This book advances an Islamic political philosophy based on the concept of Ihsan, which means to do beautiful things. The author moves beyond the dominant model of Islamic governance advanced by modern day Islamists. The political philosophy of Ihsan privileges process over structure, deeds over identity, love over law and mercy and forgiveness over retribution. The work invites Muslims to move away from thinking about the form of Islamic government and to strive to create a self-critical society that defends national virtue and generates institutions and practices that provide good governance.

Develops a systematic political philosophy based on Sufism/Islamic mysticism and the concept of Ihsan Proposes an alternate vision of Islamic politics to that advanced by Islamists and radicals Deconstructs the orthodox model of Islamic polity as one whose goal is to implement the shariah

Autorentext
M. A. Muqtedar Khan is Professor at the University of Delaware, USA. He is a scholar of Islamic Thought, Governance and International Relations.

Inhalt

1. Chapter 1 Introduction: The Quest for a Political Philosophy of Ihsan.- 2. Chapter 2 Loss of Ihsan.- 3. Chapter 3 Islam as Identity: After a Century of Islamic Revivalism.- 4. Chapter 4 Ihsan: Classical and Contemporary Understanding.- 5. Chapter 5 Unveiling Ihsan: From Cosmic View to Worldview.- 6. Chapter 6 Islamic Political Philosophy: A Critical Genealogy.- 7. Chapter 7 Ihsan and Good Governance.- 8. Chapter 8 Closing Thoughts