Abstract
This paper explains that understanding Al Rumi's poetry largely depends on a willingness to accept the complexity of the philosophical and spiritual ideas that they express and the manner in which they challenge the very notion of the self.

From the Paper
"Jalal El Din Al Rumi, a thirteenth century Moslem Sufi poet, is currently the most popularly read poet in the West. Norman M. Brown, the leader of the Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, has an interesting theory regarding Al Rumi's popularity. As he argues, most people, whether conscious of it or not, have spiritual needs and desires. The rational outlook of twentieth century Western civilization suppresses these types of needs and desires, does not give them the opportunity to express or fulfill themselves and, as a result, many people become spiritually frustrated (Brown). The minority who are conscious of their spiritual frustration turn to various religions in search of some type of fulfillment. However, few, if any, of these religions provide such fulfillment. The exception to this, according to Norman M. Brown is Sufi "mystical" Islam which appears to address both human spiritual needs and emotions on one hand, and the human respect for rationality and intellect, on the other (Brown). As Brown argues, Sufi thought, combining between philosophy and spirituality, and concisely expressed in the poetry of Al Rumi, satisfy the inborn human spiritual and intellectual desires and, in this, lies the popularity of the Sufist poet in the West."

Tags:self, philosophy

Abstract
The paper relates that William Chittick's "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn al-'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination" represents an attempt to render the complex thought and work of the Sufi master Ibn al-'Arabi in a language and framework that would make them more readily comprehensible to non-specialist readers. The paper explains that Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn al-'Arabi (A.H.560-638/A.D. 1165-1240) was one of the greatest teachers of Sufi thought, and his travels and writings spanned much of the Islamic world of his time.

From the Paper
"William Chittick's "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn al-'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination" represents an attempt to render the complex thought and work of the Sufi master Ibn al-'Arabi in a language and framework that would make them more readily comprehensible to non-specialist readers. Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn al-'Arabi (A.H.560-638/A.D. 1165-1240) was one of the greatest teachers of Sufi thought, and his travels and writings..."

Tags:religion, philosophy, sufi

Abstract
This begins by defining Sufism as the mystical sect of Islam. It then shows how love is an important aspect of mysticism and explains how Sufism uses love to strengthen one's relationship with God. The paper also looks at how the Sufi tradition combines its understanding of love to help the teacher-student relationship develop into the Sufi way.

From the Paper
"The teacher uses unconventional methods to help the student on his path of love towards God. Musa Kasin said "Many teachers talk about teachings. The best teachers study their pupils as well. Most important, teachers should be studied" (137). This idea of studying teachers as well as students demonstrates the idea of mutual respect. The teacher learns from the students and the students learn from the teacher. Sheikh Muzaffer said, "It is easy to be a sheikh and difficult to be a dervish.""

Tags:Al-Ghazzali, Sheikh, Muzaffer

Abstract
This paper discusses Uzbekistan's indigenous form of Sufi zikr dance that has borrowed from pre-Islamic, shamanistic and folk traditions. The paper further considers how this dance survived in its unique form despite Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet surveillance and also, fundamentalist Muslim criticism as voiced recently after an Uzbek Sufi performance in India.

From the Paper
"Uzbekistan's takeover by the Soviet Union shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution produced encouragement of what were seen as peasant arts and repression of what were regarded as Islamic `foreign' elements that were not foreign, at all, the Central Asian Republics happening to be traditional locations of Sufism. (Thrower 117-118) With the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan's nationalist government has discouraged Islam, including Sufism, in a general avoidance of militant Islam, the country's Sufis often under observation, more apt to meet in private homes than in..."

Tags:uzbek dance, sufi zikr, syncretism

Abstract
The paper looks at Al-Qaeda's historical background, ideology, motivation, support base, tactics and strategies, past activities and future threat potential and possible targets. Due to the seamless and fluid nature of Al-Qaeda, the author stresses, it is difficult to predict its potential targets and the extent of threat posed by Al-Qaeda. The paper concludes that, after the disruptions of Al-Qaeda because of the actions of the U.S. and other countries following 9/11, the organization serves more as a symbolic source of inspiration for dangerous Islamic terrorist splinter groups around the world rather than being involved directly in major terrorist plans. However, the global community cannot afford to be complacent and let its guard down.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Historical Background and Al-Qaeda's Origins
Al-Qaeda's Ideology, Motivation, and Goals
Ideological, International and Religious Support
Relationship with the United States/ Other Countries
Tactics and Strategies Used by Al-Qaeda
Selection of Victims and Targets
Past Terrorist Activities: Successes and Failures
Future Threat/ Potential Targets
My Own Analysis/ Opinion of the Terrorist Group

From the Paper
"The suicide bombings also have other inherent advantages: it is simple and inexpensive; it almost certainly guarantees mass casualties and extensive damage; there are no chances of post-attack fears of interrogation since the attacker is dead; and it has a powerful effect on the public and the media because of the horror such an attack generates. The only problem is to find people who are willing to sacrifice themselves, and due to the fanatical nature of its teachings, al-Qaeda seems to have no dearth of such people in its ranks."

