The concept of al-Hakimiyyah in the discourse of selected contemporary Islamic scholars : an analytical study

Abstract

The concept of al-ḥakimiyyah and the proposed means of its establishment in the Muslim nations have been an interesting topic of many contemporary researchers. The topic is one of the contemporary and problematic theories due to its connection with global peace and security. The concept has been widely and globally adopted by many radical Islamic groups, who are responsible for many barbaric and unforgivable attacks that have claimed the lives of many innocents around the world. Abu ‘Ala Mawdudi who was the pioneer of the term, and Sayyid Quṭb who promoted it, are believed to be responsible for the spread of the idea. The concept of al-ḥakimiyyah and the means of its establishment have been the main theory around which the whole discourses of Mawdudi and Sayyid Quṭb revolved. Thus, both of them are commonly described as the top among the most contemporary controversial and influential radical Islamist thinkers and leading ideologues of al-ḥakimiyyah, who have played both formative and theoretical roles in the contemporary radical Islamic movements. Considering the claims that accuse Mawdudi’s and Sayyid Quṭb’s theory of al-ḥakimiyyah of being responsible for the global crisis caused by the radical Islamic movements, and the unrests that resulted from uprising against the ruling authorities in Islamic countries, thorough investigation and fair assessment are needful to confirm or debunk the claim. Therefore, this research attempts to analyze the extent to which Mawdudi’s and Sayyid Qutb’s concepts of al-ḥakimiyyah divergent from or convergent with the correct teaching of Islam. The research is expected to contribute towards the ideal way of dealing with the contemporary systems of government in various Muslim nations and render a kind of guidance to the adopters of the violent approach towards their governments. In an attempt to carry out this task, the researcher applies a qualitative method that is based on library research. The current study presents Mawdudi’s and Sayyid Qutb’s concept of al-ḥakimiyyah from the original sources and then critically analyzed and assessed. Thus, after presenting a considerable account on their intellectual discourses on the concept of al-ḥakimiyyah and their approaches towards the establishment of the concept, it is found that their concept of al-ḥakimiyyah is in line with the correct teachings of Islam, but enough opportunity is not given to contemplate and digest the idea. However, there are some criticisms, which are not directly affecting their main concept of al-ḥakimiyyah, but in one way or the other affecting their systematic and strategic approaches. Finally, Mawdudi and Sayyid Quṭb are believed to have been misunderstood by many contemporary Islamic movements who ascribed themselves to their school of thought.