October Seventh Fourteen Ninety Two: Creating The World Of Many Belows / Mohamed Abdou

Author and scholar Dr. Mohamed Abdou returns to the podcast, one year after October 7, 2023.

Our discussion flows across various subjects: Al-Aqsa Flood and the US-Israel genocide of Palestinians in Gaza; Islam and the crusading Euro-American imperial project; anti-colonial struggle as resistance, decolonization as "creating the world of many belows"; and Abdou's participation in the Palestine  solidarity encampment at Columbia University, where he was targeted, threatened, and slandered by Zionists in the university administration, United States Congress, and by prominent media figures.

We need an Islam and Quran of the oppressed. And that's what my work focuses on.

Where is the Judaism that came with Moses, who stood against Pharaoh? Where is the Christianity of Jesus that defended Mary Magdalene as fellow apostles were condemning her? Where is Muhammad, who stood with the oppressed? That becomes the question. And that is a central part of the narrative, because whether we like it or not, yes, it's a genocide, but it's also a war, and it's a civilizational, racial, and religious war. So we really need to reorient the terms upon which we are analyzing Palestine right now, in tandem and in relationship to over here, where we're at. 

I always say to people, listen, I don't doubt your love for Palestine; if you love it so much the way that you do, and you're only focused on Palestine—despite the fact that you're on Turtle Island—go fight for Palestine then. If you can get there, go fight for Palestine. But you're here, you're here. What are you doing about that here? 

Bio:

Dr. Mohamed Abdou is the author of Islam and Anarchism: Relationships and Resonances (Pluto Press, 2022). He was hired to teach at Columbia University based both on his acclaimed anti-colonial scholarship and his years as a seasoned movement organizer. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow and visiting scholar at Cornell, an assistant professor at the American University of Cairo, and a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto and an adjunct professor at Queen’s University. Abdou’s work includes practical applications of his anti-colonial teachings, with an emphasis on Indigenous sovereignty and Land Back, Black self-determination, and the liberation of Palestine.

Episode Notes: 

Support and learn more about Dr. Abdou’s wrongful termination suit against Columbia at wearemohamed.com

Purchase a copy of Islam and Anarchism at Bookshop or directly from Pluto Press

Read a summary of Islam and Anarchism at Political Theology

Learn more about Dr. Abdou and his work at his website

Follow him on Twitter @minuetinGmajor

The music featured is by Nick Vander, used with permission by the artist