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This is the complete lecture note for ISS 308 Islamic Political Thought and Movements. You can read it online below, open it in the full viewer, or download the PDF for offline study. It pairs with the course's video lectures, so you can read and watch together.
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| Course code: ISS 308 Course title: Islamic Political Thought and Movements Course credit load: 2 Units (C; LH 30) List of Series: • Series 1: Islam as a Total Way of Life and Governance • Series 2: Principles of Government in the Qur’ān and Ḥadīth • Series 3: Historical and Intellectual Development of Government in Islam • Series 4: Political Institutions in Islamic Governance • Series 5: Jihad Movements and Encounters with Western Imperialism 1 Islam as a Total Way of Life and Governance Series Outline This Series is organised into four main Parts: 1. 1.1 Islam as a Comprehensive Way of Life o 1.1.1 Meaning and scope of Islam as a way of life o 1.1.2 Relationship between faith, ethics and social organisation o 1.1.3 The place of governance within the Islamic worldview 2. 1.2 The Concept and Purpose of Governance in Islam o 1.2.1 Meaning and objectives of government o 1.2.2 Authority, responsibility and accountability o 1.2.3 Justice, consultation and public welfare 3. 1.3 Foundations of an Islamic Political Order o 1.3.1 Human dignity and moral responsibility o 1.3.2 Justice and equality before the law o 1.3.3 Consultation and participation in public affairs o 1.3.4 Protection of rights and public interests 4. 1.4 Governance, Society and the Individual
| o 1.4.1 Responsibilities of rulers o 1.4.2 Responsibilities of citizens o 1.4.3 Ethical conduct in public life o 1.4.4 Relevance of Islamic governance principles to contemporary society Introduction When people hear the word government, they often think of institutions such as the legislature, executive, courts, ministries and other public authorities. In the Islamic intellectual tradition, however, questions of governance cannot be separated completely from questions of belief, morality and social responsibility. Islam presents itself as a comprehensive way of life that guides the individual’s relationship with Allah, personal conduct, family relations, economic activities and responsibilities towards society. Governance therefore forms part of the wider framework through which justice, order and public welfare are pursued. This perspective is important for understanding Islamic political thought and the historical development of Muslim political institutions. The aim of this Series is to examine the place of governance within the Islamic conception of life and to introduce the fundamental values that inform political organisation in Islam. Particular attention will be given to authority, responsibility, justice, consultation, accountability and public welfare. We shall commence this Series by examining Islam as a comprehensive way of life and locating governance within its wider moral and social framework. Next, we will consider the concept and purpose of government, including the responsibilities attached to political authority. We will then examine the principal foundations of an Islamic political order, with particular attention to justice, human dignity, consultation and protection of public interests. Finally, we will consider the respective responsibilities of rulers and citizens and reflect on the continuing relevance of these principles to contemporary society.
| Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: SLO 1.1 explain the conception of Islam as a comprehensive way of life and identify the place of governance within it, SLO 1.2 analyse the purpose of political authority and the responsibilities associated with governance in Islam, SLO 1.3 evaluate the significance of justice, consultation, human dignity and public welfare as foundations of political order, and SLO 1.4 assess the responsibilities of rulers and citizens in promoting ethical governance in contemporary society. 1.1 Islam as a Comprehensive Way of Life Islam is not presented merely as a collection of private religious practices. The term Islam refers to submission and willing obedience to Allah, and in the Islamic worldview this submission has implications for both personal conduct and social relationships. A Muslim’s beliefs and acts of worship are therefore connected with ethical behaviour, family responsibilities, economic dealings, social relations and responsibilities towards the wider community. The comprehensive nature of Islam can be understood by considering the different dimensions of human life addressed by Islamic teachings. These include belief and worship, personal morality, family life, economic transactions, social responsibilities, conflict resolution and public administration. This does not mean that every administrative procedure is fixed in exactly the same form for all societies. Rather, Islamic political thought provides principles and values within which institutions and policies may be developed. 1.1.1 Meaning and scope of Islam as a way of life
| The Qurʾān repeatedly presents guidance as relevant to human conduct. Islam establishes a relationship between belief and action, making moral responsibility an important feature of the Muslim life. Acts of worship such as ṣalāh, fasting and zakāh are not intended to exist independently of ethical behaviour. They are expected to contribute to the development of responsible individuals and a morally conscious society. The idea of Islam as a way of life means that Islamic teachings provide guidance for multiple dimensions of human existence. A Muslim is expected to observe religious obligations while also acting justly, fulfilling agreements, respecting rights and avoiding conduct that harms others. This broad conception is significant for Islamic political thought because political authority affects the lives of individuals and communities. Questions concerning the administration of justice, protection of rights, public order and distribution of resources can therefore be considered within the broader moral framework of Islam. Fill in the blank: Islam as a way of life connects religious belief with __________ conduct and social responsibility. 1.1.2 Relationship between faith, ethics and social organisation Islamic political thought begins from the premise that political life has a moral dimension. Faith influences the way individuals understand responsibility, justice and accountability. A person who believes that human beings are accountable before Allah is expected to consider the moral consequences of decisions, including decisions made while exercising public authority. Ethics refers to principles that guide judgements about right and wrong conduct. In Islamic thought, ethical principles are not limited to private behaviour. They can also guide the conduct of rulers, public officials, community leaders and citizens. Honesty, justice, trustworthiness, fulfilment of obligations and concern for others are therefore relevant to public life. Consider a public official who has access to government resources. From an Islamic ethical perspective, the official is not simply managing property belonging to an organisation. The position carries a responsibility to use public resources properly and avoid corruption or personal exploitation.
| This relationship between faith, ethics and social organisation helps explain why Islamic political thought does not treat political authority as purely a technical matter. The exercise of authority is connected to moral responsibility. Fill in the blank: Principles that guide judgements about right and wrong conduct are known as __________. 1.1.3 The place of governance within the Islamic worldview Governance refers to the processes and institutions through which authority is exercised, decisions are made and public affairs are administered. Within the Islamic worldview, governance is concerned not simply with controlling a territory but also with maintaining order, protecting rights, administering justice and promoting the welfare of society. The Qurʾānic and Prophetic traditions provide principles relevant to governance, while Muslim scholars and political thinkers have discussed how those principles may be applied in different historical circumstances. Consequently, Islamic political thought contains both normative principles and historical experiences. It is also important to distinguish between Islamic principles and every political system that has existed in Muslim history. Muslim rulers and states were established by human beings and, like other political systems, their conduct could reflect both strengths and shortcomings. The study of Islamic political thought therefore requires learners to distinguish between the ideals presented by Islamic sources and the actual practices of particular historical governments.
| Comparison showing the distinction between Islamic political principles and the historical practices of Muslim governments. Table 1.1: Islamic political ideals and historical political practice Understanding this distinction will help you approach later Series with an analytical rather than purely descriptive perspective. You will encounter historical institutions, rulers and movements, but these should be examined in relation to the principles and circumstances that shaped them. Fill in the blank: Governance involves the exercise of authority, decision-making and the administration of __________ affairs. Pilot Questions 1.1 1. What does Islam as a comprehensive way of life mean? 2. Which dimension of Islam connects belief with responsible conduct? 3. Define ethics. 4. What is meant by governance? 5. Why is it important to distinguish Islamic political ideals from the actual practices of historical Muslim governments?
| 1.2 The Concept and Purpose of Governance in Islam Government exists because communities require mechanisms for making collective decisions, maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting the interests of their members. In Islamic political thought, these functions are considered within a moral framework. Political authority is not regarded as an unlimited personal possession of the ruler. Instead, authority involves responsibility and is subject to ethical and religious principles. The historical forms of Muslim government have varied considerably. Different periods witnessed caliphates, sultanates, emirates and other forms of political organisation. Despite these differences, Islamic political thinkers repeatedly addressed questions concerning legitimate authority, justice, obedience, consultation and the welfare of the community. 1.2.1 Meaning
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