An Examination of David Cook’s Viewpoints Concerning the Relationship between Jihad and Apocalypse / Eschaton Discourse

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 kharazmi university, quranic and hadith studies department

2 Kharazmi

Abstract

In recent decades, the people of the world have witnessed the appearance of terrorist and jihadist groups, that each of them has somehow challenged the issue of jihad, the apocalypse and the events of the end of the world with the Islamic suffix and the spread of non-human actions. These actions have provided the ground for extensive Islamic researches by western scholars, so far as that some scholars have pay attention deeply to the close relationship between these three topics. David Cook is one of the well-known specialists in this field who has written several books and articles on “jihad”, martyrdom and apocalyptic literature and believes that there is a direct and strong connection between these issues. This article seeks to investigate the viewpoints of David Cook about the relationship between “jihad” and apocalyptic literature in a descriptive-analytical method by the critical approach. Cook thinks that the belief in the imminent end of the world is the principal factor of the spread of Islam and the conquests of Muslims; because without this final date in mind, it would have been difficult for Muslim fighters to participate in the war and endure its problems and suffering. Indeed, the basis of this kind of thinking is the verses of the Qur’an about the imminent end of the world and some traditions. On the one hand, the present study indicates that the origin of such a viewpoint is to have a superficial and selective approach in reasoning to verses and hadiths, and on the other hand, to adopt the presumption of belligerence and violence nature of the doctrine of “jihad” in Islam.

