* Is it better we come under one Muslim leadership than agree the leadership of Mushriks, Kuffars and their agenda?
JIH is working to establish "the Deen" in this world according to Qur'anic order. Do you agree with this Aya and the need of it? And do you agree with me the following? If any thing there to prove your word from Qur'an and Sunna or from the opinion of Islamic scholars are welcome. "He hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, and that which We inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which We commended unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying: Establish the religion, and be not divided therein. Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. Allah chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself him who turneth (toward Him). (42:13) JIH believe the implementation of Allah's Law/Hukm should be in whole life of a Muslim to be a Muslim. So it include, social, political, economical, and spiritual aspect of a human life. The summary of the things that may imply that ruling by other than that which Allah has revealed is a form of shirk akbar (major shirk): (1) Ruling by other than that which Allaah has revealed. (2) Denying the right of Allaah and His Messenger to rule. (3) Preferring the rule of falsehood to the rule of Allaah, whether this is complete or only in a few matters. (4) Regarding the rule of Allaah and the rule of falsehood as equal. (5) Thinking that it is permissible to rule by something that contradicts what Allaah has revealed, or believing that ruling by what Allaah has revealed is not obligatory or is optional. (6) Refusing to rule by what Allaah has revealed. Because Qur'an clears: Allaah has commanded us to refer matters to His judgement and to establish Sharee'ah, and He has forbidden us to rule with anything else, as is clear from a number of aayaat in the Qur'aan, such as the aayaat in Soorat al-Maa'idah (5) which discuss ruling according to what Allaah has revealed, and mention the following topics: · The command to rule according to what Allaah has revealed: "And so judge between them by what Allaah has revealed . . ." [aayah 49] · Warning against ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed: ". . . and follow not their vain desires . . ." [aayah 49] · Warning against compromising on any detail of Sharee'ah, no matter how small: ". . . but beware of them lest they turn you far away from some of that which Allaah has sent down to you . . ." [aayah 49] · Forbidding seeking the ruling of jaahiliyyah, as is expressed in the rhetorical question "Do they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance?" [aayah 50] · The statement that nobody is better than Allaah to judge: ". . . and who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith?" [aayah 50] · The statement that whoever does not judge according to what Allaah revealed is a kaafir, a zaalim (oppressor or wrongdoer) and a faasiq (sinner), as Allaah says: ". . . And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, such are the kaafiroon." [aayah 44]; ". . . And whoever does not judge by that which Allaah has revealed, such are the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)" [aayah 45]; ". . . And whoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed (then) such (people) are the faasiqoon (rebellious or disobedient)." [aayah 47]. · The statement that it is obligatory for the Muslims to judge according to what Allaah has revealed, even if those who seek their judgement are not Muslim, as Allaah says: ". . . And if you judge, judge with justice between them. . ." [aayah 42] * *Democracy & Islam: A Response to Some Misgivings* *Shah Abdul Hannan* http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/cover8.htm *"Islam and democracy are not contradictory to each other. Democracy is the form of government based on the will of the people as well as run and changed with their consent only. This is also the form of Islamic government. But the values of western democracy are not identical with those of Islam."* (Selected Speeches and Writings of Maulana Mawdudi, Vol. 2, p.198) Democracy is the most popular and accepted political system in the modern world. Most of the political movements have made it their goal to establish this system in their respective countries. Yet, there exists some difference of opinion among the Islamic groups on democracy. While democracy and human rights have occupied very important position in the political agenda of many of the Islamic parties, there are few groups who do not accept it based on a "charge" that democracy speaks of "sovereignty of the people". Islamic parties and Islamic scholars of the modern world almost invariably think of a political system wherein government will run the country through Parliament. They also want freedom of expression, voting right of the people, rule of law, independent & free judiciary, free press, fundamental human rights etc. These are also the prerequisites of the democratic system. It is, therefore, apparent on a deeper analysis that the principles of democracy fundamentally and broadly conform with the concept of state and government of Islamic Parties. Theoretically speaking, Islam speaks of sovereignty of Allah, while western democracy advocates that sovereignty belongs to people. However, all political thinkers do not share the same view of sovereignty. Some political scientists even argue that there is no need of the concept of sovereignty at all. The concept of sovereignty is not necessarily highlighted in the books that discuss democracy, though sovereignty is discussed in great detail as a political concept in the books of political science. In this context, it is necessary to quote from the writings of Allama Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, an eminent Islamic scholar of the present time. He wrote on Political Freedom and Democracy as follows: "The fear of some people here that democracy makes the people a source of power and even legislation (although legislation is Allah's alone) should not be needed here, because we are supposed to be speaking of a people that in its majority has accepted Allah as its Lord, Mohammad as its Prophet and Islam as its Religion. Such a people would not be expected to pass a legislation that contradicts Islam and its incontestable principles and conclusive rules." "Anyway, these fears can be overcome by one article stipulating that any legislation contradicting the incontestable provisions of Islam shall be null and void because Islam is the religion of the State and the source of legitimacy of all its institutions and therefore may no be contradicted, as a branch may not run against the main stream." (Quoted from *'Priorities of the Islamic Movement in the Coming