Scholarly independence, courage before rulers and the responsibility to confront injustice. Explore historical accounts and contemporary arguments about speaking and acting upon the truth.
Scholars & Rulers
- Madkhalism and Palestine: Ideological Passivity in the Face of Genocide
A critique of Madkhali arguments about Palestinian resistance, political obedience and religious passivity in the face of injustice.
- Scholars Who Bravely Spoke Truth to the Sultans (Part 5)
The final article in a series on scholarly courage, examining Ibn Taymiyyah's encounters with rulers and his response to political injustice.
- Scholars Who Bravely Spoke Truth to the Sultans (Part 4)
Historical accounts of Muslim scholars confronting rulers, including al-Munthir's sermon challenging the Caliph's excessive construction.
- Scholars Who Bravely Spoke Truth to the Sultans (Part 3)
How Abu Hanifah confronted political power and defended lives in Mosul: part three of the series on Muslim scholars and rulers.
- Scholars Who Bravely Spoke Truth to the Sultans (Part 2)
Al-Awza'i's confrontation with Abdullah ibn Ali, and the scholarly duty to speak truth rather than justify a ruler's oppression.
- Scholars Who Bravely Spoke Truth to the Sultans (Part 1)
An introduction to Muslim scholars' verbal confrontations with rulers, challenging the claim that religious obedience requires political servility.
- Scholars for Dollars? - Islam’s History of Scholarly Independence (3 of 3)
How Muslim scholars pursued financial independence, and why freedom from rulers' patronage matters for religious integrity.
- Scholars for Dollars? - Islam’s History of Scholarly Independence (2 of 3)
The warnings of Muslim scholars against flattering rulers, and the consequences of compromising religious integrity for political favour.
- Scholars for Dollars? - Islam’s History of Scholarly Independence (1 of 3)
The Qur'anic critique of compromised religious authority and the responsibility of Muslim scholars to remain independent of political power.
- Scholars That Rebelled Against Tyranny (Part 2 of 3)
The role of early Muslim scholars in opposing tyranny, including the Revolution of the Qurra and resistance to oppressive rulers.
- Scholars That Rebelled Against Tyranny (Part 3 of 3)
Historical examples of leading Muslim imams resisting rulers and preserving scholarly independence in the face of political pressure.
- Scholars That Rebelled Against Tyranny (Part 1 of 3)
An examination of early Muslim scholars' opposition to tyranny, challenging modern claims that adherence to the Salaf means political submission.
Speaking Against Injustice
- Dear America, Here are the Bombs You Bought to Incinerate Gaza (Video)
A video and commentary tracing American-funded weapons used in Gaza and challenging taxpayers to confront their responsibility.
- Palestine: The Global Battleground between Truth and Falsehood
An argument about Palestine's central place in the struggle between truth and falsehood and the moral responsibility it places upon Muslims.
- Meeting Evil with Silence
Why knowledge carries a responsibility to act and speak: an Islamic examination of silence before injustice and the legacy of the prophets.