BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION:

 State is a nucleus of Political Science:

According to Garner “Political Science beings with the
State”.
 There will be anarchy without the State.
 Necessary for leading good life.
 Aristotle has rightly stated “The State
comes in to existence out of the bare
necessities of life and continues to exist
for the sake of good life”.

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Meaning and Definition of State:
Greeks used the term “Polis”; Romans used the term “Civitas”.
Niceolo Machiavelli an Italian political thinker was the first to use
the word State in “The Prince” published in 1523 A.D.

Some Important Definitions:

1. Aristotle: “A Union of Families and Villages having for

its end a perfect and self-sufficing life by which we
mean a happy and honorable life”.

2. Dr. Woodrow Wilson, “ State is a people organised for

law within a definite territory”.

3. Bluntschli , “ The state is a politically organised

people of a definite territory.”

4. Max Weber, “Orgaisation that maintains a monopoly

of violence over a territory.”

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STATE

An assembly of people
occupying a definite
territory under an
organized government and
subject to no outside
control
STATE

Political system made

up of the residents of
the territorial area and
the government of the
area (Robert Dahl)
STATE

A complex organization
consisting of territory,
population,
government and
sovereignty
 Essential elements
State has four essential elements
 Population
 Territory
 Government
 sovereignty
STATE

 Population: large, no fixed size

 Territory: Land, water and space, no
fixed size
 Government: Agency created to
enforce rules of conduct and to
ensure obedience
 Sovereignty: Internally supreme and
free from external control
 Criticisms: Left and right

– Marxist critique: state is a parasite (which extracts resources

to sustain a privileged, bureaucratic elite);

– Criticism from the right: the increasing role of the state in all
aspects of modern life.
 gives rise to nepotism, corruption, rent-seeking and other
unproductive or negatively productive activities.
Karl Marx
State in Islam
 The term ‘state’ or ‘polity’, do not
occur in the Quran. But there are
essential elements that constitute a
political order. It’s a set of principle
or functions of the existence of a
socio-political order.
Features of an Islamic
Political System
Tawhid; indivisible, inalienable divinity of Allah
(SWT).
 -Quran;“the command rests with none but
Allah”
 -So, no monarch system (no right to order
other)

Shariah the ultimate source of authority from

Qur’an (as divinely- revealed book) and Sunnah
(the ideal conduct of Prophet (SAAS).
Adalah
 to establish justice for all - ‘Even as against
yourself or your parents or your kins, whether it
be against rich or poor’ (4:55,4:135)
 -Two fundamental principles: a. freedom; of
moral convictions, ideological/intellectual choices
and decision of any convictions(la-ikraha fi al-
din:no coercion in al-din)
b.equality; in rights, liberties, opportunities &
public duties. (for all race, language and
creed)
Shura (consultation)

 To consult in the conduct of affairs

(the decision-making process of the
political system)
 Eestablishing prayer and paying
zakah.