In the late 19th century, the concept of an βIslamic stateβ resurfaced as a subject of renewed debate in global political and intellectual circles. Yet historically, what existed was not an abstract βIslamic state,β but rather states governed by Muslims. Following the Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad established a political entity in Medina; this structure rapidly expanded β especially during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar β beyond the Arabian Peninsula into a vast geography that included present-day Iran. For a period, nearly half of the inhabited world lived under Muslim political rule.
The discussions that took place after the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr, during the process that led to Hazrat Umar becoming head of state, are particularly striking from the perspective of Islamic political thought.
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