1) Al-Sayid al-Furati begins his dialogue, Summary of the Causes of Stagnation with what numerous scholars believe to be the causes of the (then) current stagnation of the Muslim religion. He states that, in his list to follow, the religious causes of stagnation have been divided into fundamental causes, and derivative causes. Based on his list, and based on the fact that this is a fictional dialogue in which Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi has outlined himself, al-Kawakibi’s vision of a true and ideal Islam is revealed. al-Kawakibi’s ideal Islam would be an Islam that strictly follows the Prophet Muhammad’s original ideology. In other words, al-Kawakibi believes that one should follow the Quran, strictly follow through on their daily prayers, and
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This is shown in his complaint, “63. Adhering to a policy of customarily giving special authority to certain families- like the rulership of Mecca, and the rulership of the large tribes of the Hijaz, Iraq, and the Euphrates- who are incapable of administering them; as a result, and is detested by them, [all this] so that they will no tally with him against the state.” (155). This complaint itself relates directly to al-Kawakibi’s objection of centralized authority. Moreover, al-Kawakibi believes that the “carelessness in the selection of [government] employees and [civil] officals, needlessly employing too many of them with the purpose of sustaining cliques, favorites, and habitual flatterers.” (155). Here, al-Kawakibi uses the word “favorites,” as a reminder to all those reading (and to the fictional characters within the dialogue) that this is an issue also concerning race. This is reiterated in his complaint, “Gross discrimination among various subject races regarding subsidies and penalties.” (155). As stated previously, I believe al-Kawakibi intentions are to reform Islam into the religion envisioned by the Prophet himself. That being said, the Prophet believed in equality amongst all who practice Islam, regardless of race, wealth, or authority. al-Kawakibi’s action of bringing this mistreatment to light is intended to save the Muslim community from the stagnant, and seemingly deteriorating, nature it’s
This is shown in his complaint, “63. Adhering to a policy of customarily giving special authority to certain families- like the rulership of Mecca, and the rulership of the large tribes of the Hijaz, Iraq, and the Euphrates- who are incapable of administering them; as a result, and is detested by them, [all this] so that they will no tally with him against the state.” (155). This complaint itself relates directly to al-Kawakibi’s objection of centralized authority. Moreover, al-Kawakibi believes that the “carelessness in the selection of [government] employees and [civil] officals, needlessly employing too many of them with the purpose of sustaining cliques, favorites, and habitual flatterers.” (155). Here, al-Kawakibi uses the word “favorites,” as a reminder to all those reading (and to the fictional characters within the dialogue) that this is an issue also concerning race. This is reiterated in his complaint, “Gross discrimination among various subject races regarding subsidies and penalties.” (155). As stated previously, I believe al-Kawakibi intentions are to reform Islam into the religion envisioned by the Prophet himself. That being said, the Prophet believed in equality amongst all who practice Islam, regardless of race, wealth, or authority. al-Kawakibi’s action of bringing this mistreatment to light is intended to save the Muslim community from the stagnant, and seemingly deteriorating, nature it’s