Discussion – Islam and Ulamas

Discussion – Islam and Ulamas

THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE ULAMA IN TERMS OF PROPHETS, PRIESTS, AND RABBIS

Islam consists of various religious leaders tasked with various roles and responsibilities to promote and protect the religion. According to Diez, ulama is a term used to define the experts in religious sciences or scholars (1). The ulama is also the Islamic chief religious authority (Campo 683). The roles and functions of the ulama are categorized into their role as the prophets’ heirs, rabbis, and priests. The ulama has a vast knowledge of Islamic teachings. They are required to inherit the knowledge and continue with Prophet Muhammad’s struggle to spread Islam and ensure that Muslims follow Islamic teachings. The ulama are also responsible for announcing Islam by acting as priests and rabbis who teach Islamic teachings to Islamic society. The second role and function is serving as a spiritual leader by guiding Muslims through Sharia and moral teachings. The third role and function is to bear God’s message. According to Muid, the ulama is obligated to keep religion from being destroyed, ensuring that the religion has many followers and fulfilling God’s teachings (1648). The ulama are also expected to uphold the truth.

Notably, the ulama are most similar to priests because they are vital in uniting Muslims, ensuring their social needs are met, and upholding Islamic law. For example, the ulama was actively involved in politics during the Iranian Revolution by assuming leadership in the revolution and forming the Islamic Republic of Iran (Cengage 1). They mainly focused on ensuring that Islamic law was integrated into the political system in Iran to strengthen the Islamic religion. They used their position as the only legitimate interpreters of Islam to gain power and oppose the secular government. Currently, the ulama are consulted about laws that may impact Islamic religious practices, thus retaining their power in interpreting Islamic law.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE ULAMA’S POSITION IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES

The position of the ulama in Muslim societies has changed throughout time due to the influence of secular governments and varying opinions about the extent of their influence on modern society. They first emerged as the interpreters of the Qurʾan and hadith transmitters, spreading the deeds and words of Prophet Muhammad. They then became the first to outline and elaborate the basic principles of shariʿa. They were then employed as scribes, tax collectors, market inspectors, and secretaries until the mid-19^th century. They developed a cultural elite and retained the respect and admiration of the Muslims because they were viewed as the true interpreters and guardians of the Islamic faith (Cengage 1). They continued gaining support from the ruling elites as long as they did not interfere with state control. The influence of the ulama began declining after the rise of nationalism and secularism in the Middle East. They began to be viewed as obstacles to reform and modernism.

In the late 19^th century, some members of the ulama began focusing on religious reform and education and formed political movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood. The role of the ulama also transitioned in the late 19^th century when they began getting involved in politics. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the power and role of the ulama were intact in Muslim society, but by the late 20^th century, there were major changes in Muslim society. The changes eroded the role of the ulama in Muslim society because they lost their monopoly on Islamic education. The rebirth of neotraditional thought has begun to recover the ulama’s technological and legal method to address modern issues without promoting the Salafis’ pure literalism and upholding Islamic political activism. There has also been a revival of the ulama because many Muslim states acknowledge that giving the responsibility of regulating religion to the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis is dangerous to Muslim society.

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ULAMA TO ISLAMIC SOCIETY

One of the most important contributions of ulama to Islamic society is ensuring that Islamic law is integrated into the governance in modern governments so that the needs of Muslims are met. The second most important contribution is the development of Islamic education. According to Diez, the ulama established Islamic education and schools to teach Islamic knowledge (4). Islamic education began spreading in the 19^th century, and by the end of the century, Islamic education had developed clear patterns and spread across various regions. The ulama also developed detailed curricula, thus increasing the number of Islamic followers. The spread of Islamic education also enhanced the ulama’s growth and gained more respect because they expressed courage, humility, and justice. The ulama also ensured that Islamic education was tolerated in multicultural societies by focusing on improvement through creed strengthening, improving the form of worship, ensuring that Islamic education was static and dynamic and was continuously improved, improving family, improving and maintaining good customs, and encouraging economic and social improvement (Araniri et al. 2661). They also developed a group of Muslim-tolerant students by teaching students to blend in with their environment. The ulama also encouraged Muslim students to distance themselves from the extreme and be careful when expressing their opinions and using a dialogue and humane approach to deal with issues. Another contribution of the ulama was preventing the oppression of Muslims. For instance, the ulama served as the guardians of Islamic law and prevented caliphates from dictating the results of the laws applied in society by creating a separation of powers in the government.

THE ULAMA’S ALIGNMENT TO ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM AND WHAT THEIR ROLE SHOULD BE TODAY

At the present time, the ulama are more aligned with Islamic fundamentalism. According to an article by Spirit of Islam, the ulama in the modern era have violated the Hadith that should guide their actions and are encouraging their followers to revolt and rebel against their nonreligious or corrupt rulers (5). They do not appreciate the changes in the modern world and mainly focus on promoting hatred towards the Western powers that take away their historical and political glory. The article by Spirit of Islam further argues that the ulama in the modern era also fail to appreciate that Western powers support initiatives that benefit Islam and could create opportunities for them (5). Many Muslim countries are influenced by ulama-state alliances that are hard to dismantle because they contribute to the countries’ economic growth and democracy. Muslim countries are also dominated by socioeconomically and oppressive ineffective policies because of the interference of the ulama on governance because they focus on promoting Islamic fundamentalism and gaining more followers.

