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Zakāt, Citizenship and the State: The Evolution of Islamic Religious and Political Authority

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2014

‘ABD al-RAHMAN al-SALIMI
‘ABD al-RAHMAN al-SALIMI*
Affiliation:
Royal Asiatic Society, [email protected]
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Abstract

In this essay I will demonstrate the way in which the relationship between political authority and religious authority evolved throughout the history of Islam; and point out where religious rule gave way to the creation of nation states. I will map corresponding changes in Zakāt collections, among various nation states, to support my argument in favour of a continued separation of religious and political functions in contemporary nations with Muslim majority populations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 57 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 2014 

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