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

Authors

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

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15575/ijik.v14i1.33614

Keywords:

Non-Violent Protest, Quranic Interpretation, Jawdat Sa’īd, Syrian Activism

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.

Author Biography

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

Rudiger Lohlker, I am professor for Islamic Studies, Oriental Institute at the University of Vienna since 2003 and vice-speaker of the Research Center Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society at the University of Vienna. My current research interests are the history of Sufism, esp., waḥdat al-wujūd, Islamic politic thought, history of Islamic ideas, comparative studies on religion, and history of Orientalism.

Scopus ID: 6506783480

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Published

2024-02-04

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2024): IJIK

Section

Articles

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