Please Advise

Posted on 9/1/2004 by

I need some help with terminology. I know what “Muslim” means. I know what “Islam” means. But will someone please tell me what the term “Islamist” means? I’ve been it bandied about the blogosphere and elsewhere in cyberspace (usually used by someone somewhere to the right on the political spectrum) but I have no idea what is meant by the term. A little help?

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4 Responses to Please Advise

  1. Jim says:
    9/1/2004 at 11:39 am

    “Islamist” is properly used to refer to a political philosophy which holds that there must be a complete union between mosque and state. For example, the establishment of sharia law, etc.

    Because of that definition (and the radical groups that it ends up identifying), I wouldn’t be surprised if that term hasn’t already become a perjorative when applied to more mainstream muslim groups or movements.

  2. jennir says:
    9/1/2004 at 12:53 pm

    nice explanation, Jim. I was cracking my head and I’m living in a Muslim country!! that was nicely done.

  3. romanticslut says:
    9/1/2004 at 3:40 pm

    I thought it meant someone who studies and/or adheres to the tenets of islam, or a right wing attempt at dysfunctional wordplay

  4. DeAnn says:
    9/2/2004 at 5:49 pm

    I honestly believed it was just a made-up word, but Webster’s says:

    Main Entry: Is·lam·ism
    Pronunciation: is-’lä-”mi-z&m, iz-, -’la-; ‘iz-l&-
    Function: noun
    : the faith, doctrine, or cause of Islam
    - Is·lam·ist /-mist/ noun