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Political System of Islam

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‫ف‬ ‫ﺻ ٰﻠوة َ َو ٰاﺗ َُوا ﱠ‬
ِ ‫اﻟز ٰﮐوة َ َوا َ َﻣ ُر ْوا ِﺑ ْﺎﻟ َﻣ ْﻌ ُر ْو‬ ‫ض اَﻗَﺎ ُﻣوا اﻟ ﱠ‬ِ ‫اَﻟﱠ ِذﯾ َْن ا ِْن ﱠﻣ َﮑﻧﱣﮩُ ْم ِﻓﯽ ْاﻻَ ْر‬
)41:‫َوﻧَ َﮭ ْوا َﻋ ِن ْاﻟ ُﻣ ْﻧﮑ َِرط۔)اﻟﺣﺞ‬
"[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in
the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what
is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the
outcome of [all] matters.”
)38:‫۔)اﻟﺷوری‬
ٰ ‫َوا َ ْﻣ ُرھُ ْم ﺷُ ْو ٰرى ﺑَ ْﯾﻧَ ُﮭ ْم‬
“Whose affairs are (decided by counsel among themselves).
”
‫؎ ﺟﻣﮩورﯾت اک طرز ﺣﮑوﻣت ﮨﮯ ﮐہ ﺟس ﻣﯾں‬
‫ ﺗوﻻ ﻧﮩﯾں ﮐرﺗﮯ‬،‫ﺑﻧدوں ﮐو ﮔﻧﺎ ﮐرﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں‬
Outlines
Introduction
Islamic electoral system
Characteristics of Islamic Political System
Commandments for ruler
Agreed points b/w Islamic and Western Political System
Differences b/w Islamic and Western Political System
Conclusion
1. Introduction
Islamic political system consists of “collective consultation", As Allah
Almighty states:
"O'Prophet (PBUH) consults them in the matter.“
Islamic political system in its structure is based on Khilafat.
Pakistan is not solely a democratic state but it is Islamic democratic
state.
There are four principles in Islamic political system, which have
been derived from four Caliphs. Allama Iqbal has rightly pointed out
in his verse:
‫ ﺷﺟﺎﻋت ﮐﺎ‬،‫ ﻋداﻟت ﮐﺎ‬،‫ ﺻداﻗت ﮐﺎ‬،‫؎؎ ﺳﺑق ﭘﮭر ﭘڑھ‬
‫ﮐﯽ اﻣﺎﻣت ﮐﺎ‬ ‫دﻧﯾﺎ‬ ‫ﮐﺎم‬ ‫ﺳﮯ‬ ‫ﻟﯾﺎ ﺟﺎﺋﮯ ﮔﺎ ﺗﺟﮭ‬
2. Islamic electoral system
2.1 Selection of caliph in Islamic political system:
The Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬laid down some principles for the selection of a
caliph and left the rest of the matter to the Ijtihad of the Muslims. The
Muslims faced the crises of selecting a caliph among the Migrant and the
Helpers i.e. Muhajireen and Ansar respectively.
In short, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ؓ) was elected after deliberations (‫ )ﻏوروﺧوض‬by
a Council of Muslims at Saqifa Bani Sa’ada (‫)ﺳﻘﯾﻔہ ﺑﻧﯽ ﺳﺎﻋده‬.
The second caliph, Hazrat Umar (ؓ) was nominated by Hazrat Abu Bakr
(RA), with the consultation of the leading companions (ؓ) of the Holy
Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬.
People pledged their allegiance (‫ )ﺑﯾﻌت‬at the hand of Hazrat Umar (ؓ) after
the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ؓ). All the people of Madina were included
in it.
2. Islamic electoral system
2.2 Establishment of council:
Hazrat Umar (ؓ) was the first caliph who institutionalized the Council
system.
Prior to that all the tasks were carried on in consultation with the leading
Companions (ؓ) in the life of the Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬and Hazrat Abu Bakr
(RA).
Hazrat Umar (ؓ) established the Council on two levels.
2. Islamic electoral system
Special council
Special council comprised the leading companions like Hazrat Usman (ؓ),
Hazrat Ali (ؓ), Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqas (ؓ), Hazrat Talha (ؓ), Hazrat Zubair
(ؓ), Hazrat Amr bin Al-as (ؓ) and Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (ؓ).
General council
The General Council included all the people of Madina who were
consulted in different matters.
2. Islamic electoral system
2.3 Selection of caliph by the council:
Almost all the members in Hazrat Umar’s (ؓ) Council were highly skilful in
administration, but they choosed Hazrat Usman (ؓ) for Khilafat.
