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Old Thursday, July 28, 2011
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Political System Of Islam:


Outline:

Introduction
• What Is An Islamic State?
• Purpose Of Islamic State:
• Basis Of Political System In Islam
• Main Features Of Islamic Political System
i) Sovereignty Of Allah
ii) Khalifah Of Mankind
iii) Legislation By Shura
iv) Accountability Of A Government
v) Independence Of Judiciary
vi) Equality Before Law



Introduction:

Religion and politics are one and same in Islam. They are intertwined. We already know that Islam is a complete system of life and politics is very much a part of our collective life. Just as Islam teaches us how to say Salt, observe Saum, pay Zakat and undertake Hajj, in the same way it also teaches us how to run a state, form a government, elect councillors and members of parliament, make treaties and conduct trade and business.

What Is An Islamic State?

The State is defined by Garner in these words, “The state, as a concept of political science and public law, is a community of persons more or less numerous and permanently occupying by a definite proportion of territory, independent, or nearly so of external control, and possessing an organized government to which the general body of inhabitants render habitual obedience.” Whereas in the Islamic State sovereignty rests with God who delegates political authority to some selected person. Here public law is the Quranic law. The Islamic State cannot frame any laws against the injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah. Islamic State is a welfare State.

Purpose Of Islamic State:

The main object of the Islamic State is to promote good and stop the evils. The Muslims should be forced to act upon the injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah. The Islamic state guides its citizens in all aspects of life including religious. It should promote good and order so that the law of justice by God must prevail everywhere.

Basis Of Political System In Islam:

The political system is based on two realities:
i) The personal position of Allah vis-ŕ-vis this universe, particularly men: He is not only their Creator and Supporter but also their real Master.
ii) The personal position of Man: He is not only created and supported by Allah (Sustainer of all the worlds) but is also His humble slave and His vicegerent on this earth.


Principles Of Islamic Political System:

The Islamic Political system is based on the following principles:

i) Sovereignty Of Allah.

Sovereignty means source of power. In Islam, Allah is the source of all powers and laws.

“Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him.”

(Surah Yusuf: 40)



Say, “Indeed, the matter completely belongs to Allah.”

(Al-i-Imran: 154)

It is Allah who knows what is good and what is bad for His servants. His saying is final. All human beings unitedly cannot change His laws. The Quran says:


“As for the thief-male and female-chop off their hands. It is their reward of their action and exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Powerful, Wise.”
(Al-Ma’ida: 38)


According to Islam, this order is unchangeable by any parliament or government which claims it to be an Islamic state. There are many more laws in the Quran concerning our life and those laws must be put into practice by an Islamic state for the greater good of human beings.

ii) Khalifah Of Mankind (Vicegerency Of Man):

Man is the vicegerent or the agent or the representative of Allah on earth.

“And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.”

(Al-An’am: 165)



Allah is the sovereign and man is his representative. Man should do as Allah commands him to do. But he has a choice either to obey or disobey Allah and because of this freedom of choice he will be tested on the Day of Judgement. In the political sense, Khalifah means that human beings would implement the will of Allah on earth as His deputy or agent. As Allah’s agent human beings will carry out the will of Allah on His behalf as a trust (Amanah). Khalifah is a trust. An agent is always expected to behave as his master wants him to behave.

“Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We may observe how you will do.”
(Yunus: 14)


iii) Legislation By Shura (Consultation):

Islam teaches us to run government to make decisions and legislations by the process of Shura. Shura means to take decision by consultation and participation.

“And whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves.”

(Ash-Shura: 38)


This is one of the most important parts of the Islamic Political system. There is no scope of disposition in Islamic political system. The Quran and the Sunnah will be the basis of all legislation in Islam.

iv) Accountability Of A Government:

The Islamic Political System makes the ruler and the government responsible firstly to Allah and then to people. The ruler and the government will be elected by the people to exercise power on their behalf. We must remember here that both the ruler and the ruled are the Khalifah of Allah and the ruler shall have to work for the welfare of the people according to the Quran and Sunnah. A ruler is a servant of the people of Islam. Bothe the ruler and the ruled will appear before Allah and account for their actions on the Day of Judgement. The responsibility of the ruler is heavier than the ruled. An ordinary citizen in an Islamic State has the right to ask any question on any matter to the ruler and the government.

v) Independence Of Judiciary:

In the Islamic Political System, the judiciary is independent of the Executive. The head of the State or any government minister could be called to court if necessary. They will be treated no different from other citizens.

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice.”
(Al-Ma’ida: 8)



“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both.”
(An-Nisa: 135)


“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.”
(An-Nisa: 58)



There are many Quranic injunctions about justice. One of the main functions of the Islamic system is to ensure justice to all citizens. The ruler and the government have no right to interfere in the process of justice.

vi) Equality Before Law:


The Islamic Political System ensures equality of all citizens before the law. Islam does not recognize any discrimination on the basis of language, colour, territory, sex and descent. Islam recognizes the preference of one over the other only on the basis of Taqwa. One who fears Allah most is the noblest in Islam.

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
(Al-Hujurat:13)
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