The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity's Moral Predicament
This is a bracing, erudite, and compelling account of the moral, political, and structural features of Islamic governance and the modern state, as well as of the multiple incongruities that hamper any attempt to establish one in terms of the other. Wael Hallaq delivers a welcome rejoinder to much of the dogmatic bluster swirling around the subject of shari'a and the Islamic state. At the same time, he brings into sharp focus the often overlooked resources for reconceptualizing 'the modern project' from within both Islamic and Euro-American traditions of moral and political thought. The historical, theoretical, and political richness of this account makesThe Impossible Statea new standard against which any claims about the possibility of establishing Islamic governance in the contemporary world must now be evaluated.(Roxanne L. Euben, Wellesley College)A provocative and wide-ranging rumination by one of the leading scholars of Islamic law, this book poses tough questions to champions and critics of shari'a alike. Wael Hallaq makes a powerful argument for the relevance of shari'a as a moral discourse while remaining critical of its compatibility with the modern state.The Impossible Stateis bound to elicit debate among scholars of Islam, moral philosophy, and modernity across the Western and non-Western divide.(Saba Mahmood, author ofPolitics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject)It is an important contribution to understanding the role and potential of the shari'a in the modern world.(Mark D. WeltonMiddle East Journal1900-01-00)A philosophical and rhetorical tour de force.(Choice)A refreshing take on the modern state and Islamic governance...(Middle East Media and Book Reviews1900-01-00)