There was no prominent personage after the martyrdom of Hazrat
Usman (ؓ) except Hazrat Ali (ؓ). Hazrat Ali (ؓ) was matchless in courage,
administrative affairs and piety. So He was elected by general pledge of
allegiance.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.1 Sovereignty belongs to Allah Almighty:
"The significant feature of Islamic political system is that, it acknowledges
only Allah Almighty as the creator and master of all the creation. Only He
deserves to be supplicated (‫ )دﻋﺎ ﮐﯽ ﺟﺎﺋﮯ‬and worshipped.
All the power as well as authority is vested in Him only.
He has no partner and He does what He wills. Allah Says
)50:‫ﺳ ُن ِﻣ َن ا ﱣ ِ ُﺣ ْﮑ ًﻣﺎ۔ )اﻟﻣﺎﺋده‬
َ ‫َو َﻣ ْن ا َ ْﺣ‬
“Whose order better than Allah Almighty?”
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.2 Man __ the vicegerent of Allah Almighty:
Allah Almighty has sent man on earth as His vicegerent.
He does not have absolute authority rather he is bound to act upon the
ordains of the Creator.
Though humans are allowed to legislate in different matters, whereby
there are no explicit commandments of Allah in Quran, or the sunnah of
the Holy Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬, yet they have to follow the spirit of Islam in all
aspects. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
)30:‫ض َﺧ ِﻠ ْﯾﻔَﺔً ۔ )اﻟﺑﻘرة‬
ِ ‫ِا ِﻧّ ْﻰ َﺟﺎ ِﻋ ٌل ِﻓﻰ ْاﻻَ ْر‬
“I am about to place my vicegerent on the earth.”
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.3 Forbidding the demand of power:
In Islamic political system, nobody longs (‫ )ﺧواﮨش ﮐرﺳﮑﺗﺎ‬for power and a
position of authority.
No one can get elected on his own rather only people can ask him to be
their leader.
All the four Pious Caliphs were elected by others; they did not long for
the authority.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.4 Human equality:
It is the political system of Islam that gave people the unprecedented
right of human equality. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said in his last sermon.
“An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab and non-Arab has no
superiority over on Arab except by piety”
Equality in such a way that even a slave can become a ruler or Khalifa.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.5 Tolerance and forgivness:
Islamic political system advocates and professes tolerance and
forbearance. History is replete with the instances of tolerance from the
life of the Holy Prophet and his Companions (ؓ).
At the time of conquest of Makkah when one of the companion said,
that “today the day of bloodshed”. Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬listened and
replied, not, “Today the day of mercy and forgiveness”.
Time after times in history such incident were repeatedly occurred, when
Muslim rulers captured opponent kings and generals but freed them
without any punishment.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.6 Altruism and unselfishness:
Islam teaches humanity the lesson of altruism and unselfishness.
The sacrifices offered by the residents of Madina (Ansar) on the eve of
the migration of the Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬from Makkah to Madina is simply
unparalleled in history.
In Islamic political system altruism means preferring others over one’s
self i.e. foregoing one’s rights for the benefit of others.
Sacrifice and altruism are among the noblest virtues in Islam.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
The episode of three wounded Companions (ؓ) of the Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬is
a remarkable incident. Each one of them preferred other fellow mujahid
over their own selves. No one drank water when the cry of a fellow
mujahid struck their ears.
Though the three of them succumbed to wounds, yet they set the
superlative example of altruism and unselfishness. Allah Almighty
describes their characteristic and says:
(29 :‫ﺎر ُر َﺣ َﻣ ۗﺎ ُء ﺑَ ْﯾﻧَ ُﮭ ْم۔ (اﻟﻔﺗﺢ‬
ِ ‫ُﻣ َﺣ ﱠﻣد ٌ ﱠرﺳُ ْو ُل ا ﱣ ِ ۭ َواﻟﱠ ِذﯾ َْن َﻣﻌَ ٗ ٓﮫ ا َ ِﺷد ۗﱠا ُء َﻋﻠَﻲ ْاﻟﻛُﻔﱠ‬
“MuaHmmad is the messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are
hard on the disbelievers, compassionate among themselves”
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.7 Establishment of Salat (prayer) and Zakat:
In Islamic political system, establishment of salat and zakat, it is
fundamental responsibility of Khalifa, Quran says:
ِ ‫اﻟز ٰﮐوة َ َوا َ َﻣ ُر ْوا ِﺑ ْﺎﻟ َﻣ ْﻌ ُر ْو‬
‫ف َوﻧَ َﮭ ْوا َﻋ ِن ْاﻟ ُﻣ ْﻧﮑ َِر‬ ‫ﺻ ٰﻠوة َ َو ٰاﺗ َُوا ﱠ‬ ِ ‫اَﻟﱠ ِذﯾ َْن ا ِْن ﱠﻣ َﮑﻧﱣﮩُ ْم ِﻓﯽ ْاﻻَ ْر‬
‫ض اَﻗَﺎ ُﻣوا اﻟ ﱠ‬
)41: ‫ط۔)اﻟﺣﺞ‬
"[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land,
establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what
is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters“
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.8 Preaching good and bidding evil: (‫)اﻣرﺑﺎﻟﻣﻌروف و ﻧﮭﯽ ﻋن اﻟﻣﻧﮑر‬
Allah has made obligatory on every Muslim to preach good and forbid
others from evil.
