Majdey Zawawi
Abstract
Power is a fundamental concept in the discussion of politics. It operates in influencing the heart of others, allowing them to act following their will. One of the problems scholars have encountered in studying power is that multiple tools can measure power. Scholars have always tried to somehow measure the power relations between individuals, especially within a social setting. The inconsistencies attributed to the ‘power currency’ approach are due to the lacking of identifying what constitutes the elements of power. This paper will focus on how the study of power has developed as a measurement tool within the political science field. As the epicentre of any discussion about Islam, the Maqāsid al-Sharī’ah has been able to articulate a framework for an Islamic system of governance, understood within the context of the State. Hence, using Maqāsid al-Sharī’ah as a foundation, this paper will attempt to propose an appropriate mode of measuring power within an Islamic system of governance. It is discovered that deriving the articulation of power, authority, and legitimacy from the Maqāsid ensures that the State’s aims and objectives remain constant, allowing power dynamics to align with the goals of Islamic governance.
Keywords: Power Dynamics, Power Currencies, Measurement Tool, Islamic Governance, Maqāsid al-Sharī’ah
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