Famous book Quote by Tarek Osman
““Ibn Taimiyah spent years hunting down any philosophical interpretation that appeared to deviate from the literalist, ‘clear’ interpretation of the Koran. He was especially scathing of the Sufis, the mystics of Islam, who, in earlier ages, had produced some of the most creative and refreshing insights in Islamic thought. Ibn Taimiyah's most famous book, Politics in the Name of Divine Rule for Establishing Good Order in the Affairs of the Shepherd and the Flock, called for strict imposition of the Sharia, set out the literalist interpretation of the Koran as the sole source and measure of law and rule, and criminalized the separation of power and authority from religious rule and jihad. Ibn Taimiyah's ideas had featured regularly, not only in Sayyid Qutb's writings, but in those of other jihadist theorists as well.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism by Tarek Osman, 2015
Ibn Taimiyah championed a strict literalist reading of the Koran, rejecting mystical interpretations and advocating for law rooted solely in scripture.
In simple terms: He promoted a literal, non‑mystical approach to Islam.
Key Takeaway
Beware of rigid literalism that stifles diverse thought.
Themes
religion
law
interpretation
fundamentalism
authority
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analysis
historical
When to use this quote
- religious education
- legal reform
- interfaith dialogue
- policy making
- academic research
Key Concepts
theology
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of interpreting texts without context?
- How can communities balance tradition with modern insight?
A Different Perspective
Literalism can ignore contextual nuances and lead to extremism.
