The Urdu edition of Faultlines, a thought-provoking book by noted environmentalist and academic Syed Iqbal Hasnain, will be formally released on August 2 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). The launch will be a key highlight of the Chinar Book Fair, a major literary event that brings together writers, publishers, and readers from across the region.
Originally titled Fault Lines in the Faith, the book delves into three pivotal events of 1979 that, according to the author, have reshaped the Muslim world: the Iranian Revolution, the Mecca Grand Mosque seizure, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Hasnain explores how these developments triggered a seismic shift in the geopolitical and religious landscape of the Islamic world.
Using a scholarly and scientific approach, Hasnain examines how these events contributed to the rise of militant ideologies, particularly Wahhabism, and the marginalisation of more moderate Islamic traditions like Sufi Sunni Islam. The book analyses how Saudi Arabia’s 1979 decision to aggressively promote Wahhabism globally has had lasting consequences for Muslim societies.
In its early chapters, the book investigates the historical alliance between Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Ibn Saud, laying the foundation for the current ideological underpinnings of global jihadist movements. Hasnain goes on to dissect sectarian divisions, geopolitical shifts, and the emerging strategic alignment between Israel and Gulf Arab monarchies against Iran.
The title Faultlines metaphorically reflects the deep ideological and political fractures that plague the Muslim world today. Hasnain argues that these unresolved tensions have led to fragmentation, societal instability, and in some cases, near state failure in parts of the Middle East.
By translating this important work into Urdu, the book’s reach will now extend to a broader audience, particularly in Kashmir and other Urdu-speaking regions. The release event is expected to draw academics, policymakers, students, and civil society members for a discussion on religion, politics, and the role of scholarship in addressing contemporary challenges.
Syed Iqbal Hasnain’s Faultlines offers a sobering yet scholarly insight into the roots of extremism and the pressing need for reform and reflection in the Muslim world.