Qaddafi and Islam in Libya

Abstract

Islam, the dominant religion, has had a special place in traditional Libyan society, where the overwhelming majority of the people are Sunni Muslims, accepting the Quran and the Sunna as the primary sources of the Islamic faith. “Religion has dominated all facets of life, “significantly affect(ing) the structures, values, and attitudes of Libyan society. It is a primary unit of loyalty and identity.”’ Mu’ammar al- Qaddafi, a devout Muslim, acknowledges that the effect of Islam is “very significant on everyone of us. We cannot deny that religion is an essential factor in the lives of all peoples.” Prior to the Qaddafi-led coup in 1969, religious organizations and leaders played a major role in the educational, social and political life of the country, particularly in the institutions that regulated the society. Notable religious leaders not only dominated the judicial system but also important political committees and advisory councils. In this respect, Libya was a typical, traditional society where religion was entangled in the web of national politics. This has been evident throughout Libyan history. The Sanusiyyah Brotherhood, a militant Sufi religious order founded in the nineteenth century, played a crucial role in the national resistance against Italian colonial rule and, subsequently, contributed to the shaping of the country’s destiny in the post-independence period. Between 1951-1969, religion was “a political symbol of crucial importance in controlling and mobilizing the masses.” King Mohammed Idris al-Sanusi, who was trained in Islamic theology and law (Sharia), used his position as Grand ...