Guide Note

Islamic Socialism is a term used by many Muslim leaders to reconcile the need for more spirituality in traditional Socialism. Many Islamic scholars consider Socialism to be inherently atheist and denounce many government programs inspired by Socialism as a violation of Islamic Law or teachings. Islamic socialists argue that the principles of socialism, specifically that of land redistribution, are congruent with the laws of the Quran. Though the roots of Islamic socialism lie in pre-soviet Russia, the first large scale implementation of the doctrine occurred in Pakistan under the rule of the PPP and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Today, the PPP, under the guidance of Asif Ali Zardari, still advocates a system based on Islamic socialism. Another strong proponent of Islamic socialism is Moammar Gadhafi, who declared Libya an Islamic socialist state in 1969 and outlined his principles in the Green Book.

Fast Facts

1. First example was the Waisi Movement between 1905 and 1907
2. Muslim socialists argue that redistribution of property is an extension of Muhammad's teachings of equality
3. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of the first major leaders to promote Islamic Socialism
4. Moammar Gadhafi declared his government in Libya Islamic Socialism
5. The Iranian Revolution is often described as an example of "Islamic Marxism"