Wikipedia

Ismail al-Faruqi

Palestinian-American academic

Ismaʻīl Rājī al-Fārūqī (Arabic: إسماعيل راجي الفاروقي January 1, 1921 – May 27, 1986) was a professor from Palestine who later moved to America. He is known for his work on Islam and for talking with people of other beliefs. Al-Faruqi studied at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, and later taught in North America, at places like McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and at Temple University in the United States. At Temple University, he started the Islamic Studies program. He also helped start the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).

Ismaʻīl Rājī al-Fārūqī
إسماعيل راجي الفاروقي
Born1 January 1921
Jaffa, Palestine
Died27 May 1986 (1986-05-28) (aged 65)
Wyncote, Pennsylvania,
United States
Cause of deathMurder by stabbing
Main interests
Notable ideas
  • Meta-religion
  • Islamization of knowledge
  • Ummatism
Websiteismailfaruqi.com
Signature
Signature of Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi

Al-Faruqi wrote many books and articles, including Christian Ethics and Al Tawhid: Its Implications for Thought and Life.

Life story

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Early life and education

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Al-Faruqi was born in Jaffa, which was part of British-mandate Palestine.[1] His father worked as a judge of Islamic law.[2] Al-Faruqi learned at home and at the mosque when he was young. In 1936, he began attending a school taught by French teachers.[3]

In 1942, Al-Faruqi worked for the British Mandate government in Jerusalem. By 1945, he became the district leader of Galilee. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, he moved to Beirut, Lebanon, and studied at the American University of Beirut.[3] Later, he went to Indiana University and earned a master’s degree in philosophy in 1949.[4] He completed another master’s degree at Harvard University in 1951 and a PhD at Indiana University in 1952.[5]

Al-Faruqi’s studies led him to believe that moral values do not change. This encouraged him to reconnect with his Islamic roots and study more about Islam at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.[6]

Academic career

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In 1958, al-Faruqi began teaching at McGill University’s Faculty of Divinity. He joined McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies and taught there until 1961.[7] Then, he taught for two years at the Central Institute of Islamic Research in Karachi, Pakistan.[8]

In 1964, he returned to the United States and taught at the University of Chicago and Syracuse University. In 1968, he joined Temple University, where he started the Islamic Studies program. He worked there until he died in 1986.

In 1977, al-Faruqi helped plan a big meeting in Makkah about Muslim education. This meeting led to the opening of many new Islamic schools.[9]

In 1980, al-Faruqi helped start the IIIT. He wrote a lot about Islam and speaking with people of other beliefs. He wrote over 100 articles and 25 books.[10] Al-Faruqi also encouraged talks between different beliefs, focusing on what Islam, Christianity, and Judaism share to make peace.[11]

Ideas and beliefs

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Al-Faruqi’s early work focused on Arabism, the idea that the Arabic language and culture are important for Muslims. Later, he gave more focus to Islam as a whole and to tawhid (belief in one God). He believed that a shared Muslim identity would help Muslims talk with people of other beliefs.

He also worked on a project to put Islamic ideas together with modern knowledge. This was called "Islamization of knowledge."[12]

Al-Faruqi did not agree with Zionism. He said it did not fit with Judaism because it was about nationality. He thought Zionism was harmful and said that Jewish people in Israel could live under Jewish law in the Muslim world.[13]

Death

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See the main article: Murder of the Faruqis

In May 1986, al-Faruqi and his wife were killed at their home in Pennsylvania by Joseph Louis Young, also known as Yusuf Ali.[14][15][16] Young confessed to the crime and was sentenced to death; he died in prison in 1996. Their daughter survived the attack but was badly hurt.[17][18][19][20]

