Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture

Addressing the Islamic Notion of Sovereign state
Abdalhadi Alijla, Gahad Hamed

Abstract
Most academic studies of Islam and Islamic theology have not examined the concept of sovereignty in Islam. Giventhe factthat studies on sovereignty are undergoing a mini-renaissance where scholars are returning to the basic concepts of sovereignty of the late 1980s and early 1990s, many Islamic/Muslim scholars are trying to examine and reform the concept of sovereignty in Islam. Thisresearch paper discusses the fundamental nature of sovereignty in Islam. This research paperfocuses on centering it within an international framework with particular reference to the recent unrests risings in the Middle East, while also reviewing the different and classical perspectives on sovereignty amongst Muslims scholars. Moreover, this paper discusses the new works on the problematic nature of state’s sovereignty in Islam. The popular uprisings that came to be called “The Arab Spring” have brought the question of sovereignty of the people and legitimacy of the ruler to the surface. This paper argues that the concept of God’s or divine sovereignty and the Umma have become sensitive issues that the public would like to put it aside, considering the nature of the currentnation states of the Muslim majority countries. It concludesthat Islam has two different levels of sovereignty: judicial and executive sovereignty.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jisc.v3n2a13