Open AccessA Position on the Islamic Concept of Citizenship and Muslim Minorities
Author(s) -
Ahmet Akgündüz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
islam and civilisational renewal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2041-8728
pISSN - 2041-871X
DOI - 10.52282/icr.v1i1.17
Subject(s) - citizenship , islam , interpretation (philosophy) , residence , aside , meaning (existential) , perspective (graphical) , law , political science , sharia , position (finance) , immigration , sociology , muslim community , muslim world , gender studies , epistemology , history , economics , art , philosophy , demography , literature , archaeology , finance , artificial intelligence , politics , computer science , programming language
This article offers an individual scholar’s interpretation of the concept of citizenship and Muslim minorities from the perspective of Islamic law. The issues to be discussed are: 1. The classical Islamic legal view of a ‘division’ of the world and its affects on these concepts. Can we put aside these concepts? Are European countries today still to be considered dar al-harb or dar al-kufr or rather dar al-ahd or dar al-aman? 2. What is the meaning of ‘citizenship’ and ‘religious minorities’ in a Muslim territory? 3. Are Muslims permitted to accept ‘residence permits’ and citizenship in non-Muslim countries? And finally 4. Should Muslims who live in European countries be referred to as ‘minorities’ or ‘citizens’?