At the outset what pushed me to take part in this sensitive debate is the statement by one of honorable participant is Islam is secular religion. In essence statement is self-contradictory. As secular or secularism are synonymous with the term anti religious as indicated by definitions reproduced below from different sources.
Secular
not concerned with religion: not controlled by a religious body or concerned with religious or spiritual matters.
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_18...9/secular.html
Secularism
the belief that religion should have no place in civil affairs
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/secularism
Secular adj. 1
not concerned with religion; not sacred; worldly (secular education; secular music). 2 (of clerics) not monastic
Pocket Oxford dictionary
Although I feel topic requires deep and broad knowledge of Islam and different political systems and I am not capable enough to handle the issue but still the topic attracted me so much to share my views on the issue.
I would like to appreciate that participants have realized the fact that there is hardly any conflict in basics amongst different Islamic school of thoughts. It is the ego, rigidness (and somewhat if someone is not agitated I would term it as hypocrisy) and covert collusion of west the slight differences in performing Ibadats made different school of thoughts as separate or various kinds of islam.
What the originator of discussion wants is to discuss, as far as I can understand, is implementation of Islam as political system in Pakistan that conform with various schools of Islamic thought. But at the outset I am concerned with the statement “what kind of Islam……” . Islam does not have any kind yes there may be difference of interpretations amongst the scholars but that doesn’t mean if Scholar A differently interprets an Ayat of Hadith from scholar B then Scholar A is practicing Kind of Islam A and Scholar B is practicing Islam B. In Quran it is clearly stated that
“
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah isindeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Al maidah:Surah 5 Ayat 3”
The plain reading of above clarifies that islam as a religion is complete and there is no need of further kinds as protestant or Catholics.
ISLAM AS POLITICAL SYSTEM
Now Islam as political system (especially in Pakistan)… and especially in context of with full consensus of all Islamic school of thoughts I would like to further the discussion of originator that there is full consensus on basics and rest of the differences can be solved as discussed below.
Before discussing islam as a political system attention should be paid to define the boundaries of “Religion” and “ Deen.” For this, I would like to quote excerpt from a speech.
“
In order to understand the relevance and the link between Islam and Politics we must first understand that Islam is not a religion. It is rather a "Deen". The Arabic word "Deen" maybe translated into "Religion" in the English dictionaries, but it is quite different from the English connotation "Religion”. Religion deals with the spiritual, moral, ethical, ritualistic and theological aspects, along with the acts of faith and with the reckoning of the Day of Judgment. Its primary concern is placed on how the spiritual link and relationship is to be established between a man and his Creator.
However, Deen is quite different. It is concerned with the whole entire conduct of life.
Whether spiritual or temporal, religious or secular, domestic or societal, moral or material, social or cultural, economic or political, individual or collective, rather national or international. Hence, Deen is a totality whereas religion is a part-and-parcel of Deen.
Islam & Politics Lecture by Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri”
As we are discussing implementing Islam in political context rather as religious issue but both are interconnected because Islam as a deen covers the socio-politico issue. It is without any doubt that islam has already proved itself as the best political system as it has given the world best administrator as Holy Prophet (PBUH), the best successor as Hazrat Abu Bakr(R.A), the best conqueror and judge as Hazrat Umer Farooq (R.A), the best social reformer as Hazrat Usman (R.A) and the bravest ruler as Hazrat Ali (R.A).
So I feel instead of discussing which Islam should be implemented as political system I would like to answer one question that might come in the minds of people is how can a 1400 Year old system solve the problems of 21st century?
In order to meet with the changing requirements of the human life at social and global levels, Islam provides a process of dynamics and evolution. In Islam there are four sources of guidance namely:
- the Quran;
- the sunna or tradition of the Prophet (PBUH);
- qiyas or analogies;
- ijma or unanimous agreement
If religious scholars and policy makers fail to answer any question in light of Quran and Sunna then there is a developmental and re-constructive process in Islam. This is technically known as "Ijtihad" and "Ijmah". Ijtihad is a deductive and re-constructive process of reasoning and interpretation.
