A study reveals the danger of intellectual ignorance in the creation of extremism
In a significant research contribution shedding light on the intellectual roots of terrorism, Dr. Reem Ramzi, a researcher specializing in intellectual and cultural issues, warned of the dangers of the escalating phenomenon of "intellectual ignorance," describing it not merely as isolated, individual errors, but as a systematic project aimed at undermining national and religious stability. This came within her doctoral dissertation, which she earned with distinction from Umm Al-Qura University, in which she affirmed that this phenomenon creates a fertile environment for the growth of extremism and terrorism by distorting collective consciousness and misrepresenting facts.
General context: The battle for awareness and intellectual security
This study is of paramount importance given the global and regional transformations underway in the region, where warfare is no longer confined to traditional military confrontations but has extended to the realm of thought and knowledge. The concept of "intellectual security" is a cornerstone of modern states' strategies for protecting their societies from infiltration. Historically, extremist groups have consistently relied on isolating their followers from reliable sources of knowledge and creating closed intellectual enclaves based on indoctrination rather than critical thinking. This research revisits this issue, employing a rigorous academic approach to uncover the hidden mechanisms employed by these groups.
Mechanisms of creating illusion and suppressing reason
The study, titled “Intellectual Ignorance and its Cultural Effects,” supervised by Professor Abdullah Al-Khudairi of the Department of Qur’an and Sunnah, revealed active and deliberate attempts to fabricate “illusory knowledge.” This fabrication relies on suppressing sound scientific methodology and replacing established legal evidence with emotionally charged doubts. The researcher explained that the tools of this intellectual stagnation depend primarily on narrowing the scope of authentic knowledge and systematically sowing doubt about established doctrinal principles derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah. This is coupled with prohibiting any consideration of the interpretations of established scholars. The ultimate goal is to create followers devoid of insight, easily manipulated as tools to serve narrow political and partisan agendas.
Dr. Reem Ramzi, researcher in intellectual and cultural issues
Devastating effects on national identity
The research paper demonstrated that the destructive effects of this phenomenon extend beyond partisan groups to permeate the broader cultural sphere of society. This deliberate ignorance erodes notions of national belonging, gives rise to the problem of "multiple loyalties" that transcend national borders, and sows the seeds of discord that serve the interests of extremist ideologues . The study identified the most dangerous consequences of this deliberate ignorance as a clash with the pure doctrine of monotheism, a distortion of religious texts through fragmented interpretations that serve the whims of deviants, and the imposition of alien cultural frameworks that strip national identity of its authentic content and shatter noble human values.
The Saudi role in intellectual confrontation
In addressing this issue, Dr. Reem highlighted the pivotal and leading role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia globally and within the Islamic world through its security, religious, and educational institutions in countering these ideologies. These efforts align with the Kingdom's vision, which focuses on promoting the values of moderation and tolerance, protecting society from the scourge of deviant ideas, safeguarding the faith, and preserving national security. The Saudi experience in counseling and intellectual rehabilitation is considered an internationally emulated model for dismantling extremist discourse.
In her concluding recommendations, the researcher stressed the need to declare a state of research and knowledge mobilization, and to intensify sound scientific studies to raise the intellectual immunity of society, and to expose the tricks of those who falsify awareness, in order to ensure the consolidation of intellectual security on firm scientific and legitimate foundations, which guarantee future generations immunity against any future intellectual infiltration.
