Mauao Man

Myth 10: “Islam is Just a Religion — It’s Not Political”

📉 The Reality: Islam Is Inherently Political — By Design, By Doctrine, and By History

Islam is not merely a personal faith like Buddhism or Christianity (in its modern secularized forms). It is a comprehensive socio-political system that has historically combined religious belief with legal authority, statecraft, military power, and governance. From the time of Muhammad, Islam has been as much about political dominance as about spiritual practice.

🕌 I. Muhammad: Prophet, Statesman, and Warlord

Founding Model:

In Mecca (610–622): Muhammad preached religion.
In Medina (622–632): He governed a state, enforced laws, led armies, imposed taxes, executed dissidents, and negotiated treaties.

He wasn't just a religious figure — he was a head of state, military commander, judge, and lawgiver. The Qur’an praises and reinforces all of these roles.

Qur’an 33:36 –
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option about their decision.”

This is a total submission model — religious, legal, political.

⚖️ II. Sharia: A Total System of Governance, Not Just Personal Morality

Sharia Covers:

Criminal law: Theft (amputation), adultery (stoning), apostasy (death)
Family law: Inheritance, marriage, divorce, custody
Civil law: Business, contracts, taxation
International law: Rules of jihad, treatment of dhimmis, treaties

Sharia isn’t optional — it’s God’s law in Islam. And historically, it was state-enforced, not personal or symbolic.

Reliance of the Traveller, Islamic legal manual (Umdat al-Salik):

o25.3: “The caliph makes war upon Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians…”

o8.1: Apostasy = death penalty

🏛️ III. The Caliphate: Religion as State Power

The Caliphate = Islamic Theocracy:

Abu Bakr, the first caliph, was both religious and political leader.
The caliphs ruled empires — Umayyad, Abbasid, Ottoman — using Islamic law as the legal system.
No separation of mosque and state: Clerics, jurists, and rulers were often one and the same or closely linked.

This is by design:

Qur’an 24:55 –
“Allah has promised… He will surely grant them succession [khilafah] upon the earth… and He will establish for them their religion.”

The political state is not a byproduct of Islam — it’s the goal.

🧨 IV. Modern Political Islam: Not an Aberration, But a Continuation

Islamist Movements Today:

Muslim Brotherhood: Calls for the reestablishment of the caliphate and implementation of Sharia.
Iran: A Shia theocracy ruled by clerics.
Taliban: Explicitly rule through Sharia law.
ISIS / Al-Qaeda: Extremist manifestations, yes — but the ideological roots trace back to classical jurisprudence.

They didn’t “hijack” Islam — they followed its historical political blueprint with literalist zeal.

🧠 V. Islam’s Foundational Sources Demand Political Allegiance

Qur’an: Constantly speaks of hukm (rulership), dīn (religion/governance), bay‘ah (pledge of allegiance).
Hadith:

Sahih Bukhari 89:251 —
“Whoever takes off the allegiance to the ruler will meet Allah without an excuse.”
Sira and Tafsir: Commentaries and biographies of Muhammad reinforce obedience to Islamic political authority as a religious duty.

❌ VI. Final Analysis: Islam Is Not Politically Neutral — It Is Politically Programmed

Domain	Role in Islam
Spirituality	Yes — but only as one component
Law	Comprehensive — not symbolic
Government	Historically theocratic
Military	Embedded in scripture and law
Social Order	Structured via Sharia & dhimmi rules

🚫 Conclusion: The “Just a Religion” Narrative Is a Whitewash

Islam, in its classical and historical form, does not recognize a secular public sphere. It demands submission — not just spiritually but politically. The blueprint left by Muhammad and enforced by the caliphs after him was not just a religion for the soul, but a state for the world.

Any attempt to separate Islam from politics is either modern revisionism or deliberate deception.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Author

Mauao Man is a blog created by a New Zealand writer who believes in following the evidence wherever it leads. From history and religion to culture and society, Mauao Man takes a clear, critical, and honest approach — challenging ideas without attacking people. Whether exploring the history of Islam in New Zealand, the complexities of faith, or the contradictions in belief systems, this blog is about asking the hard questions and uncovering the truth.