Idea
This claim distinguishes Qur’anic Islam from the later juristic formulations that were dominated by the pursuit of power and expansion. Rather than religion being a sphere of faith and meaning, in some of its phases it became part of the logic of the state and domination. The text presents this transformation as a deviation from the Qur’anic origin, not as its natural extension.
Concise Formulation
Legal Islam: is dominated by: the pursuit of power and expansion
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim occupies an important place in the book’s comparative structure. The argument depends on setting up two opposing models: a Qur’anic model grounded in freedom and covenant, and a juristic/imperial model linked to expansion and obedience. Through this contrast, the book explains how the face of Islam changed once it became tied to the functions of governance rather than to questions of guidance.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in showing that the critique is directed at the history of politicization, not at religion itself. It also shows how religious meaning can become entangled with political interest until it loses its original transparency. This helps in understanding Arkoun as a critic of the conflation of sharia as a human understanding with authority as a practical end.
Brief Evidence
This claim distinguishes Qur’anic Islam from the later juristic formulations that were dominated by the pursuit of power and expansion. Rather than religion being a sphere of faith and meaning, in some of its phases it became part of the logic of the state and domination. This transformation is presented as a deviation from the Qur’anic origin, not as its natural extension.
Reading Questions
- How does the book formulate the difference between the pursuit of meaning and the pursuit of power?
- Why is expansion here considered a sign of a transformation in religion’s function?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.