Muslim reformist scholars’ arguments for democracy independent of religious justification
This article examines the ideas of three contemporary Muslim reformists, namely Abdolkarim Soroush, Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, and Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari, concerning the relationship between democracy and the Islamic principle of shura (consultation). The article aims to demonstrate how the theologi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2020
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| In: |
Critical research on religion
Year: 2020, Volume: 8, Issue: 3, Pages: 217-234 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Islam
/ Reform movement
/ Democracy
/ Islamic law
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy BJ Islam XA Law ZC Politics in general |
| Further subjects: | B
ijma
B contextualist approach B Democracy B Qurʾan B Governance B Shura |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article examines the ideas of three contemporary Muslim reformists, namely Abdolkarim Soroush, Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, and Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari, concerning the relationship between democracy and the Islamic principle of shura (consultation). The article aims to demonstrate how the theological-philosophical approaches of these scholars—particularly with respect to their methods of interpreting the Qurʾan and the distinctions they draw between the pre-modern and modern worldview—have contributed to the rise of a political discourse which seeks to understand concepts such as shura and democracy within their own specific epistemological and cultural contexts. This political discourse, as the article argues, supports democracy without any narrow religious justification and promotes a form of government whose legitimacy is not based on religious sources or authority, and thus is neutral towards different religions and their followers. |
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| ISSN: | 2050-3040 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Critical research on religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/2050303220952849 |