International Journal of Language & Literature

Al-Muqri’s Anti-Religious Stance: A Call for Moderate Islamic Discourse
Dr. Khaled Abkar Alkodimi

Abstract
Even though many critics and researchers have noted that religion is one of the taboo issues in al-Muqri‟s works, and in spite of the fact that al-Muqri‟s anti-religious attitude is easily noticeable in his novels, little attention is paid to this issue. This study uses textual analysis method to critically examine al-Muqri‟s anti-religious stance in his selected texts, The Handsome Jew and Adani Incense. It attempts to shed light on the way he presented religious figures together with their religious discourse and the mythologies that those scholars promote among the public. The study further attempts to probe into al-Muqri‟s critical techniques which he used to deliver his views. The study shows that al-Muqri utilizes different literary techniques to mock the religious figures and their fundamentalist discourse that impacts many and evoke hatred and revenge among individuals in the society. He also shows keen on interest in what I referred to as moderate Islam which he introduces in his first novel, The Handsome Jew, through Fatima‟s characterization. However, his call for moderate discourse appears to be more urgent in Adani Incense where he introduces the opposite of it, extremism, in order to stress the need for moderate voice. In this sense, I would argue that al-Muqri attempts to villainize most of his religious figures in order to strengthen his views.

Full Text: PDF      DOI: 10.15640/ijll.v7n1a5