Phases of the Modern Development of Islamic Movements
Dr. Abdurahman Abdullahi ( Baadiyow)i
The historical evolution of the Islamic movements in Somalia have attracted less academic interest in the research communities and existing modest literature addresses Islam from the margins of history, through Orientalist and secularist discourses and security perspectives. Nonetheless, scholarship on Islam in Somalia slightly improved since the collapse of the Somali state in 1991 and increased role of the Islamic movements afterwards. In particular, in the post-9/11 security studies literature, analysis on the armed Islamic groups have grown; albeit lacks in-depth historical background. This essay offers general road map of the modern development of Islam within the context of general history of Somalia. It draws on the PhD thesis by the author which provides unique historical analysis of the historical evolution of the Islamic movements.ii This thesis divides this history into four historical phases: the Islamic revival, the rise of the Islamic consciousness, the beginning of the Islamic awakening, and the emergence Islamic movements. This essay summarizes these four phases. Phases of the Modern Islamic History
In general, the study of the history of Islamic movements could be divided into four major phases: the revival of Islam (1800-1950), the rise of the Islamic consciousness (1950-1967), the Islamic awakening (1967-1978), and the Islamic movements (1978-..). These historical phases are not mutually exclusive and demonstrate continuity and change. They are dynamic, crosscurrent, and overlap each other.
The Revival of Islam
The Islamic revival began in the 19th century and deals with the emergence of the various Sufi brotherhoods. Islamic learning focusing on the Qur’an and the basics of jurisprudence had a limited impact on the unlettered pastoral societies. Nonetheless, Sufi orders, with their symbolical activities and closeness to people’s