A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach
This article seeks to demonstrate how the Egyptian scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (d. 2010) challenges the concept of divine sovereignty (<i>ḥākimiyya</i>), or the rule of God, developed during the twentieth century, primarily by Sayyid Qutb and Abul Ala Mawdudi—a concept that has inspired...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1100 |
| _version_ | 1797464125827186688 |
|---|---|
| author | Ali Akbar Abdullah Saeed |
| author_facet | Ali Akbar Abdullah Saeed |
| author_sort | Ali Akbar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article seeks to demonstrate how the Egyptian scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (d. 2010) challenges the concept of divine sovereignty (<i>ḥākimiyya</i>), or the rule of God, developed during the twentieth century, primarily by Sayyid Qutb and Abul Ala Mawdudi—a concept that has inspired many Sunni Islamist movements. The article first explores key aspects of the concept of <i>ḥākimiyya</i> as presented by these two thinkers. Then, key components of Abu Zayd’s humanistic hermeneutics are explained briefly. The article argues that Abu Zayd uses this hermeneutic to challenge the concept of <i>ḥākimiyya</i> and the three main ideas associated with it: (1) the notion of divine sovereignty; (2) the associations between divine sovereignty, the Prophet, and the Qurʾān; and (3) the necessity of implementing Sharia. The article concludes that while challenging the concept of divine sovereignty, Abu Zayd argues for a political theory which seeks to de-politicize Islam—a theory which emphasizes that the state should take a neutral position toward the religious orientation of its citizens and the state law should not necessarily be derived from religious principles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:03:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee0e96c498f64d3195007ea9bcd13d0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:03:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee0e96c498f64d3195007ea9bcd13d0e2023-11-24T09:47:28ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-11-011311110010.3390/rel13111100A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s ApproachAli Akbar0Abdullah Saeed1Asia Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, AustraliaAsia Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, AustraliaThis article seeks to demonstrate how the Egyptian scholar Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (d. 2010) challenges the concept of divine sovereignty (<i>ḥākimiyya</i>), or the rule of God, developed during the twentieth century, primarily by Sayyid Qutb and Abul Ala Mawdudi—a concept that has inspired many Sunni Islamist movements. The article first explores key aspects of the concept of <i>ḥākimiyya</i> as presented by these two thinkers. Then, key components of Abu Zayd’s humanistic hermeneutics are explained briefly. The article argues that Abu Zayd uses this hermeneutic to challenge the concept of <i>ḥākimiyya</i> and the three main ideas associated with it: (1) the notion of divine sovereignty; (2) the associations between divine sovereignty, the Prophet, and the Qurʾān; and (3) the necessity of implementing Sharia. The article concludes that while challenging the concept of divine sovereignty, Abu Zayd argues for a political theory which seeks to de-politicize Islam—a theory which emphasizes that the state should take a neutral position toward the religious orientation of its citizens and the state law should not necessarily be derived from religious principles.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1100Nasr Hamid Abu ZaydSayyid QutbAbul Ala Mawdudidivine sovereigntyQurʾānic hermeneutics |
| spellingShingle | Ali Akbar Abdullah Saeed A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach Religions Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd Sayyid Qutb Abul Ala Mawdudi divine sovereignty Qurʾānic hermeneutics |
| title | A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach |
| title_full | A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach |
| title_fullStr | A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach |
| title_short | A Critique of the Concept of <i>Ḥākimiyya</i>: Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd’s Approach |
| title_sort | critique of the concept of i hakimiyya i nasr hamid abu zayd s approach |
| topic | Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd Sayyid Qutb Abul Ala Mawdudi divine sovereignty Qurʾānic hermeneutics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/11/1100 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aliakbar acritiqueoftheconceptofihakimiyyainasrhamidabuzaydsapproach AT abdullahsaeed acritiqueoftheconceptofihakimiyyainasrhamidabuzaydsapproach AT aliakbar critiqueoftheconceptofihakimiyyainasrhamidabuzaydsapproach AT abdullahsaeed critiqueoftheconceptofihakimiyyainasrhamidabuzaydsapproach |