The Islamic Movement and the Question of Identity
By Dr. Amin Hassan Omar
One of the key questions posed about the Islamic Movement is the question of identity—that is, the question of belonging. There is no doubt that the title Islamic Movement itself offers an answer to this question: it is a Sudanese Islamic Movement. Some prefer to call it The Islamic Movement – Sudan, meaning the Islamic Movement as it exists on Sudanese soil. This description is hypothetical, assuming that there is a broader Islamic Movement across the Islamic world, and that a part of it exists in Sudan. However, this description is more wishful thinking than a reflection of lived reality. There is, in fact, no such thing as an organized Islamic Movement on a global Islamic scale. And given current circumstances, it may be impossible for a unified organization of the Islamic Movement to exist anytime soon.
Thus, we are talking about an Islamic Movement that emerged and exists in Sudan—a movement that originated in Sudan and has been shaped by all the prevailing conditions and circumstances within the country. The name of the movement carries two indications: the first to Islam, and the second to Sudan. The term Islamic does not mean that it is an ideological movement. Ideology implies a commitment to a systematic set of ideas that guide its structures, policies, and programs—ideas that are claimed to be scientific and infallible. At least, that is the common definition of ideologies around the world.
As for the Islamic Movement’s doctrinal orientation, it is not ideological. While it is based on Islamic principles and aims to fulfill Islamic values and objectives, it does not claim to possess a complete intellectual framework that is immune to error or deficiency. Rather, its approach is rooted in foundational principles and ijtihad (independent reasoning). The foundations are fixed points to which the movement adheres and from which it draws guidance, following the accepted rules and principles endorsed by the broader Muslim public. Meanwhile, the movement’s ijtihad—its attempt to derive solutions to contemporary challenges—is subject to error and correction, like any other human effort. It remains open to review whenever new information arises or when the understanding of guiding texts is reassessed in light of scholarly interpretation.
Therefore, the Islamic Movement is not an ideological movement like Marxist, Fascist, or New Right movements. It is closer to being an intellectual and social movement. It draws from the same sources of thought and culture that the society it operates in draws from, and it seeks to elevate that society toward growth and advancement.
