ISLAMIC

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Dr. M Waqar 1
 INTRODUCTION
▪ Islamic Political System is also called “ ISLAMISM or ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM”.

▪ It believes that Islam should guide social and political as well as personal life“

▪ It is a political movement that favours reordering government and society in accordance with
laws prescribed by Islam

▪ It is the Islamic ideology that guides society as a whole and that [teaches] law must be in
conformity with the Islamic sharia

▪ An Islamic state is a state that has a form of government based on Islamic law. As a term, it has
been used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world

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 Political System
▪ Anarchism: Rule by all/no one
▪ Democracy: Rule by majority
▪ Monarchy: (Rule by monarch) Monarchies are one of the oldest political systems
known, developing from tribal structure with one person the absolute ruler.

▪ Communism:(Rule by all citizens) Classless with common ownership and decision

making

▪ Republic: (Rule by law) The first recorded republic was in India in the 6th century
BC (BCE).
 Political System
▪ Sultanates: (Rule by Allah) an Islamic political structure combining aspects of
Monarchy and Theocracy.
▪ Islamic Democracy: (Rule by majority in Islamic context) an Islamic and democratic
political structure, which combines aspects of Theocracy (as the framework) and
Democracy (as the decision making method under Islam's ethical system). Iran's
constitution is based on such a system.
▪ Theocracy: (Rule by alleged representative of God)
▪ Westminster system: (rule by republic and representative democracy through
parliament)
▪ Feudalism: (Rule by lord/king)
 BASIS OF THE
ISLAMIC POLITICAL SYSTEM

The political system of Islam based on three Matters.

1. TAWHID (Unity of god).
2. RISALAT (Prophethood).
3. KHILAFAT (Vicegerency).

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 TAWHID

▪ TAWHID means that only God is the Creator, Sustainer , and

master of the universe and all that exist in it , Organic and
Inorganic.

▪ He also has right to command or forbid , and his

commandments are the law.

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 RISALAT

▪ The medium through which we receive the law of GOD is

known as “Risalat”(Prophet hood).

▪ We have received two things from this source:

1. The “BOOK”.
2. And the exemplification of the BOOK of GOD by Prophet.

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 KHILAFAT
▪ KHILAFAT mean “Representation” Man(i.e Human Beings)

▪ According to Islam , He is the representative of GOD on Earth,

His vicegerent.

▪ That is to say , by virtue of the powers delegated to him by GOD,

he is required to exercise his God-given authority in this world
within the limits prescribed by God.

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 The Concept of Majlis al-Shura
(consultative assembly)

▪ The Majlis al-Shura (literally "consultative assembly") was a

representation of the idea of consultative governance. The importance
of this is premised by the following verses of the Qur'an:

▪ "...those who answer the call of their Lord and establish the prayer; and
who conduct their affairs by Shura [are loved by God]."[42:38]

▪ "...consult them (the people) in their affairs. Then when you have taken
a decision (from them), put your trust in Allah"
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▪ The majlis is also the means to elect a new caliph
▪ Al-Mawardi has written that members of the majlis should satisfy three
conditions: they must be just, have enough knowledge to distinguish a good
caliph from a bad one and have sufficient wisdom and judgement to select the
best caliph.
▪ Al-Mawardi also said that in emergencies when there is no caliphate and no
majlis, the people themselves should create a majlis and select a list of
candidates for caliph; then the majlis should select a caliph from the list of
candidates.

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 The Vision of an Islamic State
▪ The vision of an Islamic state and the purpose of its political
authority is to implement the divine law.
▪ The ideal Islamic state is a community governed by the Law
revealed by God.
▪ The function of the Islamic state is to provide security and order
so that Muslims can carry out both their religious and worldly
duties
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 Islamic Democracy Principles
Secular democracies:
▪ In secular states such as Azerbaijan and Turkey, that do not recognize any religion as
its state religion and, therefore, does not incorporate religious principles into its
public policy and other state affairs.

Religious democracies:
▪ that recognize Islam as its state religion and a source of legislation, such as Malaysia
and Maldives. The application of religious principles into public policy varies from
country to country, since Islam is not the only source of law.

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Theocracies:
▪ that endeavour to institute Sharia, in full force, and offers more
comprehensive inclusion of Islam into the affairs of the state.
Presently, Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania and Pakistan are the only
examples of an Islamic state in the form of Islamic republics.

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 Democracy in Islam
▪ Every person in an Islamic society enjoys the rights and powers of the
caliphate of Allah and in this respect all individuals are equal.

▪ No one can deprive anyone of his rights and powers.

▪ The agency for running the affairs of the state will be established in
accordance with the will of these individuals and the authority of the
state will only be an extension of the powers of the individual delegated
to it.
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 VIEWS OF MUSLIMS ABOUT POLITICS

Two extreme views of Muslims about politics:

1. Some people Separates Religion from the politics and state
2. Majority consider politics & government as the ultimate goal of
Islam. All religious activities, worshipping forms and divine
commands are taken as tools to obtain and sustain government.

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 Principles of
ISLAMIC POLITICAL SYSTEM
1. Sovereignty of Allah

2. Khilafah of Mankind

3. Legislation by Shura (Consultation)

4. Accountability of government

5. Independence of judiciary

6. Equality before law

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 SOVEREIGNTY OF ALLAH
▪ Sovereignty means the source of power. In Islam, Allah is the source of all
powers and laws . 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 law. The Qur’an says, "As for
the thief -male and female, chop off their hands. It is the reward of their own
actions and exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise."

▪ And Thus No government or Parliament can change this law

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 Khilafah of Mankind (Vicegerency of man)

▪ Man is the vicegerent, the agent or the representative of Allah SWT on earth. Allah is the
sovereign and man is His representative.

▪ Man should do as Allah commands him to do. But he has a choice to either obey or disobey
Allah and, because of this freedom of choice, he will be tested on the day of judgement.

▪ In the political sense, Khilafah means that human beings should 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 swt on His behalf as a trust (Amanah).

▪ Khilafah is a trust. An agent is always expected to behave as his master wants him to behave.
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 Legislation by SHURA (Consultation)

▪ Islam teaches us to run a government, to make legislation and

decisions by the process of Shura. Shura means "to take decisions by
consultation and participation“.

▪ This is an important part of the Islamic political system. There is no

scope for despotism in Islam. The Qur’an and the Sunnah will be the
basis of legislation in Islam.

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 Accountability of Government
▪ The Islamic political system makes the ruler and the government responsible firstly to Allah
and then to the people.

▪ The ruler and the government are elected by the people to exercise ‘powers 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 Qur’an and Sunnah.

▪ A ruler is a servant of the people of Islam. Both the ruler and the ruled will appear before
Allah SWT and account for their actions on the day of Judgement.

▪ The responsibility of the ruler is heaver than the ruled.

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 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 the court if
necessary.

▪ They would be treated no differently from other citizens.

▪ The Qur’an has many injunctions about justice. One of the main functions of
the Islamic state is to ensure justice to all citizens (4:58, 4:135, 5:8).

▪ The ruler and the government has no right to interfere in the system of justice.

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 Equality before Law

▪ The Islamic political system ensures equality for all citizens before the
law. It does not recognise any discrimination on the basis of language,
colour, territory, sex or descent.

▪ Islam recognises the preference of one over the other only on the basis
of Taqwa (piety or fear of God). One who fears Allah swt most is the
noblest in Islam (49:13).

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