Politics and the Muslim world by Dr S. L. M. RIFAI.

Abstract

The primary objective of this article is to examine the origin and development of the politics in Islam. What does Islam say about politics? what is the connection between Islam and politics? How did the idea of politics evolve in Islamic history? Does Islam promote the ideas of theocracy? Where does the idea of politics come from in Islam? Do the primary sources of Islam promote any kinds of politics? Does Qur’an speak about politics? Was the prophet of Islam a politician in any sense? Did prophet do politics in his life? what did classical Islamic scholars say anything about politics? What went wrong with politics in Islamic history? Why does not politics work in Muslim countries? How did Muslims inherit the politics of totalitarianism and dictatorship? Why do western political leaders fear political Islam? Is there any room for democracy in Islamic political philosophy? Does Islam promote democracy? Is there any antipathy between the democracy and Islam? Or any affirmation between the Islam and democracy? I will try to address some of these questions to make some clarifications on the ideas of philosophy in Islam.