Divine Sovereignty: A Conceptual Flaw in the Political Theology of Contemporary Islamic Movements

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the origins and repercussions of the concept of "divine sovereignty," which was central to the narrative and understanding of certain Islamic movements' political aspirations. The study provides insights on the concept of divine sovereignty, which has been used to justify the militancy of a number of Islamist revivalist groups. The scholar investigates the primary concepts utilized by contemporary radical groups, identifying both theoretical underpinnings and conceptual problems in the literature of these movements in their current context. The study traces the origins and intellectual sources of Islamic fundamentalism, while also exposing new flaws in the intellectual tradition of these extreme movements through an analytical and historical lens, presenting texts from proponents and opponents of the concept of divine sovereignty, as well as tracing the concept's evolution throughout Islamic history.