Talab al-Nusrah and Non-Violent Political Change: A Case Study of Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia

Abstract

This paper examines the non-violent political strategy employed by Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia (HTM), with a focus on its interpretation and application of the concept of Talab al-Nusrah within Malaysia’s secular-democratic political environment. Rooted in the Prophetic methodology (Tariqah Nabawiyyah) articulated by the movement's founder, Taqiyuddin an-Nabhani, Talab al-Nusrah is a strategic appeal to those in positions of power (ahl al-quwwah), seeking their support for the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate (Khilafah). Through a qualitative analysis, drawing on semi-structured interviews with HTM leaders, this paper investigates how HTM adheres to this methodology and its implications for the organization’s political behavior, strategic planning, and organizational positioning. The paper explores HTM’s three-phase strategy for political change, inspired by the Prophet Muhammad's model of state-building in Madinah: intellectual cultivation (tathqif), public interaction (tafa‘ul), and political power transfer (istilam al-hukm) via elite endorsement. Despite the secular nature of the Malaysian political system, HTM maintains a strict non-violent stance, rejecting both democratic participation and militant resistance. The strategic application of Talab al-Nusrah is examined as a critical, non-confrontational means of securing elite support for Islamic governance, drawing on historical precedents from the Prophet's era. This study contributes to the broader discourse on non-violent Islamist movements by highlighting HTM's ideological and strategic framework, offering insights into the practical application of religiously framed political transformation. It addresses the challenges faced by HTM in Malaysia, such as legal exclusion, public suspicion, and societal perceptions of its goals. The paper concludes by reflecting on the resilience and ideological coherence of HTM’s strategy, asserting that the pursuit of Talab al-Nusrah offers a distinctive model for political Islam that remains relevant in the contemporary global landscape, particularly in secular, pluralistic contexts.