Phase'<http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/Q_Priorities/index.htm> * ) We find that many Islamic scholars have accepted the idea of democracy in Islam though under certain conditions. Dr. Abu Said Nuruddin has written in his book 'Mohakobi Iqbal', ( Iqbal the Great Poet) that Allama Iqbal, was not happy with the democratic system because of its secularist stance but he suggested in his writings that there was no alternative to democracy. In his 6th speech on 'Reconstruction of religious thought in Islam', Allama Iqbal stated that Islamic state is established on the principles of freedom, equality, and the absolute principles of stability. Therefore the principles of democratic rule is not only similar to the fundamental aspects of Islam, rather the executing powers are enhanced in the Muslim world by it. Iqbal observed, should the foundation of democracy rest upon spiritual and moral values, it would be the best political system. He wrote in the "The New Era" on its 28th July, 1917 issue: "that democracy was born in Europe from economic renaissance that took place in most of its societies. … But Islamic democracy is not developed from the idea of economic advancement rather it is a spiritual principle that comes from the principle that everybody is a source of power whose possibilities can be developed through virtue and character".(ibid) That means according to Iqbal Islam prescribes democracy under the law of Allah. We see, fifty years ago. *Moulana Mawdudi* <http://www.youngmuslims.ca/biographies/display.asp?ID=5>used the term "Theo-democracy" for Islamic state in his book "Political Theory of Islam". He didn't deny the term 'democracy'. Rather he accepted democracy while this system will work under the sovereignty of Allah. There is a misconception about Moulana Maududi's true position about democracy. Moulana Maududi initially criticized western democracy because of its secularism and popular sovereignty (in the sense that Parliament can make any law even if it violates the Law of Allah). However, his later writings and political conduct proved that he believed in Democracy (Rule of the people) subject to the Law of Allah (Sovereignty of Allah). In an interview published in the Daily Mashriq of Lahore, Pakistan (1st February, 1970), in reply to a question he said that, "those are good people in his view who want to establish democracy in the country".( "Maududi's interview", in Bengali, pp. 339-345). He also pointed out that "all constitutional problems should be solved by the representatives of the people".(ibid) In another interview in the Daily Hurriat in 1969 (published on 10th November), he again said that all constitutional amendments should be made in a democratic way by the representatives of the people". (ibid., P. 313). His party always supported democracy. Pakistan constitution in 1956 and in 1973 was modeled structurally on democracy and his party Jamaat-e-Islami supported these. His party fought against Martial Laws in Pakistan. He supported Fatima Jinnah against Ayub Khan in Presidential election in 1965 because she promised to restore democracy. His party was a component of DAC (Political combination of parties), where "D" stands for democracy. So it is evident from his later writings and political conduct that he stood for democracy. We also see that in the first constitution of Pakistan of 1956 (which was considered to be an Islamic constitution by many people) the term democracy was accepted with the consent of Islamic scholars (ulema). In the preamble, the term democracy was accepted in the following manner : "Wherein the principles of democracy freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, should be fully observed". (from the preamble of the constitution Pakistan of 1956) In the 1973 constitution of Pakistan the same position was maintained, "Wherein the principles of democracy freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed". (from the preamble of the constitution of 1973) This means that democracy has been accepted within the limits of Islam so that in the name of democracy Islamic principles cannot be violated. Allama Yousuf Al-Qaradawi in his book " Priorities of the Islamic Movement In the Coming Phase" has also categorically pointed out that Islam does not allow any kind of autocracy or monarchy. He also showed that Islam spreads through political freedom. He stated that Islam unlike democracy is a complete code of life, which encompasses many more vital issues of human needs. Above all, he thinks democracy is consistent with Islam and the fundamental rights of mankind prescribed in Islam can be ensured through democracy. It is evident from the above discussion that Islamic thinkers and Muslim people want their right to vote, rule of law, and a government that is to be elected by the people. The term democracy means all these things. Taking everything into consideration, we can say that there is no problem to accept democracy as a political structure and as a concept of freedom (except its concept of sovereignty). We find that different constitutions and Islamic scholars conditionally accepted the term 'democracy'. Muslim community can accept this term. This will help remove misunderstanding about Islam that 'it condones violence and dictatorship'. *Related Articles:* - *Islam and Democracy: Coming Out of Misconceptions* <http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/editorial.htm> - Islam and the Challenge of Democracy By Khaled Abou El Fadl <http://bostonreview.net/BR28.2/abou.html> - *Islam's Approach Towards Democracy*<http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/cover1.htm> by Shaikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi - *Islam And Democracy: Perceptions And Misperceptions*<http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/cover2.htm> by Mohammad Omar Farooq, Ph - *Shura and The Islamic Vision of Democracy*<http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/cover3.htm> by M. Riaz Khan, Ph.D. - *Democracy and the Majority Principle in Islamic Legal-Political Thought* <http://www.messageonline.org/2002aprilmay/cover4.htm> by Ermin Sinanovic - Democracy in Islam<http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/politics/Politics/article01.shtml> - The Nature of the Islamic Political System<http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/politics/Politics/article05.shtml> - Religion and Politics<http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/politics/Politics/article03.shtml> - The Purpose of the Islamic State<http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/politics/Politics/article01.shtml> - Forming an Islamic Democracy<http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/politics/Politics/article04.shtml>
