Islam and the Foundations of Political Power (In Translation: Modern Muslim Thinkers)

by Abdel Razek, Ali; Filali-Ansary, Abdou; Loutfi, Maryam

• ISBN13: 9780748689835
• ISBN10: 0748689834
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-10-30
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

Egypt, 1925: the Muslim world is in turmoil over Mustapha Kamal Ataturk's proposal to abolish the caliphate in Turkey. The debate over Islam and politics re-ignites as traditional political systems dissolve under pressure from European powers and most Muslim countries lose their sovereignty.

Into this debate enters Ali Abdel Razek, a religious cleric trained at Al-Azhar University, arguing in favour of secularism in his essay 'Islam and the Foundations of Political Power', translated here and published in paperback for the first time.

Scholarly features include
A substantial introduction that places the essay in its context and explains its impact

An appendix of Razek's sources with full publication details

Explanatory notes beside Razek's original footnotes

Additional notes about particular people, events or vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to modern readers

Author Biography

Abdou Filali-Ansary is Director of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations.

Maryam Loutfi formally worked in the Ministry of Finance and Economy and is presently working in the area of Education.

Table of Contents

About the Author

A Tribute to Ali Abdel Razek Amr Hamed

Preface, Abdou Filali-Ansary

Introduction, Abdou Filali-Ansary

Foreword, Ali Abdel Razek

Book One: The caliphate and Islam
1: The nature of the caliphate
2: The status of the caliphate
3: The caliphate from the social point of view

Book Two: Islam and government
4: The system of power at the time of the Prophet
5: Prophecy and power
6: Islam: a message from God rather than a system of government
a religion rather than state

Book Three: The caliphate and the government throughout history
7: Religious unity and the Arab people
8: The Arab State
9: The nature of the caliphate

Bibliography
Appendix