Tags:mujahedeen, maktab al-khadamat, civilian infidels, smuggle symbolic

Abstract
This paper examines the ideology of al Qaeda terrorism. In particular, the paper attempts to understand why al Qaeda is particularly successful at attracting well-educated people in the Muslim world. The paper studies the appeal of radical Islamist terrorism, how it differs from terrorism of the 1970s and 1980s, and the emergence of the al-Qaeda movement. The paper then examines the theology of the al-Qaeda movement that glorifies death and the implications of radical religious based religious movements for the modern world. The paper concludes with an examination of the careers of the two top leaders of al-Qaeda: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Tags:osama bin laden ayman al-zawahri, sayyid qutb al-qaeda alienation Terrorism

Abstract
In this paper, the author argues that the rapid changes in society have allowed power to shift to "non-state" actors. The most notorious among them is the Al-Qaeda terror network. In this paper, the organization of Al-Qaeda is evaluated and its international connections are considered the reason for Al-Qaeda's continued operations. The author also examines Al-Qaeda's financing and the shared religious beliefs among its members. The September 11th attacks are also discussed.

Outline:
Research Questions
Introduction
Loose Network of People Connections
Case 1: Bombings in Istanbul
Solid Structured Organization
Finances
Case 2: September 11, 2001
Leads of the Al-Qaeda
The Al-Qaeda Today
Case 3: The Madrid Train Bombing
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Al-Qaeda, the largest international terrorist network, is a distributed, roaming and non-territorial network. It functions as a hybrid peer-to-peer network through its combined use of advanced information technologies and traditional halawa exchanges, in which a central source triggers the actions that are carried out by individual nodes. It is organized in self-contained nodes that function autonomously and its responsibility and authority is devolved down to the lowest possible level. This networked structure of authority and accountability is most evident in al-Qaeda operations, as cells planned and carried out operations with considerable and independence."

Tags:Bin, Laden, Al-Qaeda, terrorism, 9/11

Abstract
The following paper will pick a terrorist group - Al-Qaeda - and discuss whether or not that group has been successful or unsuccessful in attaining its stated goals. In general, Al-Qaeda wants to drive out American influence from the Middle East, wants to topple the Saudi Arabian government, wants to topple any pro-western regimes in the region, seeks the end of Israel, and wants its own fundamentalist state - and the terrible thing is that Al-Qaeda may well end up getting some or all of these things.

From the Paper
Has Al-Qaeda been successful in reaching its stated goals? The following paper will pick a terrorist group - Al-Qaeda - and discuss whether or not that group has been successful or unsuccessful in attaining its stated goals. In general, Al-Qaeda wants to drive out American influence from the Middle East, wants to topple the Saudi Arabian government, wants to topple any pro-western regimes in the region, seeks the end of Israel, and wants its own fundamentalist state - and the terrible thing is that Al-Qaeda may well end up getting some or all of these things. To get things underway, one must have an appreciation of the ideology and

Tags:al, qaeda, stated, successful

Abstract
The paper delves into the origins of the pro-jihad, pan-Islamic Al-Qaeda terrorist organization. This paper discusses the ideology of the organization, while also profiling its leader, the man believed to be the mastermind behind the 9/11 terror attack, Osama bin Laden. The writer of this paper examines Iraq's direct involvement with Al-Qaeda and that of Islamic terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who heads the Iraqi branch of the organization. This paper explores the relationship between bin Laden and al-Zarqawi as well as the groups terrorist training camps which are located throughout in the middle east. This paper also discusses the strategies used by the U.S. and Britain in combating the increasing terror coming out of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

From the Paper
"The leadership of both conjoined terrorist groups shows the national diversity of the leaders of terrorist organizations of the Muslim world, as Osama bin Laden is a Saudi, while a Jordanian leads the Iraqi group, as well as the different techniques open to the groups, from bombs to poisons, to engage in acts of mass terror. In terms of its current choice of activities, the United States military has attributed some of Iraq's bloodiest suicide bombings and some hostage beheadings to Tanzeem Qaedat Al Jihad Fee Bilad Al Rafidain. The military also believes that the group has long used Fallujah as its key base and continues to do so, despite United States control and the attempts to instate a new Iraqi government. The group now known as Tanzeem Qaedat Al Jihad Fee Bilad Al Rafidain has long used highly inflammatory ways of conveying its message and committing its acts of violence against innocent American civilians, most notably the beheading of a United States civilian."

Tags:osama, bin-laden, muslim, islam, terror, 9/11, holy, war, jihad, abu, musab, al-zarqawi, america, britain

Abstract
This paper discusses whether al-Qaeda is still a threat to the world community. It outlines history of al-Qaeda and its ideology, which differs fundamentally from "traditional" terrorist organizations with specific political causes. The author argues that al-Qaeda has "metastized" from an organization into an ideology and cause.

From the Paper
"On a Monday morning in the late summer this writer got a phone call from a friend telling him to turn on CNN. "Buddy, we're under attack," the friend said. What the writer and millions of other Americans saw in the ..."

Tags:al-qaeda, osama, bin, laden, terrorism