---
title: "Chapter 4. Role of Islam in Politics"
description: "Most Egyptians continue to believe that Islam is playing a positive role in their country’s politics, although the percentage who say its role is negative has increased from a miniscule 2% in 2010 to 25% today. Egyptians clearly want Islam to play a role in shaping the nation’s laws – indeed, a majority says Egypt’s […]"
date: "2012-05-08"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2012/05/08/chapter-4-role-of-islam-in-politics/"
---

# Chapter 4. Role of Islam in Politics

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt0011.png)

Most Egyptians continue to believe that Islam is playing a positive role in their country’s politics, although the percentage who say its role is negative has increased from a miniscule 2% in 2010 to 25% today.

Egyptians clearly want Islam to play a role in shaping the nation’s laws – indeed, a majority says Egypt’s laws should strictly adhere to the Quran. And most say they see Saudi Arabia as a model for the role of religion in government, rather than more secular Turkey.

### Laws Should Be Based on Quran

Six-in-ten Egyptians want their laws to strictly follow the Quran. About a third (32%) want them to conform to the principles of Islam but not strictly follow the Quran, and just 6% say the Quran should not have an influence.

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt00101.png)

These attitudes are virtually unchanged from 2011, when 62% said strictly follow the Quran, 27% wanted to just follow the principles of Islam, and 5% said no influence.

Older Egyptians are especially likely to believe laws should strictly follow the Quran: more than two-thirds of those 50 or older (68%) agree with this position, compared with about half (54%) of 18-29 year-olds.

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt00091.png)

A similar split arises by education. For example, 68% of those with a primary education or less want to strictly follow the Quran, while just 55% of the college-educated want the same.

Egyptians with a secondary or college education are now 12 points less likely than in 2011 to believe the country’s laws should strictly follow the Quran. On the other hand, among those with a primary education or less, the percentage who hold this view has increased by 10 points.

### More Say Islam Plays a Large Role

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt0008.png)

The view that Islam plays a large role in the political life of Egypt has increased from 47% in 2010, a year before the uprising against Mubarak, to 66% today. The percentage saying it plays a small role has dropped 13 points since 2010, from 48% to 35%.

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt0007.png)

The percentage who believe that Islam has a great deal of influence and say it is a bad thing has increased from just 1% in 2010 to 20% today. Meanwhile, those who believe the role of Islam is small and this is bad for the country decreased from 37% to 24%.

Younger people are especially likely to believe that a large role for Islam is bad for the country. About a quarter (27%) of 18-29 year-olds say Islam is a considerable influence and that this is bad, compared with just 15% of those 50 and older.

### Majority Chooses Saudi Arabia as Model for Religion and Politics

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/Egypt00063.png)

When asked whether Saudi Arabia or Turkey serves as the better model for the role of religion in government, a majority (61%) says Saudi Arabia, while 17% choose Turkey and another 22% volunteer that neither is a model.

Opinions on this question are strongly related to general attitudes about the role of religion in politics. Among those who see a positive role for Islam in Egyptian politics, 71% choose Saudi Arabia; among those who see a negative role, just 48% do the same.

Despite admiring Saudi Arabia for its emphasis on religion, Egyptians also broadly desire a democracy. Nearly equal percentages of those who choose Turkey (71%) and those who choose Saudi Arabia (67%) say democracy is preferable to any other form of government.

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**Next:** [Chapter 5. Views of the United States and Israel](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2012/05/08/chapter-5-views-of-the-united-states-and-israel.md)