Makram Abbès. Islam and Politics in the Classical Age. [al-Islam wa-l-Siyasa fi al-Asr al-Wasıt] translated [from French] by Muhammed Haj Salim. Beirut: Nuhudh Center for Studies and Publications, 2020, 208 pages

Abstract

The relationship between Islam and politics in the classical age is a subject of dispute. Scholars debate the nature of this relationship, delving into questions like whether there is a balance between them or whether one regulates and determines the other. Was al-Mawardi (d. 1508) writing on politics the same way al-Farabi was? How were Islam and politics perceived in classical Muslim contributions? Which classical books (or topics) should one scrutinize to reach an accurate and comprehensive understanding of this relationship? Makram Abbès proposes a method for understanding Islam and politics in the classical age.