According to Kuru, three groups of Islamic actors contribute to the failure of secular policies (17). The first group is the ulama, which focuses on promoting Islamic disciplines, including the Hadith, jurisprudence, and the exegesis in the Quran through madrasa. The second group is the Islamists, who engage in politics through movements and parties. The third group is the Sufi sheikhs, who act as social and mystical leaders among the Sufi. These groups use resources such as madrasa and ulama mosques, lodges established by the Sufi sheikhs, and Islamist parties to challenge the Western views of rationalism and secular state, liberal democracy, and gender equality. The groups have also promoted traditionalist views rather than gender equality and have also been accused of promoting apostasy and blasphemy laws. The ulama has also made it hard to implement laws in the modern era because they focus on promoting sharia in the legal system. However, they need state power to pursue the agenda they want, thus forcing governments to embrace the interpretations of Islam developed after the 11^th century. The role of the ulama in promoting Islam fundamentalism is also evident in their emphasis on legal and sociopolitical Islamization. According to Kuru, the Sufi sheikhs and ulama effectively used the failures of the policies in the secular regime in the late 20^th century to promote their agenda (17). In contemporary Muslim countries, the Islamization process continues to influence laws in most societies.

I think the ulama’s role in society should be sharing Islamic teachings and talking to extremists and young people to prevent the spread of misleading Islamic ideologies that lead to terrorism. The ulama should also promote Islamic education by ensuring that all Muslims, despite their gender, attend school to prevent high illiteracy levels among Muslims, particularly women. The ulama can also promote Islamic education by regularly updating the curricula to ensure that what Muslim students are taught aligns with modern Islamic teachings and equips the students with knowledge and expertise that they can use to get jobs and start their businesses. I also think that the ulama should collaborate with lawmakers to ensure that Islamic law is acknowledged when making laws so that Muslims are not maltreated in the legal system, especially in countries where Muslims are minorities. Muslim leaders such as Sheikhs should be consulted in defining the role of the ulama to regulate the control and power they have over the Muslim society.

WOMEN ULAMA

According to Künkler and Nisa, women ulama focus their religious interpretations on the verses in the Qur’an, the views of Islamic religious leaders, and the host country’s constitution (3). They apply unrestricted reasoning, which emphasizes maximizing public interest and reducing harm. One of the advantages women’s ulama would bring to Islamic communities is protecting Muslim women from sexual violence. Künkler and Nisa argue that women’s ulama emphasizes that sexual violence within marriage is haram under Islamic law and distinguishes fornication and adultery from rape to protect women (3). They also emphasize that the victims of sexual violence must receive physical, psychological, and social support instead of punishment. Therefore, women’s ulama are vital in creating a safe community for Muslim women. The second advantage of having women’s ulama in Islamic communities is that they can protect Muslim girls from child marriage. Women ulama believe that child marriage harms society and encourages legal marriage. Accordingly, they ensure that every girl being offered for marriage is of legal age, and the marriage is registered with the state in the couple’s country. The third advantage is that women ulama can promote social equality by eliminating societal discrimination. Women ulama can also empower Muslim girls and women and help them leverage the opportunities around them so that they can build better lives. For example, women’s ulama can help Muslim girls and women attend school and get jobs.

Works Cited

Araniri, Nuruddin, et al. “The Role of Ulama for Developing Tolerant Islamic Education in Majalengka Regency’s Multicultural Society.” International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, vol. 06, no. 05, 2023, p. 2661, https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i5-19.

Campo, Juan Eduardo. “Ulama.” Encyclopedia of Islam, Checkmark Books, New York, 2009, p. 683.

Cengage. “Ulama.” Encyclopedia.Com, 7 June 2023, www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/islam/islam/muslim-scholars.

Diez, Martino. “Ulama, the Heirs of the Prophets.” Fondazione Internazionale Oasis, 7 Nov. 2018, www.oasiscenter.eu/en/ulama-who-they-are.

Künkler, Mirjam, and Eva Nisa. “A Fatwa against Sexual Violence: The Story of a Historic Congress of Female Islamic Scholars.” openDemocracy, 26 June 2017, www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/fatwa-sexual-violence-women-islamic-scholars/.

Kuru, Ahmet. 2021, p. 17, The Ulema-State Alliance: A Barrier to Democracy and Development in the Muslim World.

Muid, Abdul. “The Ulama Role in the Institution of Islamic Religious Education Perspective.” International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), vol. 6, no. 11, 2017, p. 1648, https://doi.org/10.21275/ART20178324.

Spirit of Islam. The Role of the Ulema, 2014, www.spiritofislam.co.in/spiritnew/index.php/the-role-of-the-ulema.

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Discussion – Islam and Ulamas

There is no priestly group within Islam, but the closest thing to it is the ulama who interpret Islamic law (sharia) and play an ever-changing role in the history of Islam. Discuss the role and function of the ulama in terms of prophets, priests, and rabbis. Is there one group to whom they are most similar? Then, outline the evolution of their position In Muslim societies throughout time. In your view, what have been their most important contributions to Islamic society? At the present time, are the ulama more aligned with Islamic reform or Islamic fundamentalism? What do you think should be their role today? Finally, what do you think about women’s ulama and what advantages do you think they would bring to Islamic communities?

N.B.: Ulama can overlap with two other positions: qadi and mufti. Qadis are judges appointed by the caliph or ruler who issue rulings in particular cases brought before their courts. Muftis are ulama who issue opinions on Islamic law known as fatwas. Ulama is the most general term; some ulama serve as judges, some issue legal opinions, and some simply serve in local communities and serve as religious leaders.