The State in Islamist Thought

Ahmad, Irfan. 2006. “The State in Islamist Thought”.ISIM Review. 18 (Autumn): 12-13. Reproduced in WLUML Dossier 28 (December 2006): 35– 39. For a summary in Dutch “De Scheiding Tussen Moskee en Statat” Click here

Abstract: The state became central to Islamism not because Islam theologically entailed it, but because of socio-political formations that developed in the early twentieth century. The article analyses how these historical developments are reflected in the writings of Abul Ala Maududi, whose influence has crossed the frontiers of India to influence Islamist movements across the Arab world. In doing so, the author offers a critique of the pervasive view that the importance of the state stems from a presumed lack of separation between religion and politics in Islam.

state in islamist thought-irfan

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