DefinePK

Research Objective

To analyze Bint al-Shi's pilgrimage account, Ar al-Mujizat: Rila f Jazrat al-Arab (1972), in light of the political and economic changes in the Arab and Islamic world, positioning it as a key component of her commitment literature advocating Islamic revivalism and anti-Zionism.

Methodology

Textual analysis of Bint al-Shi's pilgrimage account (Ar al-Mujizat: Rila f Jazrat al-Arab, comprising 1951 Umra and 1972 Hajj narratives) and her broader oeuvre, contextualized within the political shifts following Western Imperialism and the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli conflicts. The study interprets her narrative as a form of adab al-jihd (literature of struggle).

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD; A[Analysis of Bint al-Shi's Pilgrimage Account 1951/1972] --> B[Contextualization in Arab/Islamic Political Changes]; B --> C[Identification of Salafist Revivalist Project]; C --> D[Interpretation of Pilgrimage as Commitment Literature adab al-jihd]; D --> E[Examination of Key Themes]; E --> F[Jihad Redefined Socio-Political Struggle]; E --> G[Advocacy for Women's Education/Status]; E --> H[Anti-Zionism Discourse]; H --> I[Conclusion on Bint al-Shi's Intellectual Authority and Reform Agenda]; F --> I; G --> I                    

Discussion

The article frames Bint al-Shi's travelogue as a historical and political commentary rather than a description of pilgrimage rites. It explores her concept of Jihad as socio-political action, her defense of women's rights rooted in Islamic tradition (citing Hagar), and her critique of Saudi reactionaries who resist modernity while simultaneously supporting King Abdul Azz's cautious modernization efforts. Her work aims to galvanize the umma through an Islamized identity (huwiyya Islmiyya) to counter Zionism.

Key Findings

Bint al-Shi advocates a Modern Salafist return to the original Islam (Qur'an and Sunna) to counter Western ideologies and defeat Israel. Her pilgrimage narrative is used to redefine Jihad beyond ritual to include struggle against social injustices, notably the marginalization of women, and political aggression (Zionism). She asserts female intellectual authority by comparing herself to historical female scholars and emphasizes that women's education is an intrinsic Islamic concept, not a foreign import.

Conclusion

Bint al-Shi's pilgrimage narrative is a vital piece of her commitment literature (adab al-jihd). It uses the communal aspect of Hajj to universalize the Palestinian cause and advocate for the restoration of women's leadership roles within a Salafist framework, positioning her as a committed writer and social reformer.

Fact Check

1. Bint al-Shi published her account of her pilgrimage journeys under the title Ar al-Mujizat: Rila f Jazrat al-Arab in 1972 (though the two parts were from 1951 and 1972).
2. Women were admitted to al-Azhar University in 1962.
3. Bint al-Shi was accorded the title "Amrat al-ar" (The Princess of the Desert) by King Abdul Azz l Sad.

Mind Map