Sectarian Roots of Jihad: Religious Conflicts in the Middle East examines the sectarian dimension of jihād and delves into the under-researched sectarian-inspired discursive employment of the notion by radical Islamist groups. It explores the transformation of the basic Islamic principle of "striving in the Path of God" into a radical foundation upon which some of the most fanatic and atrocious organizations are based in terms of thought, ideology, discourse and course of action. This book investigates sectarian-based interpretations and connotations of jihād as a concept and practice by means of exploring similarities and differences between Sunni and Shia approaches to the notion and its fundamental principles. It analyzes the way sectarian-guided Islamist organizations employ jihād in their propaganda activities and exploit it as a brand to religiously legitimize their cause and emotionally manipulate the recipients of their ideological discourse. It also delves into the development of sectarianism, Islamism, Salafism and Jihadism in order to scrutinize and analyze the rise of sectarian-guided extremism in the Middle East.
Adib Abdulmajid is a researcher at the University of Leuven.
There's never been a more important time to investigate the interplay between sectarianism and Jihadism. As one of the leading authorities in this area, Adib Abdulmajid's book, Sectarian Roots of Jihad, provides an intelligent analysis of the emergence and development of sectarianism in the Middle Eastern context, and the role such narratives have served in the discourse of contemporary Sunni and Shia militancy. It will be essential reading for students, scholars and policy-makers.
--Jared Ahmad, University of SheffieldThis is a groundbreaking analysis of sectarianism and jihad in radical Islamist movements. It is richly textured with intricate details. The author offers insight into the Middle East's complex religious and political landscape, examining movements such as Islamism, Salafism, and Jihadism. He also explores how these ideologies shape the region's politics and society, while challenging its cultural diversity.
--Said Shiyab, Kent State UniversityAbdulmajid's extensive research on the topics of Islamism, Sectarianism and Jihadism is manifested through this groundbreaking analysis of the interplay between Sectarianism and the conception of Jihad. This book provides the reader with a much-needed explanation of the multifaceted notion of striving in the path of God and the way radical Islamic organizations employ it based on sectarian interpretations. An essential reading for policy makers and scholars.
--Abdulrahman Alsulaiman, University of Leuven