Islam and the of a Middle East The Aesthetics Political Discourse By Mona Abul-Fadl. Herndon, V4: International Institute of Islamic Thought, 1990, 61pp.

Abstract

In her essay, Abul-Fadl argues that the dominant paradigm in the study
of the Middle East is inadequate, a view which leads to her assertion that
a shift to a new paradigm is required. She maintains that her study is an
attempt to create such an alternative outlook, one which surmounts the contemporary
ruling paradigm. She suggests that this new paradigm be based
solidly on Islam.
To begin with, she argues that scholarship on the Middle East must admit
the opinion of a native mind and method of argument to the medium
of discourse, which itself must become more sensitive and more authentically
pluralist if it is to be at all exemplary of historical civilizations and of
world truth. Without doubt, such a fresh approach will take some time to
develop, for this endeavor requires the rejuvenation of minds and capabilities.
As this process begins to take place, Muslims will gradually become more
eloquent and capable of readjusting themselves into identifiable and feasible
flows so that they can build new schools of thought. She writes that the essay
takes the Islamic dimension as a continual factor which goes beyond the
transformation of politics at any given age (p. 2), and that acceptance and
awareness of variance and multiplicity in the world of politics can only be
bonafide and valuable if it is anchored in fidelity to an encompassing congruity
which both permeates and surpasses this conglomeration. The encompassing
congruity is tawhid. This paradigm is designed by the tawhid
episteme and assumes at the outset that those modes, foundations, and parlance
are obtained from an Islamic worldview based firmly on the Qur’an and the
Sunnah .
Abul-Fadl reminds her readers that as a designation, the term “Middle
East” is itself dubious and questionable. She uses it to denote a region which
is more noticeably specified by its culture then by its territory. The concise
nucleus of the region is linguistically Arabic and religiously Muslim, as over
nine-tenths of its population shares in the principal cultural marks, values,
faith, and customary manners of living. However, current Western political
literature on the region has stressed divergence and has insisted in viewing ...