public can then repent at leisure, as in poor Iran.Ruthven’s plea for democracy in the Middle East, even if it brings Islamists to power, is principled, passionate and very persuasive. It is a shame that the US has fallen back into the bad habit of seeking to impose regimes (Iraq, Palestine).Ruthven is suited to his subject. As a Scot, he is heir to the religious intolerance and theological hair-splitting of the 17th century, and also to the scientific scepticism of the 18th. As an aristocrat, he is able – as Marx said of the Jacobite philosopher Sir James Steuart – to think historically.His Arabic is flawless; it is his English that sometimes lets him down. Oh, the academic jargon, the narratives, the discourses! He is also better at handling Arabic than English sources, and gives house-room to some very questionable gossip on both Bin Laden and Atta. He devotes many pages to arguing that Ramzi Yousef, who staged the first bombing at the World Trade Center in 1993, is an Iraqi agent, for which there is no public evidence.The book leaves open the two questions for which we quite badly need answers. First, how did Zawahiri and Bin Laden come together in 1998, and second, why did they abandon political struggle in the Middle East in favour of a war on certain symbols of the United States? If I may have my two piastres, there seems to me a sort of congruence or echo between the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the twin Buddhas of Bamiyan, destroyed by the Taliban and its Arab allies in March 2001, and the twin idols of Lat and Uzza of Koran 53:19. But that, I accept, is mere mental doodling.What is clear is that Bin Laden, Zawahiri and Atta are (or rather, in my opinion, were) heresiarchs of an ancient and pestilent character. The essence of the three Abrahamic monotheisms – known in Arabic as din ibrahim, “Abraham’s faith” – is embodied in the story of Abraham’s substitute sacrifice: the ram in the thicket in Genesis and the sheep that Muslims kill at their Pilgrimage festival. The message of Islam, Judaism and Christianity is this: God is not a murderer, he does not want to kill us.The god of al-Qaida leers and draws the knife across the boy’s throat. This religion, in which there is no purpose to existence but to murder and die a virgin’s death, has, by definition, no future. Ruthven argues, no doubt with good reason, that the stupidity of the Bush administration and the bad faith of Sharon will prolong it beyond its natural life.· James Buchan is the author of A Good Place to Die (Harvill), a novel of modern Iran.
The Last Great Heresy Essay Research Paper
The Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper Expository Paragraph Characterization Point to be proved: Jay Gatsby is a very determined individual. He is very determined to get Daisy Buchanan back into his life.
Pharohs Essay, Research Paper Three important pharaohs are Thutmose III, Nefertiti and Senusret III. Thutmose III lived from 3429 to 3375, died when he was 54 years old.
The Star Essay, Research Paper In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, light is used symbolically through the example of Estella. Miss Havisham brings Estella up in the darkness, consequently sheltering her from the true
Khufu Essay, Research Paper Around 2610 B.C., the king of Egypt, Sneferu, had his first son, Khufu. Khufu ruled from 2589-2528 B.C. While he ruled, he decided to build a great
William Tyndale Essay, Research Paper ?How has William Tyndale?s translation influenced all the following English translations of the Bible?? In 1525, William Tyndale began to write his famous version of the scriptures. Printing had already been achieved, so Tyndale had the desire to give the people a Bible of their own, in their own language.
Poem: Thank You Essay, Research Paper THANK YOU There for me through thick and thin Never hesitates to lend a hand Comforts me when everything seems dim Always listens when I feel the need to express to them
Cyrano De Begerac Essay, Research Paper Cyrano De Begerac, the play and Roxanne the 80?s version of the play have a lot of differences between them. In this essay I chose to write about three of
Lateran Synod 769 Essay, Research Paper Loads of Franks on council ? symbolises strength Papal-Frankish alliance, for Frankish bishops their presence in Rome result of
The Hersey-Blanchard Situation Essay, Research Paper The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Theory One of the most widely followed leadership models is the situational leadership theory of Paul Heresy and Kenneth Blanchard. Situational Leadership Theory is a contingency theory that focuses on the followers.
Ivan The Terrible Essay, Research Paper Ivan the Terrible was the first czar of russia. He was a very cruel ruler.His father and mother died shortley after his birth.So his grand father Ivan The Great Took him in as a son. He was very cruel to ivan,
Tragedy Essay, Research Paper Tragedy As Aristotle says, “Tragedy is an imitation not of human beings but of action, life, happiness, and unhappiness.” Very few of the great tragedies
Hobbit Essay, Research Paper The main conflict in this novel is ultimately the acquisition of the lost treasure of the dwarves hoarded by Smaug (the great dragon under the mountain).
Ploace Of Peace Essay, Research Paper Beyond the trees, far from the sky Is a place where life goes by, Without a sniffle,tear,or lie. A place of ease, a place of peace.
