The اسلام میں شہریت کا تصور: متقدمین فقہاء کی آراء کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

The Concept of Citizenship in Islam:An Analytical Study of the opinions of Classical Jurists.

Abstract

The notions of citizenship occupy a central position in Islamic political and legal thought. This paper undertakes an analytical study of the perspectives of classical Muslim jurists (fuqahāʾ al-mutaqaddimīn) concerning the foundations of citizenship, and the legal status of its inhabitants. The research critically examines juristic formulations related to dār al-Islām and dār al-ḥarb, the principles of allegiance (bayʿah) regarding non-Muslim citizens, the differentiation of Muslim and non-Muslim citizenship. By engaging with the writings of prominent jurists such as Abū Ḥanīfah, al-Shāfiʿī, Mālik, and Ibn Ḥanbal, as well as their successors, the study reveals both convergences and divergences in the classical legal discourse. The findings suggest that the juristic understanding of  citizenship was not static but contextually responsive, reflecting the socio-political realities of the time. This investigation contributes to contemporary scholarship by reassessing the relevance of classical juristic insights for present-day debates on political identity, governance, and civic belonging within Muslim societies.