Muslim political authority derives legitimacy from Islam more than from nation or sovereignty

Evidence

A second, related, point is that Islam is still the most acceptable, indeed in times of crisis the only acceptable, basis for authority. Political authority, even in an authoritarian polity, requires some legitimacy. It can be maintained for a while by mere force, but not indefinitely, not over large areas for long periods. Power seeks legitimacy, and attains it more effectively, among Muslims, from Islam rather than from national or patriotic or even dynastic claims, still less from the Western notion of national or popular sovereignty. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 1471

Categorization

• XREF: Qualifies Weberian legitimacy frameworks by showing religion, not sovereignty, anchors authority in Muslim polities.