by Ed Husain
APPENDIX: MIDDLE EASTERN THINKERS’ CALLS FOR A REGIONAL UNION
1.‘Turkey Says Mideast Needs Own EU’, Financial Times, 23 November 2011.
2.‘Saudi Arabia Moving Ahead with Gulf Union’, Al-Monitor, 22 December 2013.
3.‘Bahrain PM: Unity Only Option for GCC Success’, Arab News, 17 April 2013.
4.‘Bahrain PM Says Arab Unity “Strongly Needed”’, Gulf News, 7 January 2014.
5.Media Office of the Government of Dubai, www.sheikhmohammed.com, 10 February 2000.
6.Media Office of the Government of Dubai, www.sheikhmohammed.com, 2 August 1987.
7.Media Office of the Government of Dubai, www.sheikhmohammed.com, 26 November 2000.
8.Sylvia G. Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1962), pp. 6–10.
9.Bassam Tibi, Arab Nationalism: A Critical Enquiry (New York, St Martin’s Press, 1997), pp. 90–4.
10.See Rida’s article from Al Manar in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 75–7.
11.See his pamphlet ‘Umm al-Qura’ in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 78–80.
12.Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology (University of California, 1974), pp. 26–7.
13.Tibi, Arab Nationalism: A Critical Enquiry (Palgrave, 1990), p. 91.
14.Samir Seikaly, ‘Shukri al-’Asali: A Case Study of a Political Activist’, in The Origins of Arab Nationalism, pp. 73–96.
15.Ahmed Tarabein, ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Zahrawi: The Career and Thought of an Arab Nationalist’, in The Origins of Arab Nationalism, pp. 97–119.
16.Tibi, Arab Nationalism: A Critical Enquiry, pp. 161–97.
17.See Husain’s demands to the British government in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 89–93.
18.See the Arab Ba’ath Party Constitution in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 233–41.
19.See Aflaq’s article ‘Nationalism and Revolution’, in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 242–50.
20.Dalal Arsuzi-Elamir, ‘Nation, State, and Democracy in the Writings of Zaki al-Arsuzi’, in Cristoph Schumann, ed., Nationalism and Liberal Thought in the Arab East (Abingdon, Routledge, 2010), pp. 66–91.
21.See Nasser’s essay ‘The Philosophy of Revolution’ in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 229–32.
22.See Zureiq’s essay in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 167–71.
23.See al-Bazzaz’s essay in Haim, Arab Nationalism: An Anthology, pp. 172–88.
Acknowledgements
My greatest debt is to my parents, Abba and Amma, for teaching me about the ways of Muslim believers through love, suhbet or companionship and living their faith rather than preaching it. Had they not taught me Islam, I would not have the linguistic and cultural tools with which to access the Muslim world. Their murshid, or spiritual master, Saheb Qiblah Fultali and his disciples taught me Arabic, the Quran, and about the spirit of the Prophet.
My wife, Faye, has been my greatest support as I travelled, read and wrote. Faye has been my constant companion in life, my first port of call, my critic. In writing this book, she and our two daughters have been a source of love, understanding and encouragement.
This book was born after a New York Times opinion editorial I wrote in August 2014. The unrivalled and far-sighted Andrew Wylie contacted me and we began a conversation that led to this book. I am grateful to Andrew’s candour when providing thoughtful and speedy feedback. James Pullen, at the Wylie Agency, has been a great conversant and judge of ideas.
At Bloomsbury, I have been privileged to work with Michael Fishwick, a discerning and instinctive editor who has flair and feel for excellent content; he wanted The House of Islam to ‘not be a book of the hour’. Michael’s high standards, holidays in Andalusia and readings on Luther all provided food for thought as we worked through the iterations of the manuscript. Sarah Ruddick, Jasmine Horsey, Emma Bal, Genista Tate-Alexander and Marigold Atkey have all been wonderful and helpful throughout.
Among my friends, ‘Her Majesty’s Shura’ have been invaluable as true brothers and musketeers. While we may not always agree, their love, loyalty, and roaring laughter mean the world to a writer in his aloof world. They have tolerated my questions and provided erudite answers again and again. To the Shura, my deepest thanks.
His Eminence Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Cheikhna bin Bayyah, and Zeshan Zafar have always encouraged me to write, and never sought to censor. That sort of freedom among religious leaders is rare, and hence precious. Generations to come will appreciate the Shaikh’s efforts in teaching the Maqasid of the sharia and helping reconcile the West and Islam. It was from Shaikh bin Bayyah that I learned of the House of Islam being on fire — and the duty of us all to extinguish the blaze.
I am forever grateful to Ceylan Ozgul for re-introducing the heritage of the Ottomans to my life, and helping me question the premise of many Muslim assertions. She is the epitome of multiple civilisations: Greece, Judea, the Ottomans, Islam and the modern West. Her feedback on the book and its main ideas were beneficial.
Nathan Feldman has been a source of brotherhood and abiding friendship. His invitation to visit Jerusalem and see Jewish, Christian and Muslim co-existence and his sincere conversations about a more peaceful world for all the children of God reassures me that goodness exists. His feedback on several chapters helped me.
