Muslim Nonviolent Civil Resistance in Modern World History

This chapter considers peaceful Muslim movements of civil resistance in modern world history, using three case studies. The author looks at the Murid movement of Senegal, with its declaration that the time of jihad ended with the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The author explores the complex attitudes to French colonialism of Murid leader Amadou Bamba—a refusal to take up arms, but a cultural critique of amoral European secularism and imperialism. The author then considers thinking on peace among Congress Party Muslims allied with Gandhi and among the Pukhtuns organized by Abdul Ghaffar Khan. The author distinguishes between Abul Kalam Azad, for whom nonviolent cooperation was a pragmatic tactic, and Abdul Ghaffar, a utopian pacifist who opposed warfare in principle. The author concludes by examining nonviolent Muslim activism against Apartheid in South Africa by leaders such as Maulana Farid Esack, in concert with the multi-faith United Democratic Front. The conclusion analyzes commonalities among these movements and examines key differences.