Dedicated to promoting timely understanding and debate on a broad spectrum of ideas and trends in Islam and the Arab World through filtration, translation and analysis of original language texts
This month in two consecutive events, the Saudi King and a Saudi woman took on the Wahabi religious establishment. PI Online examines how a simple gesture by the king and a poem by a woman set off another clash between the palace and an intransigent powerful sheikh.
Western commentators on Islam and the Arab World too often quote liberal Arab writers and ignore Islamist writers who have far greater influence on a large and growing segment of the Arab/Muslim population. PI Online analyzes the ideology of this conservative group, through the eyes of two of the most popular Islamic writers, the Tunisian Rashid Al-Ghannouchi and the Egyptian Fahmi Huwaidi
.
All eyes have been on "radical Islam" while the real "moderate" elements, which constitute the majority of the Muslim World, are ignored, except for the occasional platitude to assure them that "we are not at war with Islam".
PI Online explains why no Western policy towards Islam can be successful without engaging the real moderates and why understanding Qaradawi's views is an essential element in formulating that policy.
The Saudi King realized that for the educational and cultural reform he envisioned to take hold in the Kingdom nothing short of a revolution against the old guard of the religious establishment was necessary, and only the King himself could lead it.
PI Online examines the life of this Harvard educated liberal who was credited for naming Al-Arabiya news channel. The writings of this columnist, parliamentarian and former Education minister always had a clear vision of right versus wrong, regardless of what was viewed as politically correct in the Arab World.
PI Online presents one of the most respected centrist Islamists in Egypt, known for his quest to institute a dialogue within the Muslim world and avoid a clash of civilizations. His usual optimism and belief in establishing a vibrant and peaceful Political Islam has lately been dampened by what he sees as a total failure on the part of the Muslim Brotherhood to participate constructively in the political process.
