ABSTRACT
The relationship between Islam and Communism has been the subject of considerable attention in both Western and Middle Eastern research. Many scholars have attempted to illuminate one or more aspects of this issue. This chapter outlines some of the approaches to this relationship, focusing on the change in the Soviet attitude towards Islam as it was reflected in their official, post-war publications and writings at the beginning of the 1950s. It also examines the internal discussion on ideological concerns in Arab intellectual circles. Communism is a comprehensive system of thought. It is a doctrine about reality, an ideal, and a call to action. Islam, however, is a religion that accepts the absolute power of God. In the programme of the Egyptian Communist Party it was declared that it was wrong that Islam should be the official religion of the state since Egypt included Jews and Christians in addition to the Muslim majority.
