On the Concept of Umma in World Politics

Abstract

Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics. James Piscatori & Amin Saikal. Cambridge University Press (2019)

The concept of the Umma is elusive, with a wide array of meanings and interpretations. It is used differently by various circles within the Muslim community and states. To date, most Muslims comprehend Umma scripturally as a bond among Muslims everywhere, both majority and minority, with which the two entities are united by Islamic law. Furthermore, most traditional Muslims interpret the concept of Umma more spiritually as a type of family in the faith. Although departing from the doctrine of the Qur’an, the concept of the Umma has never been singular. Whereas the network of trust has driven the goal of ‘one community’ of faith, some perceive the Umma as not requiring territory, while others see it as competition with the modern nation-state. These different interpretations even go so far as an extreme interpretation of the Umma in pan-Islamism which has been suspected by the West of being an attitude of hostility and aggressiveness towards non-Muslims. Despite the diversity of interpretations of the dominant concept of the Umma being scriptural and spiritual, it has not been widely studied from the political Islam paradigm. Therefore, a thick description of the concept will enrich the literature for Muslims exposed to globalisation and social change globally.