Skip to main content
Article
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “MUSLIM” AND “ISLAMIC”?
Islamic Societies Review (2016)
  • Ahmed E Souaiaia
Abstract
Social labels and categories are exercise in control. They describe opponents, create boundaries, exclude social groups, justify discrimination, and promote persecution. They are imbued with sociopolitical power. Muslims used labels, internally for the first time, during the formative period of the community to privilege the elite and marginalize dissenters. They called those who challenged the established order, Khawarij [Outsiders]. Today, Muslims living in Western societies are often labeled radical Islamic extremists. But aside from this politically charged phrase, even common adjectives, such as Islamic and Muslim, are misused. So in what contexts should these adjectives be appropriately used and why is it important to use social labels judicially?
Keywords
  • Islamic studies
Publication Date
Fall November 6, 2016
Citation Information
Ahmed E Souaiaia. "WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “MUSLIM” AND “ISLAMIC”?" Islamic Societies Review (2016) ISSN: 2372-0379
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/souaiaia/30/