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...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Akbar, Ali (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2020
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
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)
Description
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.
ISSN:2050-3040
Contains:Enthalten in: Critical research on religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/2050303220952849