If that's the case...

Submitted by Observer (United States), Oct 23, 2014 at 11:17

If the pre-modern Islamic legal tradition justifies this appalling treatment of Yazidis, as you claim, then how come so many Yazidis lived undisturbed for centuries in those lands, under Muslim rule, until now?

Even the Ottomans, as far as I know, left them be as long as they payed their taxes.

And I don't care what some premodern jurists say, they have no right to speak for all of Islam, and I'm sure there were many other jurists who provided differing opinions. Given that you claim to be knowledgeable about Islam, you should know that there are differing opinions within the legal tradtion on a variety of issues.

But Islam should not be limited to simple legalism. These "scholars" were writing for a scholarly elite - how many of their views were applied widely in society for a long period of time? You're forgetting that many ordinary Muslims who lived their faith did not leave written records like these jurists, over the centuries. There was a big gap between the theory of the jurists and actual practice in society in Muslim history.

But with that being said, I see all of this as a case of the chickens coming home to roost. The wrongs and injustices these so-called scholars committed in the name of Islam for centuries - their disgusting legal views, their siding with political power - have gone unchallenged by most Muslims for a long time (I would say more out of neglect, fear, or lack of ability, rather than acquiescence), and in the 20/21st centuries, it has reached a boiling point.

If it were up to me, I'd take all the books of fiqh and burn them. Because that's what they deserve.

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