References

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  1. ↑ Imtiyaz Yusuf, ed. (2021). Essential Writings: Ismail Al Faruqi. Kuala Lumpur: IBT Books. p. 3.
  2. ↑ Imtiyaz Yusuf, ed. (2021). Essential Writings: Ismail Al Faruqi. Kuala Lumpur: IBT Books. p. 3.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Badri, Malik (2014). "Psychological reflections on Ismail al-Faruqi's life and contributions". The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. 31 (2): 145–152. doi:10.35632/ajis.v31i2.1052.
  4. ↑ Al-Faruqi, Isma'il Raji (1949). The Ethics of Reason and the Ethics of Life (Master's thesis). Bloomington: Indiana University.
  5. ↑ Al-Faruqi, Isma'il (1952). On Justifying the Good (PhD thesis). Bloomington: Indiana University.
  6. ↑ Fletcher, Charles (2014). Muslim-Christian Engagement in the Twentieth Century. United Kingdom: I.B.Tauris. p. 34.
  7. ↑ Balfour, Clair (July 31, 1986). "Islamic scholar slain in U.S. was figure in Montreal". The Gazette. Montreal.
  8. ↑ Imtiyaz Yusuf, ed. (2021). Essential Writings: Ismail Al Faruqi. Kuala Lumpur: IBT Books. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Editorial". The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. 28 (3): ii–xii. 2011.
  10. ↑ Al-Faruqi, Isma'il Raji (1982). Islamization of Knowledge. IIIT.
  11. ↑ Yusuf, Imtiyaz (2012). Islam and Knowledge. London: I. B. Tauris.
  12. ↑ Ahsan, Muhammad Amimul (2013). "Islamization of Knowledge: An Agenda for Muslim Intellectuals". Global Journal of Management and Business Research Administration and Management. 13 (10).
  13. ↑ Al-Faruqi, Isma'il R. (2003). Islam and the Problem of Israel. Kuala Lumpur: The Other Press. pp. 103–104.
  14. ↑ "Black Muslim Charged in Slaying of Islamic Scholar and His Wife". The New York Times. January 18, 1987.
  15. ↑ O'Bryan, Ruth (July 8, 1987). "Confession Details Stalking, Slaying Of Islamic Scholars". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  16. ↑ Bell, Adam (March 11, 1996). "Inside the Capitol (Joseph Louis Young dies of natural causes on death row)". The Patriot News.
  17. ↑ Toth, Anthony B. (November 1986). "Focus on Arabs and Islam". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
  18. ↑ Fletcher, Charles (2014). Muslim-Christian Engagement in the Twentieth Century. United Kingdom: I.B.Tauris.
  19. ↑ "Assassination motive behind al-Faruqi killings". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 20, 1986. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Zionist backlash against Arab intellectuals". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 21, 1986. Retrieved June 22, 2024.

More reading

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  • Quraishi, M. Tariq (1986). Ismail al-Faruqi: An Enduring Legacy. Plainfield, IN: Muslim Students Association of the U.S.A. and Canada. OCLC 63933715.
  • Shafiq, Muhammad (1994). Growth of Islamic Thought in North America: Focus on Isma'il Raji al Faruqi. Brentwood, MD: Amana Publications. ISBN 9780915957163. OCLC 30154345.
  • Fletcher, Charles (2014). Muslim-Christian Engagement in the Twentieth Century: The Principles of Inter-faith Dialogue and the Work of Ismail Al-Faruqi. London, UK: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 9780857738288. OCLC 1030941522.
  • Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi (2023). Life and Work of Prof. Ismail Raji Al-Faruqi. New Delhi, India: Institute of Objective Studies. ISBN 9789391659387. OCLC 1378474036.
  • Zebiri, Kate (1997). Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1851681337. OCLC 37537981.
  • Yusuf, Imtiyaz (2012). Islam and Knowledge: Al Faruqi's Concept of Religion in Islamic Thought. London: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 9780857731265. OCLC 851315602.
  • Yusuf, Imtiyaz (2019). "Isma'il al Faruqi: The Link Between Tudor and the Muslim World". In Leonard Swidler (ed.). Breakthrough to Dialogue: The Story of Temple University Department of Religion. iPub Global Connection. pp. 179–199. ISBN 9781948575225.
  • Esposito, John L.; Voll, John O. (2001). "Isma'il Raji al Faruqi". Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195141283. OCLC 320902828.
  • Siddiqui, Ataullah (1997). Christian-Muslim Dialogue in the Twentieth Century. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire and London: Macmillan Press Ltd. ISBN 0333673581.
  • Ghamari-Tabrizi, Behrooz (2004). "Loving America and Longing for Home: Isma'il al-Faruqi and the Emergence of the Muslim Diaspora in North America". International Migration. 42 (2): 62–86. doi:10.1111/j.0020-7985.2004.00281.x.
  • Fazlur Rahman (1990). "Palestine and My Experiences with the Young Faruqi: 1958 to 1963". Journal of Islamic Research (in Turkish). 4 (4). Translated by M. Hayri Kırbaşoğlu: 295–300.
  • Yusuf, Imtiyaz (Spring–Summer 2014). "Ismail al-Faruqi's Contribution to the Academic Study of Religion". Islamic Studies. 53 (1/2). Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad: 99–115. JSTOR 44627369.
  • Mukhetdinov, D. V. (2018). "Philosophy of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi: In Search of Neomodernism". Islam in the Modern World (in Russian). 2: 165–182. doi:10.22311/2074-1529-2018-14-2-165-182.

Other websites

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