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داوود بِيب's avatar

Thanks for this, I never thought about the influence of Lewis like that. It makes me feel icky at the colonial framing that he engaged in, and I find the hypocrisy of the west on this matter some of the most difficult things to reconcile about the liberal secular establishment, especially in the university system. The concept of "fundamentalism" I feel also has to be reevaluated. Maybe there is more to Lewis and his project than first meets the eye, but it does not look good and the fact that he touted the intolerance of the muslim world while at the same time stoking a crusade is really disgusting.

jazakallahkhair, may Allah bless your efforts.

Reem Elghonimi's avatar

May Allah reward you and guide us all aright, ameen. You're absolutely right. The academic credentials of some hawks has protected them from serious scrutiny. It is quite sinister that Lewis used his position not only to spread misinformation but to actively dehumanize the Muslim world he studied. But what continues to surprise is how Zionists have taught new generations NOT TO CARE about the Muslim world to the point we no longer want to study it or ask NEW QUESTIONS. So we have missed one of the most remarkable constructivist projects by one of the most BRILLIANT modern Muslim scholars--Muhammad Abduh, in a period that his nation offered religious tolerance as it was being colonized! Thank you so much for your comments and encouragement! Baraka Llahu feekum.