Defining Islamic Statehood

Measuring and Indexing Contemporary Muslim States
By Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
28 October 2015
$38 | £24.99 | Paperback | 9781137446817

What is the real definition of an Islamic state? How do the majority of Muslims govern themselves? How much do Muslims and non-Muslims really understand about the elements of an Islamic state? And how can a true Islamic state function in a modern world?

These questions bear heavily on the international community. They dominate the news, spawn conflict, and generate misinformation. The answers are complex, but finding them is critical – especially in light of terrorist groups such as ISIL claiming the ‘Islamic State’ as their identity. Through defining Islamic statehood, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf aims to show not only how these terrorist groups are rogue anomalies, but how a true Islamic state is built on a foundation of the minimum required characteristics of divine sovereignty and fulfilling the objectives of Islamic law, rather than embodying one absolute definition.

Harnessing the expertise of leading Sunni and Shia academics, Defining Islamic Statehood searches for answers through dialogue, and seeks to define how an Islamic state forms and functions. It examines how Islamic principles bear on a nation's governance, jurisprudence, culture and policies, and measures how Muslim-majority countries meet the definition by analyzing how they deal with the aspects of modern life.

Together with a group of eminent contributors, ranging from a retired Prime Minister, a former Chief Justice, and internationally recognized academics and experts on Islamic law and governance, well-known Islamic scholar Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf identifies and fulfils the critical need to determine the right balance between institutions of political authority and institutions of religious authority within the context of modern day governance.

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About the Author

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is the founder and chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and promoting moderation. For over 25 years he was the imam of Masjid al-Farah in New York City. He has been ranked among the '100 Most Influential People of the World' by TIME magazine, 'Top 100 Global Thinkers' by Foreign Policy, and 'Top 50 Arabs' by The Middle East Magazine.

For more information or to get in touch with the author please contact:
Rebecca Krahenbuhl, rebecca.krahenbuhl@palgrave.com, +44 0207 014 6634