The Holy prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said. “Saying the truth before a tyrant is Jihad.”
another Hadith describes:
ْ َ‫ﮏ أ‬
‫ﺿﻌَف‬ َ ‫َﻣ ْن َرأَی ِﻣ ْﻧﮑُ ْم ُﻣ ْﻧﮑ ًَرا ﻓَ ْﻠﯾُﻐَ ِﯾّ ْره ُ ِﺑﯾَ ِد ِه ﻓَﺎ ِْن ﻟَ ْم ﯾَ ْﺳﺗ َِط ْﻊ ﻓَ ِﺑ ِﻠ‬
َ ‫ﺳﺎ ِﻧ ِہ ﻓَﺎ ِْن ﻟَ ْم ﯾَ ْﺳﺗ َِط ْﻊ ﻓﺑﻘﻠﺑہ َوذَ ِﻟ‬
(‫)ر َواه ُ ُﻣﺳﻠم‬ ِْ
َ ‫اﻻ ْﯾ َﻣﺎن‬
“He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with
the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he
should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it,
(even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.9 Justice:
Justice has great importance in islamic political system of Islam. Allah
says in the Holy Quran.
(90 :‫(اﻟﻧﺣل‬ ‫ﺎن‬
ِ ‫ﺳ‬ ِ ْ ‫ِا ﱠن ا ﱣ َ ﯾَﺎ ْ ُﻣ ُر ِﺑ ْﺎﻟﻌَ ْد ِل َو‬
َ ‫اﻻ ْﺣ‬
“Allah commands justice, the doing of good”,
The Judge has been ordained to be just without any hesitation.
Anybody from pious Khilafa when was called in the court of Qazi, he
came their without any excuse and defended himself.
If the ruler of the day would be above of the law. How would Islamic
system run smoothly.
3. Characteristics of Islamic Political System
3.10 Religious freedom:
Quran says:
)256 :‫َﻵ ِا ْﮐ َراهَ ِﻓﯽ اﻟ ِد ّﯾ ِْن۔ )اﻟﺑﻘرة‬
“There shall be no compulsion (acceptance of) the religion.”
Din here signifies the belief about God embodied in the above ‘Verse’.
The verse means that the system of Islam, embracing belief, morals and
practical conduct cannot be imposed by compulsion.
These are not things to which people can be yoked forcibly.”
4. Commandments for ruler
In Islamic political system, it is essential for the ruler to be faithful,
honest and acts upon according Quran and Sunnah.
Members of National Assembly, Provincial Assembly and other members
of legislative Assembly are included in this jurisdiction.
They may run the government in an Islamic way, when they are pious,
honest, trust worthy and God-fearing.
There are conditions for the members of Assembly, president and prime
minister in the Article 63 of the constitution of Pakistan of 1973.
5. Agreed points between Islamic and Western
Political System
Consultation is significant feature of Islamic political system whereas
election in western political system is a kind of consultation.
Federal democratic system as in America is much closer to Islamic
Khilafat System.
Religious freedom, dignity of humanity, social justice are common values
between Islamic and Western democratic system.
6. Differences between Islamic and Western
Political System
In Islamic political system sovereignty belongs to “Allah Almighty”
whereas in Western democratic system, “sovereignty” belongs to
“masses”.
In Islamic political system man is “vicegerent of Allah Almighty” while on
the contrary in Western democratic system man is free from All
“revealed bindings”.
In Islamic political system no legislation against Quran and Sunnah has
been made considering that in Western democratic system there is no
such restriction.
In Islamic political system right to vote is not conferred (‫ )دﯾﺎﺟﺎﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ‬on
every person although in Western democratic system everybody has
right to cast vote.
7. Conclusion
Undeniably, Islamic political system has many characteristics, which have
been mentioned above, but in Pakistani society there are three schools
of thoughts.
The Fundamentalists, who fully reject western political system
Seculars, who fully above mentioned system accept
rest of above two, moderates whose point of view to pick good
characteristics and let go of the evils.
Pakistani society should stand with moderates.