Islam and The State

Question 1

Yathrib

Answer 1

Earliest Islamic state

Governed due to an agreement with the tribes of medina and muhammad

Became a caliphate after Muhammad’s death

Madrasahs were formed so scholars could develop the Islamic empire

Question 2

Sunni

Shura

Answer 2

Consultation

Asking members of the ummah to assist with decision making

“Who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation” sura 43

Question 3

Sunni

Broader Shura

Answer 3

More representation
Encourages loyalty

Impractical
Muhammad didn’t consult large groups

Question 4

Sunni

Limited Shura

Answer 4

Most specialised have most influence
Representative Shura is present via prophethood and caliphs

Creates bias
Forms sectarian tensions

Question 5

Sunni

Shura

Qutb

Answer 5

‘A caliph is only required to consult some of the rules’

Question 6

Sunni

Answer 6

Madrasahs give licenses to become ulema members

Caliph elected via consensus
Governed by Shura
Held to account by ulema

Question 7

Sunni

2 branches of government

Answer 7

The caliph and the ulema

Caliph held to account by ulema

“We obeyed our leaders and chiefs and they missed us from the right path” sura 33

Always question if in doubt

Question 8

Sunni

Al Mawardi

Answer 8

If a caliph is severely ineffective they must be impeached by the majlies

Question 9

Sunni

Al Ghazali

Answer 9

Oppression by a caliph is enough for impeachment

Question 10

Shia

Answer 10

Leader of community should be in bloodline of prophet - immate doctrine

If in post occupation, guardianship of the Islamic jurist is used - Principle of a jurist taking stewardship over ummah

Question 11

Shia

Guardianship of the Islamic jurist

Limited guardianship

Answer 11

No jurisdiction over legal matter

Purely religious leadership

Al - mu’amadat

Question 12

Shia

Guardianship of the Islamic jurist

Absolute guardianship

Answer 12

Same as Imam
Power over religion and state

Al mu’madat and Al Ibadat

Question 13

Shia

Iran

Constitution

Answer 13

Article 5, Shia ulema stands in for imam during occupation

Question 14

Shia

Iran

Supreme leader

Answer 14

Makes final decisions on everything

Has to agree to presidential outcomes
Selects government ministers
Sole authority to declare war
Appoints media and network leaders

Question 15

Shia

Iran

Guardian council

Answer 15

They approve presidential candidates

Directly or indirectly chosen by SL

Can dismiss majlies

Question 16

Shia

Iran

President of Iran

Answer 16

Highest authority down from supreme leader

Can be dismissed by SL

Question 17

Shia

Iran

Assembly of experts

Answer 17

Able to dismiss SL

Never have

Are selected for election via SL

Group of jurists

Question 18

Shia

Mehdi Kurrobi

Answer 18

assembly of experts has become a ceremonial council who only pleases its leader

Consequently under house arrest for 7 years

Question 19

Modernisation responses

Nationalist

Answer 19

Creation of nation states, eg) turkey

Alter to fit nation, very secular

Question 20

Modernisation responses

Islamist

Answer 20

Strictly upholds sharia

Question 21

Modernisation responses

Reform

Answer 21

Integration of Islamic and nationalist ideas

Eg) tanzimat reform turkey - Ottoman Empire integrated non Muslims, removed jizya

Question 22

Modern Muslim state

Turkey

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Answer 22

Desired religion to be separate from constitution

1920s- became secular, no sharia

Kermalism - influenced reform

13% of Turks believe Quran should influence Turkish law

Question 23

Attitudes against secularism

Saudi Arabia

Answer 23

Developed Wahhabism as a rejection of the west

Modernised in an Islamist manner

Bin Laden- arising tensions with the west

Parallel western belief with moral decline

Question 24

Classical sharia systems

Answer 24

Iran, Saudi Arabia

Question 25

Mixed systems

Answer 25

Jordan - Religious courts have jurisdiction over all matters of “personal status”. This includes most family law matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and adoption or guardianship