Afsal VV | 7th Graduate Conference
- 9 yıl önce
Reinterpreting jihad: A comparative study of “jihad qawily ” of Sirhindi and “manavi jihad” of Nursi
Abstract
Although the general comparisons are more often made between Ahmad Sirhindi and Said Nursi, the research works focusing on specific aspects pertained to them are uncommon in the prevailing academic discourses on Nursi. It is to be noted that notwithstanding the differences of time and context both of them represent, the core strategy they adopted to face the challenges of their time was manavi jihad (non-violent jihad). So, this paper explores into various ways in which Nursi’s conceptualization of jihad (manavijihad) has been inextricably interlinked with the Sufi thoughts of Ahmad Sirhindi, the founder of Mujaddidi branch of Naqshbandi Sufi lineage. It will also investigate into what extent the Naqshabandian principle of “safardarvalan, (journeying within the homeland) influenced Nursi’s understanding of jihad. This paper aimed at exploring the possibilities of reinterpreting the concept of ‘jihad’ according to the contextual specificities through a comparative study of Nursi and Sirhindi.
Abstract
Although the general comparisons are more often made between Ahmad Sirhindi and Said Nursi, the research works focusing on specific aspects pertained to them are uncommon in the prevailing academic discourses on Nursi. It is to be noted that notwithstanding the differences of time and context both of them represent, the core strategy they adopted to face the challenges of their time was manavi jihad (non-violent jihad). So, this paper explores into various ways in which Nursi’s conceptualization of jihad (manavijihad) has been inextricably interlinked with the Sufi thoughts of Ahmad Sirhindi, the founder of Mujaddidi branch of Naqshbandi Sufi lineage. It will also investigate into what extent the Naqshabandian principle of “safardarvalan, (journeying within the homeland) influenced Nursi’s understanding of jihad. This paper aimed at exploring the possibilities of reinterpreting the concept of ‘jihad’ according to the contextual specificities through a comparative study of Nursi and Sirhindi.