Ibn Taymiyyah

Known for

Al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya, governance under Sharia

Thought

Ibn Taymiyyah rejected both Greek-influenced philosophy and many popular Sufi practices as harmful innovations, insisting religious and political authority must be derived strictly from the Quran and the practice of the Prophet and his earliest companions. He held that rulers and scholars share a cooperative duty to govern and interpret law according to this literal, foundational understanding, directly shaping later Salafi and reformist Islamic political thought.

Biography

Hanbali jurist and theologian in Mamluk Damascus who lived through Mongol invasions of the Muslim world and was repeatedly imprisoned for his uncompromising religious positions.

Major works

• Al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya (Governance According to Islamic Law)