The Approach of Shura in Rachid Ghannouchi’s conception of state

Abstract

This research analyzed the approach of Shura in the political thought of Rachid Ghannouchi, one of the prominent Muslim scholars in the contemporary world. Ghannouchi intended to argue Shura as an essential principle of the Islamic state after text (Nass), even more important because of the interpretation and implementation of text also depends on Shura. Following this aspect, Shura is the fundamental element for the formation of the state and its legislations. By the term Shura, he didn't mean the consultation with only the Ulama but the entire Ummah, where he considered Ummah is the legitimate authority of the Islamic state. After the Arab Spring, Ghannouchi's political thought and politics are crucial topics in academia. Within several transformations in politics as an aftermath of the Arab Spring, Ghannouchi now argues for a Muslim democratic state. This research considered the term Shura as the keyword of Rachid Ghannouchi's conception of state.