THE GREAT THEFT pdf download

The Great Theft – wrestling Islam from the extremists by Khaled Abou El Fadl

Book description

Title: “The Great Theft: Navigating Islam’s Struggle Between Extremism and Moderation”

Introduction:
In the intricate tapestry of Islam, Khaled Abou El Fadl embarks on a profound exploration in his seminal work, “The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists.” Dedicated to the teachers who imparted the values of beauty, compassion, and mercy, Abou El Fadl sets out to reclaim Islam from the clutches of extremism, asserting that the true essence of the faith lies in the delicate balance of moderation.

Part One: Unveiling the Battleground for Faith:
The book commences with an insightful response to a well-known Islam critic, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive analysis of Islam’s internal struggle. Abou El Fadl delves into the roots of the problem, tracing the origins of religious, sociological, and political movements that have shaped the current landscape. The rise of early puritans unfolds, leading to a poignant exploration of contemporary puritanical movements and their logical extremes.

Part Two: Charting the Moderate Versus Puritan Divide:
Moving into the heart of the discourse, the author identifies common ground shared by Muslims in core beliefs. He unravels the individual’s relationship with God, probing the profound significance of this connection in Islamic theology. The nature of law and morality emerges as a pivotal point of contention, with Abou El Fadl navigating through the differing perspectives on these fundamental aspects. The book further explores approaches to history and modernity, democracy, and human rights, shedding light on evolving perspectives within the diverse Islamic community.

Addressing critical issues such as interaction with non-Muslims, salvation, and the complex dimensions of jihad, warfare, and terrorism, Abou El Fadl provides nuanced insights. The nature and role of women in Islam, often a subject of contemporary debate, is explored, revealing the ongoing challenges and discussions.

Conclusion: Embracing Moderation in Islamic Thought:
As “The Great Theft” reaches its conclusion, Abou El Fadl reflects on the powerful nature of religions and their convictions. He emphasizes the significance of moderation as a guiding principle within Islam, urging readers to navigate the intricate landscape of Islamic thought with an understanding of the challenges, debates, and nuances.

Key Takeaways:
“The Great Theft” stands as a guiding light for those seeking to understand Islam beyond the shadows of extremism. Abou El Fadl’s meticulous exploration, from historical roots to contemporary issues, provides a comprehensive understanding of Islam’s internal dynamics. The book serves as an essential read for individuals grappling with the complexities of Islamic thought, offering a nuanced perspective on the struggles between extremism and the pursuit of moderation within the faith.

Book Contents

• Contents
• INTRODUCTION
• Recently, a rather well-known Islam-basher wrote…
• PART ONE: The Battleground for Faith
• ONE
  • ISLAM TORN BETWEEN EXTREMISM AND MODERATION
  • Not too long ago, at the end of an invited lecture, I was…
• TWO
  • THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM
  • All religions, like all sociological and political movements…
• THREE
  • THE RISE OF THE EARLY PURITANS
  • The story of puritanical Islam should properly start with the…
• FOUR
  • THE STORY OF CONTEMPORARY PURITANS
  • Puritan movements took things to their logical extreme. The…
• PART TWO: Charting the Moderate Versus Puritan Divide
• FIVE
  • WHAT ALL MUSLIMS AGREE UPON
  • As is the case with all religions, there is a core set of beliefs…
• SIX
  • GOD AND THE PURPOSE OF CREATION
  • The relationship of the individual to God is the most significant…
• SEVEN
  • THE NATURE OF LAW AND MORALITY
  • There is perhaps no issue that sets moderates and puritans…
• EIGHT
  • APPROACHES TO HISTORY AND MODERNITY
  • At the very root of the debates about the nature of God’s…
• NINE
  • DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
  • In today’s world, many Muslims and non-Muslims believe…
• TEN
  • INTERACTING WITH NON-MUSLIMS AND SALVATION
  • When it comes to thinking about issues such as how to…
• ELEVEN
  • JIHAD, WARFARE, AND TERRORISM
  • No aspect of the Islamic religion is in the public eye and…
• TWELVE
  • THE NATURE AND ROLE OF WOMEN
  • It might be surprising to realize that today the question of the…
• CONCLUSION
• Religions, like all strong convictions, are a powerful…

THE GREAT THEFT

He says,

When it comes to the subject of Islam, there are many political interests at stake, and, as history repeatedly teaches us, nothing is as corrupting of religion as politics. This is not to say that Islam, as a religion, has become corrupted by politics.

 Instead, I am saying that politics and political interests have obfuscated and corrupted our ability to see Islam as a faith that is followed by well over a billion adherents in the world.

 Islam is the second-largest religious faith in the world, and the reality is that even in liberal and secular democracies, Islam has become the chosen faith of millions.

 Regardless of how much religious bigots may hate this fact, like Christianity and Judaism, Islam will continue to inspire and guide the convictions and actions of millions of adherents in every developed and underdeveloped country in the world.

The only question is: What particular type or brand of Islam will tend to pre¬ dominate and prevail in each setting?

Understanding Islam has become an absolute imperative because achieving such an understanding will determine the type of people we are— whether tolerant or bigoted, whether enlightened or ignorant.

 In teaching, I am often asked by well-intentioned non- Muslim students, “How can we contribute to a peaceful coexistence with Muslims?”

 My response is that merely to resist the temptation to believe those who preach hate, dwell on uncontrollable rages, and speculate about inevitable historical showdowns is already doing a lot.

In most cases, such language and paradigms are sensationalistic and lazy replace¬ ments for the hard work of achieving a genuine understanding.

No one is born blistering with hate and outrage, and often what appears to be hate is in reality thinly concealed fear.