Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
This article analyzes the theoretical foundations of traditional mainstream Islamic political thought regarding establishing political authority, or the concentration of power, and establishing the “state.” One of humanity’s two major political challenges is state-building (or creation), which is de...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Arabic |
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Istanbul University Press
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Darulfunun Ilahiyat |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/003FD7AD890845B09B38873444C401C5 |
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| Summary: | This article analyzes the theoretical foundations of traditional mainstream Islamic political thought regarding establishing political authority, or the concentration of power, and establishing the “state.” One of humanity’s two major political challenges is state-building (or creation), which is defined as the hierarchical structuring of power to ensure people’s material (physical) security, obedience to the government, and, eventually, the establishment of a public order. The other is how to limit power while protecting the spiritual existence and integrity of the relevant human group—that is, how to allow people to realize themselves. The classical Islamic political thought is centered on three principles for establishing political authority: First, the primary goal of political order is to ensure social existence and unity. Second, the rulings based only on ijtihād (dhanniyyât) in response to the circumstances of the time should not be confused with specific rules (qatiyyât) about the foundation of the political system derived from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and ijmā. Third, political authority derives from law, not cosmological or theological claims about the ruler. This article discusses the major theories and models developed during the classical period of Islamic political thought in light of these three issues. |
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| ISSN: | 2651-5083 |