Initiative to Stop the Violence: Sadat’s Assassins and the Renunciation of Political Violence PDF
Preview Initiative to Stop the Violence: Sadat’s Assassins and the Renunciation of Political Violence
Initiative to Stop the Violence World Thought in Translation A joint project of Yale University Press and the MacMillan Cen- ter for International and Area Studies at Yale University, World Thought in Translation makes important works of classical and contemporary political, philosophical, legal, and social thought from outside the Western tradition available to English-speaking scholars, students, and general readers. The translations are anno- tated and accompanied by critical introductions that orient readers to the background in which these texts were written, their initial reception, and their enduring influence within and beyond their own cultures. World Thought in Translation contributes to the study of religious and secular intellectual traditions across cultures and civilizations. Series editors Steven Angle Karuna Mantena Andrew March Paulina Ochoa Ian Shapiro Initiative to Stop the Violence Muba¯darat Waqf al-‘Unf Sadat’s Assassins and the Renunciation of Political Violence al-Gam¯a‘ah al-Isl¯am¯ıyah Translated by Sherman A. Jackson New Haven and London This publication was made possible in part by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the author. English translation and introduction copyright © 2015 by Sherman A. Jackson. All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers. Originally published by Obeikan Publishing as Muba¯darat Waqf al-‘Unf. Copyright © 2004 by Obeikan Bookstore. Yale University Press books may be purchased in quantity for educational, business, or promotional use. For information, please e-mail sales.press@yale .edu (U.S. office) or [email protected] (U.K. office). Designed by Lindsey Voskowsky. Set in Adobe Caslon Pro and Whitney type by Integrated Publishing Solutions. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hāfiz, Usāmah Ibrāhīm. [Mubadārat waqf al-‘unf. English] Initiative to stop the violence : Sadat’s assassins and the renunciation of political violence / al-Gamā‘ah al-Islāmīyah ; translated by Sherman Jackson. pages cm. — (World thought in translation) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-300-19677-1 (hardback) 1. Peace—Religious aspects—Islam. 2. Jihad. 3. Gama’a al-Islamiyah (Organization) I. Gama’a al-Islamiyah (Organization) II. Title. BP190.5.P34H3413 2014 363.3250962'09046—dc23 2014014245 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To the Michigan Community, With deeply cherished memories and eternal thanks He responded, “I did that while I was among those who are misguided.” (26:20) Contents Preface, ix Acknowledgments, xi Introduction by Sherman A. Jackson, 1 Initiative to Stop the Violence: A Reality-Based Assessment and a Shar¯ı‘ah-Based Approach, 51 Introduction, 51 Chapter One: The Commonweal and Communal Harm, 56 Chapter Two: A Reality-Based Assessment, 70 Chapter Three: Correcting Misunderstandings, 78 Conclusion, 113 Appendix, 115 Notes, 123 Index, 157 This page intentionally left blank Preface The tumultuous events that have gripped Egypt since the Janu- ary 2011 revolution have raised many questions. Among the most disquieting has been whether the country would be thrown back into the kind of Islamist violence it experienced during the 1980s and 1990s. Those decades were the “heyday” of the notorious al- Gama¯‘ah al-Isla¯mīyah, and from the time they declared their de- cision to renounce political violence in 1997 (the subject of this book) suspicions regarding their sincerity have ebbed and flowed. But if ever there were circumstances that might reinstate violence as their primary medium of exchange, the chaos, brutality, and di- rect targeting of Islamists following the July 2013 ousting of pres- ident Mohammed Morsi would certainly seem to qualify. Yet, through all of this, the Gama¯‘ah has maintained its commitment to nonviolence, and its public statements and gestures suggest an ideological resolve to stay the course. For weeks following the bloody removal of pro-Morsi supporters from Ra¯bi‘ah al-‘Adawīyah square in August of 2013, the Gama¯‘ah’s official website streamed the following: “Stopping bloodshed is the religious obligation of our time and the form of religious devo- ix
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