The Question of Sovereignty in Modern Islamic Political Thought

Since the early nineteenth century, Islamic political thought has grappled with modern concepts of the state and democracy, particularly the notion of sovereignty, which developed under unique conditions of the West. This debate has given rise to two main “dualistic” approaches regarding the question of who holds sovereignty and where it is represented. One perspective asserts that sovereignty belongs solely to God and divine law, while the other maintains that both God and the people share sovereignty. This article explores the concept of sovereignty in modern Islamic political thought through key figures and texts while also situating it within the specific context of Europe, where it first emerged. Sovereignty is defined as the ultimate authority to create and enforce laws, while the sovereign is understood as an absolute and eternal authority-one that is not bound by its own laws or those enacted before it, can suspend legal frameworks and declare states of emergency, and has the ability to repeal or replace existing laws when necessary. Ultimately, this study concludes that in Islamic political theory, while the people serve as the source of political authority, they do not possess sovereignty. Instead, sovereignty resides in divine law, and, ultimately, in God.

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