Idea
The text presents the Kharijites as a group that raised the slogan “Judgment belongs only to God.” This phrase is not mentioned here as a mere passing saying, but as a condensed formula that sums up a sharp political and religious stance. It declares a rejection of the legitimacy of human rule when that rule is seen as competing with divine authority, and therefore carries a tension between the religious absolute and political reality.
Concise Formulation
The Kharijites: they raise the slogan “Judgment belongs only to God”
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim appears within a historical narrative that uses examples to clarify forms of political extremism in early Islam. Mentioning the slogan is not meant merely as narration, but to highlight a logic that links religion to rule in a way that leads to exclusion. It thereby serves the argument that studies how a religious phrase is transformed into a rigid political stance.
Why It Matters
Its importance stems from the fact that it reveals how a short religious phrase can become the basis for a comprehensive position on authority and legitimacy. This helps in understanding the complexity of the relationship between a religious principle and its political use. It also shows that Arkoun views Islamic history as a field in which multiple forms of religious utterance take shape, some of them highly decisive.
Brief Evidence
The Kharijites are presented as a group that raised the slogan “Judgment belongs only to God.” This phrase is not a mere passing saying, but a condensed formula that sums up a sharp political and religious stance. It declares a rejection of the legitimacy of human rule when that rule is seen as competing with divine authority.
Reading Questions
- What makes the slogan “Judgment belongs only to God” politically powerful?
- How does a religious slogan differ from a historical reading of it?
Documentation Level
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.