Introduction
Imam Taymiyya was at the receiving end of the animosity and skepticism of many of his contemporaries and thinkers who succeeded him. Despite this, the one thing that can unanimously be agreed on is that if nothing else Imam Taymiyya's political thought was indubitably powerful and potent.
Imam Taymiyya lived in times that were tumultuous for Muslims as a result of the Mongol invasion and their brutal annihilation of Baghdad, followed by Hulagu Khan putting to death the final Abbasid Khalifa in Baghdad- Al-Mustasim. This unprecedented turn of events led to a fundamental issue being raised: the classic question revolving around political authority now that the Abbasid Khalifa had taken refuge under the Mamluks.
In this essay, I …show more content…
Ibn Taymiyya is well aware of the fact that religion and politics are two distinct entities but at the same time the relationship between them is intricately interwoven. This mutual relationship proves to be necessary for both religion and the political authority. The political authority has the power to carry out the penal laws and the authority to supervise and enable the performance of religious duties such as jihad, pilgrimage distribution of zakat and so on. Likewise, Ibn Taymiyya maintains the view that political authority needs religion because the revealed laws and moral values restrain, moderate and protect the political authority from tyranny and corruption.
Purpose of Political Authority
After having established the difference between religion and political authority, Ibn Taymiyya proceeded to establish the purpose and qualities of an ideal political leader.
What matters most for Ibn Taymiyya is not the caliphate, but rule and governance according to the sharia—which, according to Ibn Taymiyya, implies ruling with justice—from which public offices and a moral community are
Imam Taymiyya was at the receiving end of the animosity and skepticism of many of his contemporaries and thinkers who succeeded him. Despite this, the one thing that can unanimously be agreed on is that if nothing else Imam Taymiyya's political thought was indubitably powerful and potent.
Imam Taymiyya lived in times that were tumultuous for Muslims as a result of the Mongol invasion and their brutal annihilation of Baghdad, followed by Hulagu Khan putting to death the final Abbasid Khalifa in Baghdad- Al-Mustasim. This unprecedented turn of events led to a fundamental issue being raised: the classic question revolving around political authority now that the Abbasid Khalifa had taken refuge under the Mamluks.
In this essay, I …show more content…
Ibn Taymiyya is well aware of the fact that religion and politics are two distinct entities but at the same time the relationship between them is intricately interwoven. This mutual relationship proves to be necessary for both religion and the political authority. The political authority has the power to carry out the penal laws and the authority to supervise and enable the performance of religious duties such as jihad, pilgrimage distribution of zakat and so on. Likewise, Ibn Taymiyya maintains the view that political authority needs religion because the revealed laws and moral values restrain, moderate and protect the political authority from tyranny and corruption.
Purpose of Political Authority
After having established the difference between religion and political authority, Ibn Taymiyya proceeded to establish the purpose and qualities of an ideal political leader.
What matters most for Ibn Taymiyya is not the caliphate, but rule and governance according to the sharia—which, according to Ibn Taymiyya, implies ruling with justice—from which public offices and a moral community are