Word: caliphs
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...these enticements may be insufficient considering that when Arafat thinks of Jerusalem, he ceases to see himself as a politician. Instead he envisions himself emblazoned across the pages of history with the only two Islamic leaders to stride victorious into Jerusalem, securing the holy city for the Muslim faithful. Caliph Omar bin Khattab won the city for Islam in the seventh century. Saladin liberated it from Christian Crusaders 550 years later. The Palestinian leader can compromise on refugees, on territory, even on the parameters of statehood. But Arafat sees Jerusalem as his chance to transcend politics and enter the pantheon...
...Last Temptation of Christ yearned to be a priest. But another vocation beckoned. Charles and Catherine Scorsese, who today make occasional endearing cameo appearances in their son's films, took young Marty to the movies, and it was ossessione at first sight. He talks of old movies as a caliph might of all his beautiful women. So many films, so much informed love. "Watching Land of the Pharaohs as a kid, I felt I was in ancient Egypt," he recalls. "And I've been obsessed with CinemaScope since I saw The Robe at the Roxy in 1953." (Cape Fear...
...Constitutional and representative government has been a miserable failure in the Arab world," says Elie Kedourie, a renowned scholar of Islam. "Elections and parliaments have no roots in classic Muslim thought. Only one figure holds ultimate legitimate authority in both the secular and religious realms, and that's the Caliph. The title may change, but the theory does...
...religious authority to declare jihad? In Islam's dominant Sunni branch, that power formerly belonged to the caliph, or political successor of Muhammad, who united religious and temporal rulership. But no caliphate has existed since 1924, and Sunni jurists today believe the power rests with any legitimate Muslim political authority. Lufti Dogan, a former Turkish Religious Affairs Minister, says all Muslims can be called to jihad, but there is greater receptivity to the call in Shi'ism, the minority branch of Islam that is dominant in Iran...
...forbidden by Islam) and politics than study of the Koran, was ousted after an unprecedented protest march in Tashkent. His successor is Mukhammadsadyk Mamayusupov, 36, a modest and dignified scholar. At the same time as Mamayusupov's elevation, the Uzbek Republic gave his board a precious Koran dictated by Caliph Osman, one of Muhammad's earliest followers. Thousands cheered and wept as the invaluable holy book was moved from a museum to the new headquarters mosque, which has just been returned to the board...