Over the last half a century during which my life, my experiences, my thoughts and dealings have been associated with all the colours of the cultural spectrum, some facets of major flaws in the intellectual and cultural education of the overwhelming majority of the leadership – at all levels – of the currents of political Islam have become clear to me. To cast some light on these egregious flaws I should first clarify what constitutes a modern, balanced intellectual training before turning to unbalanced intellectual training.
Some while ago I wrote an article on the subject of ‘slavery’ in Islam against the background of the Mauretanian Association for Human Rights’ burning of some books of Mālikī fiqh which they saw as extolling the virtue of servitude and calling for it to be continued in Mauretania.
Many philosophers underwent suppression. The pages of history confirm that the suppression was carried out with the alliance of political and religious institutions. The execution of the Greek philosopher Socrates is the beginning of this hostile relationship with philosophy, particularly since we learn that the accusation levelled against Socrates was that he ‘corrupted the minds of the youth and promoted foreign gods’.
Some while ago I wrote an article on the subject of ‘slavery’ in Islam against the background of the Mauretanian Association for Human Rights’ burning of some books of Mālikī fiqh which they saw as extolling the virtue of servitude and calling for it to be continued in Mauretania.
Many philosophers underwent suppression. The pages of history confirm that the suppression was carried out with the alliance of political and religious institutions. The execution of the Greek philosopher Socrates is the beginning of this hostile relationship with philosophy, particularly since we learn that the accusation levelled against Socrates was that he ‘corrupted the minds of the youth and promoted foreign gods’.
