Published at the beginning of this year, Usaama Al-Azami’s Islam and the Arab Revolutions: The Ulama Between Democracy and Autocracy analyzes the rhetoric of religious scholars throughout the Arab Spring. Focusing on the Egyptian revolution, Al-Azami explains what defines the factions standing for or against the revolution and assesses their key figures, including Ali Gomaa, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, and Abdullah Bin Bayyah.

On Episode 20, we discuss the content of the book, the role of ulama in politics, and how to navigate their problematic stances.

Listen to Episode 20 below, or find your favorite platform — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more — here on Anchor.

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