Explanatory Approaches to Movements of the Islamic Awakening

Editorial

Authors

1 * Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences and Political Sciences, Imam Sadiq

2 M.A. in Islamic Sciences and Political Sciences, Imam Sadiq (PBUH) University

Abstract

Muslims' retardation which is a product of two phenomena of colonialism and despotism was challenged by appealing to three discourses: westernism, nationalism, and Islamism. Historical experience however showed that, because of ideological depth of Muslims and cultural geography of the Islamic world, only appealing to the discourse of Islamism may bring Muslims to their final goals in their struggle.
Of course, the discourse of Islamism is not a homogenous one and has undergone some changes because of requirements of the time.
In the course of its development, this discourse may be explained in the form of various approaches. With different tactics but based upon a single strategy, this discourse managed to provide necessary software for the Islamic movements. These movements managed to produce considerable impacts in the domestic fields of countries and in the Islamic world and at an international level. In the present study we seek to provide a reply for the following question: "what changes has the prevalent discourse of Muslims to struggle against retardation resulted from colonialism and dictatorship undergone, and what changes should it undergo; and in the form of which approaches, may such a discourse be explained?"

Keywords