Ijmah is the collective aspect of the deductive and interpretative process. So through Ijmah and Ijtihad the dynamics of Islam is regulated. This is how it competes with the developmental requirements of contemporary eras and meets with the changing contemporary situations of the world.
Now in our country when someone talks about islam as a political system then what comes in mind is danda barda shariat, koray and all that bla bla but see what are principles of Islamic political system and one don’t need to be Einstein to ponder over religious differences as any rational person would agree on following principles:
No Dictatorship
There is absolutely no room for dictatorship, no place for monarchy or martial law in Islam. If a martial law dictator claims that he will present an Islamic martial law - he is nothing but fraud. Islamic system is based on nothing else but democracy.
Democratic Political System
Prescribing and promoting of the democratic political system and democratic culture.
Elected Parliament
Establishment of a parliament. Not the nominated "Shoorah" as it used to be in Pakistan some years before. It must be an elected and chosen parliament representing the people. In the days of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) there existed both a house of commons and a house of experts known as "Mujlisay Aam" and "Mujlisay Khaas".
Social Equality
Abolition of prerogatives. The Islamic political system does not find any
place for special or privileged classes. Each and every person is equal in the eyes of the law.
Human Rights
Guarantee of fundamental human rights. The rights for the protection of life, property, business, honour, reputation, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association. The entire charter of the fundamental human rights has been clearly given by Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well as in the teachings of the Holy Quran. It would be a good aspect of mentioning that up till the time of Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the international law that existed in those days asked for decapitation and beheading of the prisoners of war. It was Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who declared the killing and beheading of the prisonersof war to be prohibited. He gave them rights and liberated them.
Human Dignity
Guarantee of human dignity and equality with discouragement of slavery and forced labour. There is no difference of race or colour or language in the eyes of Islam. Now, in our modern society we are fighting against distinctions of race and colour and facing many problems with this issue. Islam provided this progressive revolutionary idea of equality of mankind 1400 years ago.
Economic Justice
Guarantee of economic justice along with the system ensuring the equitable circulation of wealth and eradicating the exploitative accumulation of wealth.
International Affairs
Establishment of respectable and peaceful relations with other states for a peaceful global co-existence.
Peace and Harmony
Eradication of all kinds of oppressions, cruelties, injustices, and evil practices which are detrimental to mankind.
Social Responsibility
Helping of the needy & oppressed human societies and for the restoration of their basic rights in order to establish a peaceful global and progressive human society free from all kinds of fears.
Rights of Minorities
Guaranteed protection of rights of minorities and their religious freedom. Islam protects them in the same way as it guarantees the freedom of Muslims in the society.
Women Rights
Upgrading of the women’s status & protection of their rights. It was Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who upgraded the status of women in the society and gave them similar rights as those that were being enjoyed by the men.
Labor Laws
Elimination of slavery and forced labor in order to restore the dignity of mankind and provide them with the blessings of equality.
Terrorism
Elimination of terrorism and establishment of a peaceful secure environment. Islam has never been in favour of terrorism; rather it has always condemned it.
I don’t feel any Islamic school of thought would have second opinion on above principles yes procedural conflicts may be there but Ijma and Ijtihad of rational and learned scholars can solve the issue. This kind of Islamic political system is requirement that guarantees a single woman to travel from Madinah to Syria alone and no one can dare to raise eyes towards her. Does socialism, communism or any other system can provide this? Other systems may claim offering such things but we can see even the nation of developed countries starts prowling if security cameras become non operational due to electric short fall or women’s rights are sabotaged when there is a natural catastrophe. It is the Islamic political system if implemented whole heartedly and with clear intentions then it doesn’t need security cameras or metal detactors.
That is all what I wanted to say and I know I can’t justify with the topic. May be somewhere I deviated from the topic but topic is do deep that one can fill pages but still there remains something. May Allah pak give all of us life to see the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Ameen