Theocracy_update.qxd

Gabriel dictates God’s words, which Muhammad is command- ed to share with other people. The revelations form the Quran , Islam’s holy scripture. Its content is quite varied. One impor- tant theme is the nature of God. Another is how people should live and worship properly. In 622, Muhammad’s followers—known as Muslims— were forced to leave Mecca. They settled about 200 miles to the north, in the oasis town of Yathrib. There, under Muhammad’s leadership, the first Muslim state was established. Variations The stories of Muhammad and Moses illustrate one way theoc- racy has historically found expression: in the form of a govern- T heocracy, which can take a variety of forms, is difficult to define in a comprehensive way. The following are only some of the accepted defi- nitions of theocracy: • a state ruled directly or indirectly by clergy (for example, priests, ministers, or mullahs) • a state in which civil law is the same as religious law • a government that requires citizens’ social behavior to conform to religious law • government by a leader who is believed to be a god or the human representative of God • government by a person who claims to communicate directly with God and to relay God’s instructions to the community. Common Definitions of Theocracy

Rule by God

13