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Islam 3: Key Institutions and Actors (Historical Practices / Proof…
Islam 3: Key Institutions and Actors
Genealogy, Facts & Myths
clams of divine sovereignty is not grounded on historical fact
early Muslim did not relate governance with religion. Instead adapting base on situation with a broad moral, welfare and political norms.
practices and policies of the Caliphs undermine Islamist claim of Islamic state
Jahiliah and other non-Muslim governance was also referred to as an example
What is binding is the moral obligation to
contain chaos and maintaining order
, not the political institution to do it
Quran does not specified political institution. only giving broad moral guidelines
Legitimacy
Brought by 20th century Islamist ideologues: Abu Ala Mawdudi (1979) & Sayyid Qutb (1966)
Referred to 1st century of Prophet's and Caliphs governance
Reality
much in Islamic traditions is similar to modern democracy's regard for morality, religion and rationale.
The diversity / vastness of Islamic politics would do well for future reference ; creative and innovative engagement for Muslims today
Devine Sovereignty is made up by Islamist, no basis in scripture nor past governance
Many Faces of Political Islam
Chap 2: Islam's Multiple Voices
no one unifying voice
divided mostly on national territorial lines
Robert Hefner: Muslims disagree on who to speak for Islam, and how serious Muslims should regard individual scholars' opinions
Live and let live policy: 4 schools of Sunni thought, 1 Shia
A. Khomeini ruled directly
A. Sistani supervisory / advisory role
Historical Practices / Proof
Caliphates
Abu Bakar was appointed on the spot, serious revolt situation needed immediate leader, a happened chance, unpremidated (falta)
No blueprint for 'Islamic government' was used
Election thru human reasoning (ijtihad), precedence / priority (sabiqa), virtue/moral excellence (fall/fadila), consultation (shura)
Umar: chosen by Abu Bakar, Uthman: 6 member round table, Ali: popular consent, democracy?, the last government with consent from the governed
Quranic Attitude
"precedence" and "(moral) excellence"
Umayyads started calling themselves 'God's deputy', the Caliphates never dared, instead calling themselves 'Messenger of God's successor' or 'leader of the faithful'
Diwan pension system innovated by Umar. Preference based on moral excellence. had affirmative action in Umar and Uthman time, AA removed in Ali time.
interpretations based on independent reasoning, later recognised by polity as valid given the circumstances BRAIN WAS USED, NOT JUST QURAN
Shura, consultation
2 verses and Prophet always practice
non-consultative dynastic rule is a betrayal of early Islamic practice
not like democracy, because the person who looses lease might have the loudest voice
Devine Sovereignity
Fazrul Rahman says God's sovereignty is about the order of the universe and man
Hakim / mulk of God used in Quran is referred to moral judgement, not worldly matters
Politics & Religious Law
Quran is not a law book, but a moral code to derive laws
Fiqh: intelligence & discernment
mubah: medieval jurist acknowledging the empty space the Shariah doesn't cover, use your brain
Jahilliah
Good practices like bravery from jahilliah were used in early Islam time
demonization is new
Prophet's Alliance of the Virtuous during jahilliah times, early Islam was a conglomeration of cultures
Contain chaos, establish order
Many suggestion for electing ruler post-Muhammad showed rationalist theologian (Abd al-Jabbar 1095)
social utility rather than religious doctrine established necessity of a governing institution (Adud al-Din al-Iji 1355)
Ulama attacked
conservative due to emphasis on accumulated tradition and legal precedents, aversion to innovate
this political quietist stand become target for religious revivalist and secular elites: archaic Islam with no answers to contemporary problems
print revolution, increased literacy + disconnection with modernity undermined ulama's status as interpreters
emergence of nation-states; citizens' allegiance shifts, who are 'we' and 'they'.
same prob with West now.
ironically, colonisation sealed the umma as a politically relevant category
Proto-Reformation
1) scriptural literalism
2) individual priesthood
religiously inclined individuals from secular background ijtihad on their own due to:
scholars obsessed with petty matters
scholars beholden to rulers
scholar with ancient approach
distorted the true spirit of Islam
Sunni-Shia relationship with Ulama
Sunni
1928 Hasn al-Bana Egypt challenged caliphs, ruler and governor without fear
Mawdudi India Islamic states plan side stepped ulama
Sayyid Qutb Egypt denounced the idea 'men of religion, who take from religion a profession'
All 3 trained and engaged in modern profession
Egypt's proclamation for violent overthrow used 'takfir' excommunication, against traditional Islamic political thought i.e. pronounced by a Muslim leader for expansion or defence
NOT ONLY WAS THE METHOD WRONG, THE PRE-REQUISITE IS ALSO WRONG, muslims protesting in England against non Muslim government, if only they furthered their Islamic education include Islamic history
Neo-Wahabism: radical Islamist ulama + lay Pakistani Islamist
Shia
Financially independent from state; shias pay 1/5 income (khums) to their source of emulation (marja)
more innovative to suit to modern times than Sunni ulama