Al-Buti and The Syrian Revolution

Bachar Bakour

Paperback, 328 pages

9789670526812

Although Syria, since the 1960s, has been dominated by a secular-nationalist regime, the 2011 uprising demonstrated that the role of Islam in the country’s social and religious scene cannot be underestimated.

The uprising, which turned into a revolution and a civil war, created a deep schism among Sunni Muslim ulema who played an influential role in encouraging or discouraging protests.

This book explores the views of M.S.R. al-Buti, one of the most outstanding Muslim Sunni scholars of contemporary Syria (d. 2013). Al-Buti opposed initial protests and considered the revolution as religiously illegitimate and politically motivated by foreign powers. His stance has engendered much controversy not only in Syria but also in the Muslim world. Numerous scholars and authors have interpreted al-Buti’s stance as full support of the regime and have cited his earlier position against the Muslim Brotherhood Movement in Syria in the 1980s. Others, however, have argued that al-Buti was an independent scholar who was following his ijtihad.

Given that most of the writings on al-Buti’s view on the revolution lacks a clear and comprehensive analysis, the book offers the first sustained treatment of this religio-political issue by exploring its multiple dimensions and ramifications.

Contents:

1. Religion and State in Syria

2. Al-Buti: His Life and Contribution to Islamic Thought

3. Al-Buti’s Discourse on Islamist Movements

4. Overview of the Syrian Revolution and the Response of Sunni Ulema

5. Al-Buti’s View on the Syrian Revolution

6. Evaluating Al-Buti’s Argument via the Concept of “Obedience”

Conclusion

Appendix 1: In-Depth Interviews