The Discursive Character of the  Irjā Movement in the Umayyad Period

In this paper, the ‘irjā’ movement will be analyzed from a discursive perspective in order to rethink some paradoxes in its approaches and tendencies. It will be shown that the discourse of ’irjā’ had one core, but different origins, meanings, and significations in Iraq, Transoxiana/Khurāsān, and the Levant. This discourse generally followed a special perspective regarding faith, and its relationship with deeds, as well as some political principles. This paper seeks to uncover the different social and political contexts of this discourse. A major objective is to see how the different social and political contexts in Iraq, Transoxiana/Khurāsān, and the Levant gave rise to a mostly singular view on faith, and the emergence of different political stances against the Umayyads. It will be also demonstrated that political stances against the Umayyads and the will of the state - despite its relationship with the movement -- was not the only determining factor in the formation of the ’irjā’ discourse.