On the Islamic theory of the state
The title is a research paper by Helmer Ringgren, published in Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis, Vol. 6 (1972), 103–108. The following is an excerpt from its abstract.[1]
Islam and politics
From the very beginning, Islam has devoted more interest to politics and political theory than most other religions. If it can be said with some right that Jesus was unpolitical, Muhammad was certainly not. Islam makes no distinction between religion and politics, but the two are intimately connected, and political theory has a religious and theological motivation.
Basis for the attitude
That implies that, in theory, it is based on the Koran and on Tradition (Sunnah) in the same way as jurisprudence in general or as any other theological discipline.
Objective of the study
This study examines the theory of the state in Islamic sources.