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The Madness of Sharia Fatwas
In his weekly program on Alhurra’s digital platforms, author and journalist Ibrahim Eissa tackles what he calls the phenomenon of “fatwa madness,” asking: How did religion shift from being a source of guidance and peace to an authority that interferes in every detail of daily life? Eissa argues that the explosion in the number of…
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On Women’s Leadership in Islam
In his program on Alhurra’s digital platforms this week, writer and journalist Ibrahim Issa addressed the question of women’s authority and their right to lead the state. He dismantled the arguments of those who reject granting women leadership roles. The following contains the most important points from the episode, edited for clarity and flow. ————————-…
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Is it Iraq’s Turn?
Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the so-called “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East has suffered a series of setbacks. Israel dismantled Hamas’ military infrastructure in Gaza and assassinated senior Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, including the group’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah. Meanwhile, the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria last December…
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A Century’s War on an Idea
A Scene at Al-Azhar, 1925: In mid-August 1925, Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the Islamic world’s most influential educational institution, witnessed a defining moment in the history of modern political and religious thought. Into the office of the Council of Senior Scholars, presided over by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Mohammed al-Jizawi, walked a 37-year-old scholar: Sheikh…
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Why Are Islamists So Obsessed with Women?
In his program on Alhurra’s digital platforms, writer and journalist Ibrahim Essa this week discussed the Islamist obsession with women and sex, and how the issue of women is politically exploited as a path to power. The following article highlights the main points from the episode, edited for easier reading. Women at the Center of…
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Islam and Politics.. From the Saqifah to the Modern Age
In his weekly show on Alhurra’s digital platforms, writer and journalist Ibrahim Eissa dives into one of the most contentious questions in Islamic history: Religion and politics in Islam. For the outspoken Egyptian commentator, political power in Islam was never divine—it was always political. That is, until the moment “politics laid its hand on religion.”…
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Female Readings of the Quran
For centuries, interpreters have held supreme authority in Islam—mediating between divine text and human understanding, between the permanence of revelation and the shifting conditions of people’s lives. This field has long been dominated almost exclusively by men. But as Muslim societies evolve, women are beginning to enter spaces once reserved for men. In recent years,…
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How Iran’s Regime Hijacked Shiism
Iran is a dilemma.. a real dilemma. When you speak about Iran, you must distinguish between several overlapping circles – and that distinction is the key to true understanding. These circles are: Iran as a country, a people, and a civilization; then Iran as a sect, with Shiites as Muslims; and finally, Iran as a…
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The Tragedy of the “Only Version” of Islam
In his weekly show on Alhurra, Writer Ibrahim Essa discussed the concept of “moderate Islam.” The following is the episode’s text, re-edited for easier reading. We constantly hear the phrase “moderate Islam,” and we are told, “This institution represents moderate Islam,” or “This imam or sheikh speaks for moderate Islam.” But is there truly such…
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Why Saudi Cinema Keeps Returning to Its Past
Between a past rooted in traditions and local values, and a present rapidly changing under the pressures of modernity and economic transformation, Saudi cinema finds itself pulled toward pivotal moments in social history. Through these moments, it seeks to understand itself and reimagine its relationship with both heritage and modernity. Many Saudi films draw on…