MUSLIMS UNDER NON MUSLIM RULE (P/B) - Softcover

Essential reading for students of the war on Islamist terrorism, and how really to win it: the possibility of intelligent political dialogue with and within the modern Islamic world/Middle East. The US govt. 9/11 Commission Report names theologian-activist Ibn Taymiyya (died 699 years ago) as wellspring of modern Islamist militancy, esp. its al-Qaeda brand. This book presents translation of Ibn Taymiyya's fatwas on how Muslims must act under the rule of unbelievers or misbelievers. It shows the misreading of Ibn Taymiyya by neo-Orientalist scholars AND by certain violent Islamists (among them, the assassins of Anwar Sadat, and a teacher and companion of Osama bin Ladin). In theory and practice Ibn Taymiyya advocated force only against foreign invaders; he forbade use of force against established authorities; himself died in prison for outspoken criticism of the State, without resort to force or sedition of any kind.

Western academic world's leading authority on Avicenna and Ibn Taymiyya. Former Chair of theology Catholic U. Louvain. Now Fellow of Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Lecturer in theology faculty University of Oxford. Author (mostly in French) of scores of works.