Dr Talib Aziz

The Islamic Political Theory of Sadr Dr Talib Aziz

The major theme of the book is to expound on the political thought of the religious activist from Iraq, the late Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. The study is divided into three parts. The first is designed to introduce Sadr to the readers. The emphasis was given to Sadr's political activism from 1958 when he participated in the formation of the first shia political party, Islamic Da'wa, to his violent death by the Ba'thist regime in Baghdad in 1980. The second part aims at setting the parameters of the definition of the political theory in order to help underpin Sadr's political thought and evaluate its merits. Finally, the main part of the dissertation is the third chapter in which Sadr's political thought is systematically and thoroughly analyzed. Sadr's major political concepts about man, society and the state are introduced, his interpretation of the historical process is scrutinized, and his political program in ending social contradictions is examined. Sadr believes that the only solution to man's social and economic problems is through the establishment of an Islamic political system. In order for man to live in harmony and peace in his communal setting he must make God's last revelation, i.e., Islam, the supreme laws of the society, and thus the religious leaders (Prophets, Imams, or jurists) are the only legitimate authority.