The Political Side of Islam
I recently had the opportunity of speaking with Greg Hearn, the Australian director for The Centre for the Study of Political Islam International (CSPII) about the political dimensions of Islam.
What is meant by Political Islam?
While all religions or faiths are inherently individualistic and pertain mainly to our relationship with God, and who we think He is, there is also a political side. Not only does our faith or religion determine how we interact with God, but also how we interact with others within the world around us. Most, if not all religions have a doctrine that “dictates” how followers of said doctrine are to behave. Essentially, politics in religion is the management and organisation of societies in collective choices and shared affairs.
In examining aspects of the Quran and the examples of the Prophet Muhammad, it can be interpreted as a guide to show followers how they are to conduct themselves, not only socially but more importantly, politically. While our discussion is centred around political Islam, we touch briefly on how it differs from the political side of Christianity, and the two main golden rules that dictate how Christians are to behave.
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