The Concept of Complete Religion

wholly unlawful course in Islam, i.e., revolt against an established Muslim government. In the present day, all Muslim rulers have received modern education, and because of this background, although religious in their personal lives, the majority of them have adopted a modern outlook in political matters. This is why the upholders of the political interpretation of Islam insist that since their rulers are not enforcing “complete Islam” in their country, they feel dutybound to rebel against them, unseat them from power and replace them with such individuals as will enforce complete Islam. This theory has resulted in a division of the people into two groups—the rulers and the ruled, with Muslims beginning to fight against the rulers of their respective countries. This line of action on the part of the Muslims, in the terminology of Islamic law (fiqh), is that of revolt (khurooj), which is unlawful (haraam) in Islam. The 20th century was a period of feverish activity set in motion by this political interpretation of Islam. It was precisely at this moment that the discoveries of science, in the words of the Quran, had made significant revelations of the divine signs lying hidden in the universe. The need of the hour was to give