The Founders of Islam

Muhammad (570 –632 CE)

• Islam is a peaceful religion and all Muslims wish to live in peace.
• But even believers in Islam need to defend themselves against invasion…
• …and attack the unbelievers who threaten their peace and religion.
• Therefore, fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you.

Al-Farabi (c. 870-950):

• A model state, which does not yet exist, would ensure that its people live virtuously.
• To achieve this, it would need virtuous rulers.
• But people do not understand that true happiness comes from living a virtuous life.
• Instead they prefer to seek wealth and pleasure, and live in ignorant, perverted, or mistaken societies.
• Thus, the people refuse the rule of virtuous men.

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406):

• The unity of a political society comes from the community spirit.
• This is the basis for government and prevents injustice.
• As a society advances, social cohesion decreases and its government becomes lax…
• …exploiting its citizens for its own advantage, causing injustice.
• Eventually, another government emerges to take the place of the decadent regime.
• Therefore, government prevents injustice, other than such as it commits itself.

Abul Ala Maududi (1903-1979):

• Islam is not just a religion, it is a revolutionary program of life.
• Muslims must carry out its revolutionary program.
• Jihad is the revolutionary struggle that the Islamic party uses to achieve its goal.
• Thus, Islam’s purpose is an Islamic state, and the destruction of states that oppose this.

Source: The Politics Book.

The philosophy of Maududi is what I believe most Islamic fanatics follow. At least it appears that way.