Obedience to the Head of State: Comparative Political Thought of Ibn Taymiyyah and John Knox
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Abstract. This article explored the views of two influential reformist thinkers on obedience to the head of state within their respective religious traditions. For this reason, Ibn Taymiyyah and John Knox have been studied individually, but a direct comparison between them remains largely unexplored. Using a qualitative approach based on library research, the study applied classification, inductive and deductive reasoning, historical study and comparative analysis to examine their perspectives. The findings showed that both Ibn Taymiyyah and John Knox agreed that citizens had a moral duty to be loyal to their leaders. Three key similarities and one notable difference emerged in their interpretations. These were explained through theological, historical and contextual factors. Despite the doctrinal differences between Christianity and Islam, especially in their monotheistic frameworks, both thinkers underscored the religious significance of political obedience. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how Islamic thought on political loyalty, as shaped by Ibn Taymiyyah, can be utilised in forming contemporary Islamic political theory.
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