The Pyramids Essay, Research Paper The Great Pyramids of Egypt The Pyramids of Egypt were built from 2700-2500 BC. It?s located in Giza, Egypt, on the West Bank of the Nile River. The pyramids are the oldest and the only one surviving of all the ancient wonders. Its believed to have taken 100,000 slave laborers and about 20 years to build the massive pyramid using about 2.3 million blocks of stone.
As a Driven leaf is a historical novel set in Roman Palestine. The protagonist, Elisha ben Abuyah, a talmudic rabbi in the first half of the second century, was excommunicated for heresy.
Satire Essay, Research Paper With all of the problems in today s society, it is great to know that we have one great thing going for us. That would be the talented men and women of our government. The powerful president, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and other politicians work together to keep this country it s very best.
Rockies Essay, Research Paper The Rocky Mountains are a great chain of rugged mountain ranges in western North America, extending from central New Mexico to northwestern British Columbia, about 2000 miles. The Rockies are boardered on the east by the Great Plains and on the west by the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain Trench.
Summertime Essay, Research Paper ?Summertime? Summer is here and the sun is bright, I can stay out late and party all night. Hanging out with friends is what I like,
Reflective Paper Essay, Research Paper Reflective Paper I think that as a group our project turned out great. We made the time limit our script was good. I liked this project, I had fun making it and so did the rest of the guys in my group. I think that the class liked our movie and I know we all had fun making it.
One Place Essay, Research Paper IF I COULD VISIT ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD I WOULD GO TO THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT. THE PYRAMIDS AMAZE ME THE WAY THEY WERE BUILT. THE WAY THE EGYPTIANS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED
Blah Essay, Research Paper Beowulf and His Great Qualities The story of Beowulf describes a man who has many great qualities. He is known as a true hero, having risked his own life to save those in danger. He has superior physical strength and is highly moral. However, at times, he is a bit foolish.
The Smuggler Essay, Research Paper Mr. Mr.D?Agata?s Class September 20, 1999 Victor Cannig?s ?The smuggler? is a fictional story of two well respected men on Small Island. Tasso and The Great Man are very similar expect for there physical appearance and mood.
The Great Avenger Essay, Research Paper My story starts from the great avenger?s home deep within the forest of Brazil. He lived in a grass hut and wore grass skirts all day long, which leads me to the story at hand. Once when the great avenger was doing some work for his country he ran into the great villain Derek the all mighty.
Birds Essay, Research Paper THE BIRDS The Birds was a great movie. It was also a great story. There were a lot of differences between the movie and the story. The characters
St. Augustine Essay, Research Paper Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) took great pains to create and project a powerful image of himself beyond the churches and towns where he wrote and taught in Roman
Galileo And Church Essay, Research Paper Galileo, Science and the Church, by Jerome J. Langford, are about the trials and tribulations of Galileo with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1600?s. The
Jesus Essay, Research Paper Jesus Jesus is the center of Christianity, born in Bethlehem in Judea. To believers Jesus is the son of Mary. He is the son of God. Jesus was divine but led an
(1896 – 1940) Essay, Research Paper The Great Gatsby is widely considered Fitzgerald’s finest novel. In Tom and Daisy, lie creates two “careless people [who] smash up things and then retreat back into their money …
Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper Great Expectations involves many characters but Joe Gargery is one of the few that has the trait of humbleness he was always giving compliment but never taking them. Maybe his compliments were not noticed but they were given, in a way that only Joe could give them, quietly.
New Employee Essay, Research Paper Dear New Employee, Welcome to your new job! The position you have decided to undertake is one, which welcomes great variety on a day-to-day basis. The following information is meant to help you as you learn more about Best Buy and the things that make it run.
Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper Great Expectations What are your expectations in life? Are yours similar to anyone else? In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens the main character Pip has many expectations. By reading this book I have found that Pip and I have many similar and different expectations in life.
Great Depression Essay, Research Paper Great Depression began in the early 1930’s, and lasted about a decade. The main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920’s and extensive stock market speculation that took place during the later part that same decade.
Great Gatsby Essay Essay, Research Paper The Great Gatsby Essay In The Great Gatsby, there are three illicit relationships: Gatsby and Daisy, Nick and Jordan, and Tom and Myrtle. In some ways they are similar, and in some ways each is unique. In this essay, I will compare and examine each of the couples, and try to give some insight as to why none of the relationships worked out.
Whiteshell Provincial Park Essay, Research Paper Whiteshell is a big park, which is 672 334 acres, with much to see and do. Three main roads run throgh the park
Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper Great Gatsby Essay Outline Theme ?Money and power can motivate a person to do great things ?Money cannot buy happiness