Source: Dawn.Com
Unlike most political ideologies whose adherents by and large agree with the definitional tags attributed to their respective ideologies and ideologues, Political Islam is more of an academic concoction.
It works as an analytical umbrella under which political analysts lump various forces that claim to be using historical Islamic texts and traditions to achieve modern political goals.
One is not quite sure exactly when the term Political Islam was invented, but there is agreement among many academics, studying politics in the Muslim world that the word most probably emerged in the 1940s in Europe to define anti-colonial movements that described themselves to be religious/Islamic in orientation.
Though it might have some roots in anti-colonial movements that emerged among the Muslims of India and Arabia in the 19th century, Political Islam is basically a 20th century phenomenon. Its first main expression is believed to be Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood that was formed in 1927.
Categories: Europe
Good to read the detailed reearch work. However, regrettably one important link totally been missed in the research. It pertains to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and its founder. Interpretation offered by Ahmadiyya community founder about Jihad as well subsequent writings of its Khalifas specially about Islam response to contemporary issues deserve attention by any one undertaking research on Islam. Comments forwarded by eminent personalities in Capitol Hill, European Parliament and UK Parliament about the loving and peaceful interpretation of Islam presented by current Ahmadiyya Community supreme head deserve its mention in any research work. Could be, like others, the author did not consider Ahmadiyya as part of Islam. How unfortunate it is.