Democracy in Islam / Sayed Khatab and Gary D. Bouma.

"First published in 2007. First issued in paperback ed 2011.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [211]-255) and index.

Introduction ---- I. The Political Theory. Islam and Polity --- Sovereignty --- Constitution --- Form of Government --- Organs and Functions of the State --- Consultation and Legislature --- The Chief Executive --- The Authority of the State ---- II. The Notion of Democratic Participation. Political Principles --- The Modernists and Democracy --- Muslim Brotherhood --- The Liberals ---- III. Democratic Values in Some Basic Islamic Legal Ideas. Human Relations: Respect and Compassion --- Property: Trusteeship and Charitable Trust --- Ethical Scope: Universal and Communal --- Human Life: Privacy and Human Dignity --- Work: Labour and Industrial Relations --- Economics: Free Market and Commercial Integrity --- Gender: The Status and Rights of Women ---- IV. Contribution to European Law and Philosophy. Islamic Philosophy and Law --- Human Reason and the Revealed Law --- The Link between Civilizations --- The Spirit of Science and Modernity --- The Philosophy of Liberty --- Muslim Thought and the Age of Reason --- Concluding Remarks ---- V. Islamic International Law. The Nature of Islamic International Law --- Constituents of Islamic International Law --- The Jihad: Notion and Qualification --- The Attitudes of the Islamic Law of War --- The Value of Islamic Law to International Relations ---- VI. Historical Reality in the Light of the Declared Principles ---- VII. Religion and the Origins of Violence and Terrorism Today. The resurgence of religion in public life --- Misguided attempts to apply religious ethics --- The nature of secularity -- an open market --- Conclusion.

Challenging the view of Islamic extremists and critics of Islam, this book explores the very topical issue of Islam'»"s compatibility with democracy. It examines: principles of Islam's political theory and the notion of democracy therein the notion of democracy in medieval and modern Muslim thought Islam and human rights the contribution of Islamic legal ideas to European legal philosophy and law. The book addresses the pressing need for a systematic show of an Islamic politics of human rights and democracy grounded in the Qur'»"an. The West wonders about Islam and human rights, and its own ability to incorporate Muslim minority communities. Many Muslims also seek to find within Islam support source for democratic governance and human rights. -- Publisher description.