Rula Jebreal, a true friend, was always an inspiration. Our intriguing conversations in Rome, London and New York guided me to ponder on ideas mentioned in chapters that I would have ordinarily overlooked.
Heba Youssry in Cairo is a true Sufi who inspired me with the wisdom of Ibn Arabi and others. Such sensible and delicate souls are rare.
Ambassador Sheikh Fahad al-Atiyya and I may not always agree on politics, but his impeccable manners, adab, generosity, and criticisms of modernity gave me cause for reflection. Conversations with him in Qatar and London on the importance of tradition, re-thinking art, architecture and Muslim cities were always deeply meaningful.
Ambassador Omar Ghobash always asked the questions that others missed in Muslim gatherings. In New York and Abu Dhabi, his wit, humour, intelligence and sincere concern for the future of the Muslim world were heartening.
Stephanie Hare kindly dissected parts of the book and helped make it stronger.
Nidhi Sinha never stopped believing that the book was a top priority. Each time we met or talked, her asking about the writing always propelled me to work harder.
Fatima Mullick’s soulful conversations on Shi‘as and Sufis always leave me wanting more. Her words and thoughts helped with chapters.
Sue Eedle and Alona Ferber helped tidy up and question early drafts. Their diligence and attention to detail was truly admirable.
Peter Welby’s grasp of theology, philosophy and politics are hard to match in one so young. His detailed reading of the manuscript and feedback was valuable.
William Neal is a strategic mind that can foresee where an argument is landing before it is concluded. His wisdom and anticipation helped map the contours of the book as I discussed it with him.
Finally, to all those good people in planes, hotels and restaurants across the world who gave me a pen and paper when a sudden, new thought gripped me: thank you.
Any mistakes in the book are entirely mine – goodness, truth, and knowledge belong to my teachers.
Index
abayas here, here
‘Abd al-Latif here
Abd al-Malik, Caliph here
‘Abduh, Muhammad here
Abdul Hamid II, Caliph here, here
Abdul Haqq, Sultan here
Abdul Majid I, Sultan here
Abdul Majid II, Sultan here
Abdullah, King, of Jordan here
Abdullah, King, of Saudi Arabia here
Abdullah bin Ubayy here
al-Abideen, Imam Zain (Imam al-Sajjad) here
abortion here
Abraham here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Abu Bakr,
Caliph here, here, here, here, here, here
Abu Bakr al-Jassas, Imam here
Abu Bakr Ibn al-’Arabi, Imam here
Abu Ghraib prison here
Abu Hafs Nasafi here
Abu Hanifa, Imam here
Abu Hurayrah here
Abu Qatadah here
Abu Rishta, Ata here
adultery here, here, here, here
Afghan jihad here, here, here, here
al-Afghani, Jamal al-Din here
Aflaq, Michel here
afterlife (Akhirah) here, here
Ahl al-Bait (‘People of the House’) here
Ahmed bin Hanbal, Imam here, here
Ahmedinajad, Mahmud here, here
AK Party (Turkey) here, here
Akbar the Great, Emperor here, here
Akhirah, see afterlife
Alawi Sufi order here
Alawites here
alcohol here, here, here, here, here, here Emperor Aurangzeb and here
hypocrisy about here
Princess Jahanara and here
Sufis and here
Alexandria here, here
Alhambra Palace here
Ali Gomaa, Sheikh here, here
Ali, Imam here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Al-Jazeera here, here
al-Qaeda here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and jihadism here, here, here
and sharia here
target shrine of Sayyida here
American Revolution here
American University in Cairo here
Amin, Qasim here
Aminah, Lady here, here
anti-Semitism, see Jews
anti-Zionism here
Antonius, George here
apostasy here, here, here, here, here, here, here see also Takfir
Arab Human Development Report here
Arab League here, here
Arab nationalism here, here, here
Arab pride, and anti-Western sentiment here
Arab Revolt here
Arab Spring here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Arabian Nights here
Arabic language here, here, here, here, here
Arabisation here, here, here
Arafah, plain of here
Arafat, Yasser here
Armstrong, Karen here
al-Arsuzi, Zaki here
al-’Asali, Shukri here
al-Asghar, Ali here
al-Ash‘ari, Imam here
Ash‘ari creed here
Ashura here
al-Assad, Bashar here, here, here, here
al-Assad, Hafez here, here
astronomy here
asymmetric conflicts here
Atatürk, Mustafa Kemal here, here
Atiya, Izzat here
Attar, Mohamed here
Auckland, Lord here
Al-Audah, Shaikh Salman here
Aurangzeb, Emperor here, here
Austro-Hungarian Empire, collapse of here
al-Awlaki, Anwar here
Ayesha, Lady here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Ayyash, Yahya here
Al-Azhar Mosque and University here, here, here, here, here, here
Azoury, Negib here
Babur, Emperor here
Badakhshi, Mullah Shah here
Badawi, Zaki here
Badie, Mohamed here
al-Baghdadi, Abu Bakr here
al-Baghdadi, Imam Muhammad here
