Islam Quote by Bernard Lewis
“Moses led his people through the wilderness and he wasn't permitted to enter the Promised Land. Jesus was crucified. Mohammad founded a state which soon became an empire, so that Islam from the very beginning is involved with government, with politics. And therefore there is a very clear strong political tradition in Islam.”
About This Quote
Source Historical Analysis: The Political Role of Islam, 20th century scholarship
Islam’s early integration with governance created a lasting political tradition, influencing modern statecraft.
In simple terms: Islam historically linked to politics, shaping governance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize religious influence on political structures.
Themes
politics
religion
history
leadership
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
academic
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
- international relations
Key Concepts
theology
state formation
colonial legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this tradition affect contemporary politics?
- What examples show separation of religion and state?
A Different Perspective
Simplifying complex histories can overlook diversity within Islam.
![“Different groups in the [Middle East] drew two lessons from [return of the shah in Iran] - one, that Americans were willing to use both force and intrigue to install or restore their puppet rulers in Middle Eastern countries; the other, that they were not reliable patrons when these puppets were…” quote by Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89b/bernard-lewis-11653_middle-east_different-groups-in-the-middle-east-drew_37501.jpg)
![“Ben Carson also denounced [Donald] Trump's ban all Muslims proposal saying we do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion.” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d7/rachel-maddow-1240_bans_ben-carson-also-denounced-donald-trump-s_674.jpg)
![“[Islam] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left for Muslims lies in their observance of the God-made law.” quote by Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/704/abul-a-la-maududi-51903_function_islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislatio_886.jpg)
![“[T]he people who are close to Allah worry so much about wasting time that they call themselves to account for every breath they spend - how many of us wonder about how we spend our day, let alone each breath?” quote by Ethar El- Katatney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a43/ethar-el-katatney-236694_allah_t-he-people-who-are-close-to-allah-worry_3003.jpg)
