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Initiative to Stop the Violence
Sadat's Assassins and the Renunciation of Political Violence

al-Gama'ah al-Islamiyah; Translated by Sherman A. Jackson

Summary

Formerly one of the largest and most militant Islamic organizations in the Middle East, Egypt’s al-Gama‘ah al-Islamiyah is believed to have played an instrumental role in numerous acts of global terrorism, including the assassination of President Anwar Sadat and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In later years, however, the organization issued a surprising renunciation of violence, repudiating its former ideology and replacing it with a shari'a-based understanding and assessment of the purpose and proper application of jihad.

This key manifesto of modern Islamist thought is now available to an English-speaking audience in an eminently readable translation by noted Islamic scholar Sherman A. Jackson. Unlike other Western and Muslim critiques of violent extremism, this important work emerges from within the movement of Middle Eastern Islamic activism, both challenging and enriching prevailing notions about the role of Islamists in fighting the scourge of extremist politics, blind anti-Westernism and, alas, wayward jihad.

Publication Information

Introduction

Abstract: This chapter places the Gamā‘ah’s renunciation of political violence in historical context, including the evolution of the group itself, its key members, its ideological profile and organizational structure. It goes on to examine the reaction to the announcement to renounce violence, both within and without the Gamā‘ah, and the Gamā‘ah’s efforts to overcome these obstacles, including its exchanges with the blind Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd al-Raḥmān. It also includes a detailed analysis of the group’s sharī‘ah-justifications for its new position and some of the implications of that position, including the critique of radical jihadism overall and al-Qā‘idah. The Introduction also discusses the likely impact of the Gamā‘ah’s renunciation and its possible significance for Western observers and analysts.

Keywords: Gamā‘ah Islāmīyah, ‘Umar ‘Abd al-Raḥmān, Jihad, sharī‘ah, group structure and evolution, response to renunciation of violence, 9-11

Chapter One: The Commonweal and Communal Harm

Abstract: This chapter spells out the Gamā‘ah’s understanding of the relationship between Islamic law and the commonweal. They insist that the law—including the provision of jihad—is for the purpose of promoting the welfare of society and that any application of any rule that does not serve this purpose is invalid. Key to this calculus is weighing the actual situation on the ground and anticipating the likely consequences of a particular application of the law. The Gamā‘ah authenticates this position by citing an endless list of classical authorities, pre-modern historical examples and the model of the Prophet himself. Their contention is that such an assessment of reality is critical to being able to apply the law in a manner that upholds the public good. For that reason, this factual assessment is as important as interpreting that actual sources of the law, e.g., Qur’ān and Sunna.

Keywords: Gamā‘ah Islāmīyah, commonweal, sharī‘ah, factual assessment, application of the law, scriptural interpretation

Chapter Two: A Reality-Based Assessment

Abstract: In this chapter the Gamā‘ah lays out three main realities that it sees as critical to its factual assessment of the reality facing Muslims: 1) Israel, 2) the U.S., 3) Egyptian Secularists. The Gamā‘ah argues that the law—including its provision of jihad—cannot be properly applied in oblivion of the impact it is likely to have in light of these realities. This is part of the “Reality-Based Assessment” to whose importance and centrality they admit to having been oblivious to at the time they assassinated Sadat and engaged in all the violence they perpetrated against the Egyptian state and society in the aftermath of his assassination.

Keywords: Gamā‘ah Islāmīyah, Israel, U.S., Secularists, Jihad, Reality-Based Assessment

Chapter Three: Correcting Misunderstandings

Abstract: Here the Gamā‘ah synthesizes its commitment to the commonweal and the importance of factoring reality into its assessments of a proper application of the law into series of “legal impediments” to applying otherwise valid rules. This reinforces its claim that the tradition of Muslim jurisprudence never subscribed to the notion that the law was to be applied regardless of the consequences that resulted therefrom. Rather, any number of “legal impediments” could justify or require that an otherwise perfectly valid rule be set aside. They also discuss such things as the permissibility of contracting treaties with non-Muslims. The Gamā‘ah applies all of this to rules on jihad in the context of the situation confronting Islamist movements in general and in Egypt in particular.

Keywords: Gamā‘ah Islāmīyah, commonweal, legal impediment, Muslim jurisprudence, jihad, treaties, non-Muslims, Islamist movements

Conclusion

Appendix