Ali Abdel Razek was an Egyptian thinker and scholar born in 1888. He is best known for his book, "Islam and the Foundations of Political Power," published in 1925. In this work, he argued for the separation of religion and state, challenging traditional Islamic views on governance. His ideas sparked significant debate in the Muslim world. Abdel Razek's views were controversial, leading to his excommunication from the Al-Azhar University, a prominent center of Islamic learning. Despite the backlash, he remained a significant figure in modern Islamic thought, advocating for reform and a more progressive interpretation of Islam.