The Impossible State: A Critical Reading of Hallaq’s Theory on Impossibility of Islamic Modern State

Hallaq’s answer to one of the most controversial questions is simple and categorical: the Islamic State, judged by any standard definition of what the modern State represents, is both impossible and contradictory in terms. Hallaq’s preference of the Hobbesian-Schmittian reading of modern state, beside his legendary rather than historically realistic account of Muslim’s governance, led him to the above definite and categorical conclusion. Given the importance of this theory, we shall, in this article, explore an alternative explanation for the Modern State by examining its new Kantian reading, in which there exists an original room for the rule of law, as well as the genuine respect of human dignity.