THE POLITICAL INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM

In the political interpretation of Islam, politics assumes the central place. Every aspect of religion acquires a political hue. The true believer’s mission in life, according to this interpretation, is to ensure that just as God’s natural laws are followed throughout the universe, His shariah laws, too, must be enforced in the human world. This is a major deviation. Under normal or ordinary conditions, believers are duty-bound to observe and follow only that portion of the religion of Islam that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad before the acquisition of political power. People can be expected to abide by laws only to the extent that is practically possible for them.