A Critical Study of Dr. Obaidullah Fahd Falahi’s Views on Classical Islamic Political Thought

اِسلام کے کلاسیکی سیاسی افکار پر ڈاکٹر عبیداللہ فہد فلاحی کی آراء کا تنقیدی مطالعہ

Abstract

This study explores the evolution of classical Islamic political thought and critically examines Dr. Obaidullah Fahd Falahi’s interpretations and critiques of earlier Muslim political theorists, particularly Al-Mawardi. The research traces the intellectual trajectory of Islamic political philosophy from the Prophet’s era marked by principles of consultation, justice, and pluralism to the classical period, where juristic, theological, and philosophical traditions converged to form a coherent framework of governance. Dr. Falahi contends that despite the intellectual depth of the classical period, scholars such as Al-Mawardi, in Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, wrote under the influence of prevailing political authority and failed to construct a comprehensive and participatory political model. He emphasizes three main points: first, that Al-Mawardi’s work legitimized existing rulers; second, that the process of caliphal selection remained vague; and third, that excessive focus on the ruler’s personal virtues overshadowed the institutional and communal dimensions of Islamic governance particularly regarding the political participation of non-Muslim citizens (dhimmis). Through a reasoned, evidence-based historical analysis, this article challenges Falahi’s assertions and argues that Al-Mawardi’s writings must be read within their socio-political and historical context. His concern for ethical governance, justice, and administrative accountability represented an effort to safeguard Islamic political ideals amid dynastic transitions rather than to appease rulers. Moreover, the study suggests that many such critiques often echoed by some modern Muslim thinker’s stem from orientalist interpretations of Islamic history, adopted without sufficient critical evaluation. By recontextualizing Falahi’s critique within the broader discourse on Islamic political heritage, this paper demonstrates how classical scholarship continues to inform contemporary debates on leadership, legitimacy, and moral authority in Muslim political thought.