Discoursive Boundaries in Islamic Theory of Security: Transition from the Ignorant Society to the Islamic One

In this article, by recognizing the discoursive foundations of Ignorance (Jahelyya) in the issue of security and using it as an ‘other’, the author attempts to reach a clearer picture of the Islamic security discourse. To do so, he identifies four main elements of the Ignorance discourse –namely multiplicity of gods, aggression, trade and bigotry- and accordingly describes the negative perception of security envisaged by the Ignorant Arabs. By drawing upon divine verses and analyzing the Islamic worldview, the author continues to introduce four alternative elements to replace the Ignorant ones as considered in the Islamic worldview including monotheism, faith, tutelage and happiness, and reconsider them in security terms. Consequently, a new picture of security emerges as contrasted with the Ignorant image of security. The most important characteristics of this new picture include the affirmative nature of security, multi-logical characters of analyzing security issues and offering strategies for them, and finally the preponderance of individual over government (that represents the essential pivot of human security in the contemporary age). The three aforementioned principles constitute the guidelines for understanding security from an Islamic point of view and for processing Islamic theory of security.