TRANSNATIONAL CHARACTER OF POLITICAL ISLAM

Abstract

In this study transnational character of political Islam has been discussed. Islamists around the globe and in Pakistan have evolved and redefined their religio-political struggle looking at changing domestic and international environment. Islamists in Pakistan have become more democratic and kept their political discourse aligned with democratic institutions. Institutional Islamists distinguished themselves from militant Islamists and stood with the state and denied a notion they believed in universal Islamic khalifate. But Islamists could not make their followers clear about developing global debates in past decades like Democracy, Muslim Ummah, Nationalism, Sovereignty, and how to embrace technological innovation and modernization. In this research, it was clarified that the definition of political Islam in the West is different whereas institutional Islamists have redefined political Islam in a domestic context for their political and ideological survival. Transnational connections between Islamists in Pakistan and Islamists in the Muslim world and non- Muslim world were reviewed and it was concluded that Islamist's bond is weak because of the domestic challenges and evolving global political environment. Jamat I Islami ( JI ) and Jamiat I Ulema Islam Fazal Ur Rehman (JUIF) do not believe in transnational nationalism but in territorial nationalism and they have sensitized their workers and followers on this intellectual thought. Islamists in Pakistan influenced society using a top-down approach that nurtured society for the Islamic state. Meanwhile, the study also analyses that Islamists have progressive ideas while being conservative and challenging the status quo while being status quo. State's idea of top-down approach also influenced Islamists when enlightened moderation under Musharraf forced Islamists to accept changing political realities in the country. Islamists are no more influential in Islamic institutions which have an advisory role in Pakistan‘s constitution. Islamists are in process of silent transformation because of rise of progressive political actors in replacing Islamists conservative domains, domestic pressure, and changing global scenarios.