(From left) Prof Dr Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Imam Feisal, Tun Abdullah and Deputy IAIS Malaysia CEO Prof Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil.
KUALA LUMPUR: A new book by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf was launched by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia here.
The book, titled Defining Islamic Statehood: Measuring and Indexing Contemporary Muslim States, focuses on the Maqasid Syariah (objective of Islamic laws) to measure an Islamic State.
At the launch Thursday, Abdullah said the publication of the book was timely, especially in today's geo-political climate, when the term "Islamic state" was more often associated with fringe extremist groups.
He said the book has come up with important tools to measure and ascertain how "Islamic" a state was.
Imam Feisal said an Islamic state was defined by the objective of the Maqasid Syariah, which includes the protection of religion, the protection of life, the protection of the mind, the protection of the wealth and the protection of dignity.