Keywords


1-        The Holy Quran
2-        Aba Bateen, Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, Dahdh Shubahat ala al-Tawhid min Su’i al-Fahm li Thalathah Ahadith [The Refutation of Doubts about Monotheism from the Misunderstanding of Three Hadiths], Dar al-A’simah, Riydh: 2nd Edition, 1407 AH.
3-        Abdel Haleem, Muhammad, “Qur’anic ‘Jihād’: A Linguistic and Contextual Analysis”, Edinburgh: Journal of Qur’anic Studies, Vol. 12, (2010)
4-        Abu Dawud, Sulayman bin al-Ash’ath, Sunan Abi Dawood, Al Maktabah al-Asriyyah, Beirut: n.d.
5-        Abu Na’eem, Ahmad bin Abdullah, History of Esfahan, Dar Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut:1st Edition, 1410 AH.
6-        Afsarddin, Asma, “The First Muslims: History and Memory”, England: One world Publications, (2007).
7-         Al-Fittani, Muhammad Tahir bin Ali, Tazkirah al-Mawdhua’t [Dicourse on the Forged Narrations], Al-Muniriyyah Printing Press, Cairo: 1343AH.
8-        Alusi, Mahmoud bin Abdullah, Rūḥ al-Ma’ānī fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-’Aẓīm wa al-Sab’ al-Mathani [The Spirit of Meanings in the Interpretation of the Great Qur'an and Surah al-Hamd], Dar Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut: 1415 AH.
9-        Aqeeli, Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Amr, Al-Dhu’afa’ al-Kabir [The Very Weak Narrations], Dar al-Maktabah al-Ilamiyyah, Beirut: 1st Edition, 1404 AH.
10-    Baydawi, Abdullah bin Omar, Anwar al-Tanzil wa Asrar al-Ta’wil [The Lights of Revelation and the Secrets of Hermeneutic], Dar al-Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut:1418 AH.
11-    Bazzar, Abu Bakr, Musnad al-Bazzar, Maktab al-U’lum & al-Hikam, Medina: 1st Edition, 1988.
12-    Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), n.p. Ilam: 2005.
13-    Bonner, Michael, “Jihad in Islamic History”, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, First Edition, (2006).
14-    Bukhari, Muhammad bin Ismail, Sahih al-Bukhari, Dar Tawq al-Najat, Beirut: 1st Edition, 1422 AH.
15-    Cook, David “Fighting to Create the Just State, Apocalypticism in Radical Muslim Discourse”, In The, “Just Wars, Holy Wars, and Jihads: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Encounters and Exchanges” Sohail H. Hashmi, Oxford: Oxford University, Press, (2012).
16-    Cook, David “Religious and Spiritual Perspective on Terrorism”, in The SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism, California: California State University, Dominguez Hills, Second Edition, (2011).
17-    Cook, David “Understanding Jihad”, London: University of California Press, First Edition, (2005).
18-    Cook, David, “Anti-Semitic Themes in Muslim Apocalyptic and Jihadi Literature, Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism”, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, (2007).
19-     Cook, David, “Hadith, Authority and the End of the World: Traditions in Modern Muslim Apocalyptic Literature”, Oriente Moderno, 82, no. 1, (2002).
20-    Cook, David, “Islam and Apocalyptic”, the Center for Millennial Studies (CMS), (2000).
21-    Cook, David, “The Beginnings of Islam as an Apocalyptic Movement”, Chicago: University of Chicago, The Center for Millennial Studies (CMS), (2001).
22-    Fatoohi, Louay, “Abrogation in the Qurʼan and Islamic Law: A Critical Study of the Concept of “Naskh” and Its Impact”, New York: Routledge, First Edition, (2013).
23-    Hanbal, Abu Abdullah Ahmad bin Muhammad, Musnad of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Al-Risalah al-Taba’h, Beirut: 1st Edition, 1421 AH.
24-    Haythami, Abu al-Hassan Nur al-Din, Majma’ al-Zawaid & Manba’ al-Fawaid [The Collection of Remaining Unique Narrations and Sources of Benefits], Al-Maktabah al-Qudsi, Cairo: 1414 AH.
25-    Heck, Paul.L, “Jihad Revisited”, in the Journal of Religious Ethics”, Blackwell Publishing Ltd Vol. 32, (2004).
26-    Howayzi, Abdul Ali bin Juma’h, Tafsir Noor al- Thaqalayn, Ismailian, Qom: 1415 AH.
27-    Huzen, Kent Bob, “Islamic Jihad: Origin and Historical Approach”, Canterbury: University of Canterbury, (2007).
28-    Ibn Arabi, Muhammad bin Abdullah, Ahkam al-Quran [The Rules of Quran], Dar al-Jayl, Beirut: 1408 AH.
29-    Ibn Hayyun, Nu’man bin Muhammad, Daaim Al-Islam, Alul Bayt Institute, Qom: 2nd Edition, 1385 AH.
30-    Ibn Jawzi, Abdul Rahman Ibn Ali, Zad al-Masir fi ‘Ilm al-Tafsir [The Provision of the Sciences of Exegesis], Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, Beirut:1422 AH.
31-    Javadi Amoli, Abdullah, Tasnim Exegesis, Esra Publishing Center, Qom: 2014.
32-    Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir, Bihar al-Anwar [The Oceans of Lights], Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut: 2nd Edition, 1403 AH.
33-    Parrott, Justin, “Abrogated Rulings in the Qur’an: Discerning Their Divine Wisdom”, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, (2018).
34-    Parrott, Justin, “Jihad as Defense: Just‐war theory in the Quran and Sunnah”, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, (2016).
35-    Ssenyonjo, Manisuli, “Jihad Re-Examined: Islamic Law and International Law”, Santa Clara: Santa Clara university, (2012).
36-    Tabari, Muhammad bin Jarir, Jame’ al-Bayan an Tafsir al-Quran [A Comprehensive Statement in the Exegesis of Quran], Dar al-Ma’rifah, Beirut: 1412.
37-    Tabarsi, Fadhl bin Hassan, Majma' al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran [A Collection of Expressions Concerning the Interpretation of Quran], Nasser Khosrow, Tehran: 3rd Edition, 1993.
38-    Tabatabai, Muhammad Hossein, Al-Mizan fir Tafsir al-Quran, Muassasah al-A’lami lil Matbu’at, Beirut:2nd Edition, 1390 AH.
39-    Tasseron, Ella Landau, “Jihad” in the Encyclopedia of the Quran”, Brill Publishers, (2001).
40-    Tusi, Muhammad bin Hassan, Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir al-Quran [A Clarification Concerning the Interpretation of Quran], Dar Al-Ihya Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut: n.d.
41-    Waqidi, Muhammad bin Umar, Maghazi [The Prophet’s Stories of Military Expeditions], Dar al-A’lami, Beirut: 3rd Edition, 1409 AH.
42-    Zamakhshari, Mahmoud bin Umar, Al-Kashshaf an Haqaiq Ghawamidh al-Tanzil wa Uyun al-Aqawil fi Wujuh al-Ta’wil [Discovering the Realities of the Ambiguity of the Revelation and the Origins of the Narrations Concerning Aspects of Hermeneutics], Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, Beirut: 3rd Edition, 1407 AH.
43-    Zarkashi, Abu Abdullah Badruddin, Al-La’ali al-Manthurah fi Ahadith Mashhurah [The Scatetted Pearls Among the Famous Ahadith], Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut: 1st Edition, 1406 AH.
44-    Zayla'i, Jamal al-Din, Takhrij al-Ahadith & Athar al-Waqi’ah fi Tafsir al-Kashshaf li Zamakhshari [Takkhrij / Extraction and Authentication of Ahadith and Tradition Mentioned in Zamakhhari’s Exegesis of Kashshaf], Riyadh: Dar Ibn Khuzaymah, 1st Edition, 1414 AH.