\'Islamic Political Thought from a Different Point of View

Islamic Political Thought from a Different Point of View by Ahmed Idris, Cairo: GEBO. 2012. This new book by Egyptian writer Ahmed Idris, published by the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO), offers a non-traditional treatment of Islamic political theory and its evolution through history. The main issue tackled in the book is how temporal rulers are selected in Islam via the Islamic Khilafaform of rulership. The author attempts to analyse the notion of leadership within an Islamic context, asking how and why Khilafa rule in Islam eventually morphed into theocracy. The author goes on to ask whether or not Islamic political theory on the origins of leadership can even be said to exist, arguing at the end of the book that temporal rule in Islam is ultimately civil, not theocratic, rule based on religious ideals.