The Error of Political Islam

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION adopt ourselves and invite others towards. However, this ideology has reduced the matters of the Hereafter and the relationship with Allah to matters of “training.” In this framework, these realities are treated as if they are only meant to prepare and organize workers, rather than being the core matters for which we should strive. The primary objective has become to bring about a revolution in the world, while accountability in the Hereafter and similar aspects are treated merely as tools to instill dedication and character in those who rise for this worldly revolution, or in those who, after the revolution, assume charge of the world’s system. This doesn’t mean that members of the Jamaat have made worldly success their true goal instead of success in the Hereafter. Their actual goal is undoubtedly success in the Hereafter, but their understanding of what actions are required in the world to achieve that goal has become flawed. For instance, if a person adopts the belief that mastering worldly material powers is a means to success in the Hereafter and, based on this, starts working toward it, it would be correct to say that while he still regards Allah’s approval in the Hereafter as his ultimate goal, his understanding of the means to attain that approval—that is, what we should strive for in this world to draw closer to Allah in the Hereafter—has changed. As a result of this explanation, matters like closeness