al-Bazzaz, Abd al-Rahman here
Bahadur, Emperor here
Balfour Declaration here
Balkans, revolt of here, here, here
Bamba, Cheikh Ahmadu here
Bamiyan Buddhas here
al-Banna, Sheikh Ahmad here
al-Banna, Hasan here, here, here
Bayezid II, Sultan here
beards here, here, here
Bedouins here, here, here, here
beheadings here
Beirut, bombings in here, here
Bentham, Jeremy here
bid‘ah (innovation) here
Bilal (first muezzin) here
bin Bayyah, Shaikh Abdullah here, here, here
bin Laden, Osama here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Bistami, Bayazid here
al-Bitar, Salah al-Din here
blasphemy here, here
bloggers here
Blue Mosque (Istanbul) here
Boabdil, King here
Boko Haram here, here, here, here
Bollywood movies here
Book of Isaiah here
Bouazizi, Mohamed here, here, here
British East India Company here, here
Bukhari, Imam here, here, here, here
Bulleh Shah, shrine of here
Burke, Edmund here, here, here, here
Burton, Richard here
calendar, Muslim here, here
calligraphy here, here, here, here, here
Cameron, David here
Carlyle, Thomas here, here
cathedrals, European here
Catholic emancipation here
Charlie Hebdo massacre here, here
Chaucer, Geoffrey here
Chechnyan jihadis here
children, attitudes to here
China, prohibitions on Muslims here
Chishti, Sheikh Muin ad-Din here, here
Chishti Sufi order here, here, here, here
Christendom, idea of here, here
Christians American here
and belief in afterlife here
and martyrdom here
in Pakistan here
in Saudi Arabia here, here
sharia and here
Churchill, Winston here
climate change here
communism here, here
Conservative Party (British) here, here
Constantinople, fall of here, here
Constitution of Medina here
contraception here, here
Copts here
Council on Foreign Relations here
Crusaders here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Dalrymple, William here
dar al-harb (‘abode of war’) here, here
Dara Shikoh, Crown Prince here, here
Darwin, John here
Darwinism here, here
Davies, Captain H. N. here
Davutoglu, Ahmet here
Deauville Partnership here
El-Derawi, Ahmed here
dergahs (Sufi shrines) here, here
dervishes here, here, here, here, here
Dhawq (religious devotion) here
Dickens, Charles here
al-Dijwi, Sheikh Yusuf here
divorce here, here, here
dogs here, here
Donne, John here
dowries here, here
Doyle, Arthur Conan here
drone attacks here
Durru Shehvar, princess here
Eden, Emily here
education here engineering and medicine here, here, here, here
English-language here
Western here
Edward VI, King here
Egypt abortion rate here
anti-Semitism here
and Arab–Israeli conflict here
Arab Spring here, here, here
attitudes to apostasy here
clothing for prayers here
education system here, here
‘Egypt crisis’ here
embassy attacks here, here
French invasion here, here
Jewish population here
nascent nationalism here
sexual harassment and assault here
and women’s rights here, here, here
see also Muslim Brotherhood
Egyptians, ancient here
Eid al-Adha here
Elizabeth II, Queen here
Eltahawy, Mona her
e
English language here
Enlightenment here
Ennahda Party (Tunisia) here, here
Erdoǧan, Recep Tayyip here, here
European Union here, here
face veil, French ban on here
Fairouz here
family life here
Faqih (jurisprudents) here
Al Farabi here
Farouq, King, of Egypt here, here
al-Farsi, Salman here
Fatima, Lady here, here, here, here
fatwas here, here, here
el-Fawzan, Saleh here
Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain here
Fez here, here
Fiorina, Carly here
fitna (dissension) here
FitzGerald, Edward here
Frankopan, Peter here
French Revolution here, here, here, here, here
Friday prayers here, here
Fukuyama, Francis here
Futuwwa (Islamic chivalry) here
Gabriel, archangel here, here, here, here, here
Gaddafi, Muammar here, here
al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya here
genealogies here
Genghis Khan here
al-Ghannouchi, Shaikh Rachid here, here, here, here
Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, Prince here
Ghazi, Osman here
Ghazzali, Imam here, here
Ghonim, Wael here
Ghuraba (outsiders) here
Gladstone, William here, here
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von here
Golden Temple of Amritsar here
Görmez, Professor Mehmet here
Granada, surrender of here
Gray, John here, here
Gul, Abdullah here, here
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) here
al-Habashi, Bilal here
Hadiths here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Hafez here, here
hafiz here
Haganah here
Hagar here, here, here
Hajj pilgrimage here, here, here, here, here
Hakimiyyah (God’s government on earth) here
Halal here, here, here
Halal butchers here
Halima, Lady here
Hamas here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Hamza here
Hanafi school here, here, here
Hanbali school here, here
Haniyeh, Ismail here
Hanson, Hamza Yusuf here
Haram acts here, here, here, here