Islam, Politics, and Statehood an Analytical Study of the Scope of Political Science and the Characteristics of an Islamic State

Abstract

This paper explores the conceptual and structural relationship between Islam, politics, and statehood, asserting that Islam offers a complete code of life in which religion cannot be separated from political governance. Beginning with the etymological roots and historical evolution of political science, the study examines the discipline through temporal phases (past, present, and future) and key thematic areas, including political thought, systems of government, and international relations. Through a comparative analysis of political traditions across major religions Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity the paper critiques modern secularism and the artificial bifurcation of religion and state. It outlines the core characteristics of an Islamic state, grounded in the supreme legal sovereignty of Allah (Hakamiyyah), governance through divine vicegerency (Khilafah), institutionalized consultation (Majlis-e-Shura), universal human equality, rigorous justice (Adl), and regulated freedoms of expression and belief. The author concludes that detaching politics from Islamic ethics leads to lawlessness and societal collapse, reaffirming that political effort aligned with divine law is a primary requirement of faith and essential for human welfare.

Keywords: Islamic Political Thought, Islamic State, Sovereignty of Allah, Shura, Political Science, Secularism vs. Religion

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23340329