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: M. Akif Kayapınar
Format: Article
Language:Arabic
Published: Istanbul University Press 2024-12-01
Series:Darulfunun Ilahiyat
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/003FD7AD890845B09B38873444C401C5
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author M. Akif Kayapınar
author_facet M. Akif Kayapınar
author_sort M. Akif Kayapınar
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-ef56906cdb3446148fbf2ecfb0f11e922025-08-20T01:51:07ZaraIstanbul University PressDarulfunun Ilahiyat2651-50832024-12-0135231735210.26650/di.2024.35.1.1409970123456Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political ThoughtM. Akif Kayapınar0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3208-4718İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, TürkiyeThis 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.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/003FD7AD890845B09B38873444C401C5islampolitical orderstate formationconcentration of powerqatiyyât-dhanniyyâtthe unity of communityshari’ah law
spellingShingle M. Akif Kayapınar
Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
Darulfunun Ilahiyat
islam
political order
state formation
concentration of power
qatiyyât-dhanniyyât
the unity of community
shari’ah law
title Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
title_full Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
title_fullStr Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
title_full_unstemmed Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
title_short Centralization of Power in Classical Mainstream Islamic Political Thought
title_sort centralization of power in classical mainstream islamic political thought
topic islam
political order
state formation
concentration of power
qatiyyât-dhanniyyât
the unity of community
shari’ah law
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/003FD7AD890845B09B38873444C401C5
work_keys_str_mv AT makifkayapınar centralizationofpowerinclassicalmainstreamislamicpoliticalthought