Islamist

Islamist is a term used to describe a person, movement, or ideology that seeks to organize politics and public life around Islamic principles, frequently with the aim of implementing Sharia as the basis of law and governance. It is not a synonym for being Muslim or for personal piety. Rather, it denotes a political program that envisions Islam shaping constitutions, institutions, and public policies.

The definition and usage of Islamist vary across scholarly and journalistic communities. Some prefer "political Islam" as a broader descriptor; others use Islamist to emphasize the religiously framed political project. The term is contested and can carry pejorative connotations in some contexts.

Islamist currents span a wide spectrum. Some advocate gradual reform, parliamentary participation, and nonviolent means to achieve political ends. Examples include certain Islamist parties and movements in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, which operate within constitutional frameworks. Others are more radical or violent or seek to establish political order based on strict or transnational interpretations of Sharia, sometimes rejecting democratic processes. Groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, and historically the Muslim Brotherhood or Jamaat-e-Islami, have pursued various nonviolent or reformist strategies; others labeled Islamist extremists or jihadist movements pursue violent means and aims such as a caliphate. The use of the label is debated, and researchers often distinguish between nonviolent Islamist politics and violent extremist groups.

In public discourse, Islamist can describe a broad philosophical current as well as specific organizations, and its meaning depends on context, goals, and methodological approach.