STATES’ CONCEPT EXAMINED UNDER THE ISLAMIC AND INTERNATIONAL LAWS

Abstract

The concept of states in Islam is often times misinterpreted with the concept
under International law. Statehood in Islam is further more found confusing by
persons because of the division of the world into the territory of war and
territory of peace. This brings a lot of question to the minds of students; do we
have states in Islam? Are we just one single ummah? Is the existence of the states
in line with the dictates of the Shariah. These among many other things are the
question this work seeks to answer. The research work seeks to examine the
concept of states under Islam and International law; in doing that, the meaning
of states through it element is looked at as well as the relationship between
states. Under the Islamic law, the classification of the world into the territory of
war, peace and Islam is examined. The work further highlights the downfall of
the Ottoman empire and how it led to the full recognition concept of states in
Islam today. The work also highlighted the difference between states under the
two systems and concluded by saying that the concept of states under
International law borrowed from that of Islam.