The final imperative: An Islamic theology of liberation

The Final Imperative of Islam is Liberation: The Liberation of the poor and the powerless. In the face of Western hypocrisies and double standards that underpin a new cold war between the West and Islam, and acceptance of powerlessness my muslim peoples would be an abrogation of responsibility — a rejection of the obligations of faith.

The Final Imperative is at once a thorough and original critique of Liberal Christian theology and its views of power and politics, and a revealing exploration of the positive emancipatory potential of Islam. Islam is not a fascist or totalitarian ideology but an evolving and dynamic moral commitment to engage and defeat economic and political exploitation. Powerlessness corrupts and absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely. Hence Islam can have no truck with those who would have the faithful reject power. How can Christians point the finger when they have allowed secular society to emasculate their churches. Like any other religion, Islam is open to abuse by those seeking to clothe their political bankruptcy in the robes of popular religion. But the Western demand that Islam renounce power is simply a hidden agenda for exploiting the wretched of the earth.

Shabbir Akhtar yet again challenges his readers to take a new look at the issues of the moment. At once scholarly and combative, this book is, as much for the lay reader as for the specialist, a keystone in the continuing debate.