ISL A M I C G O V E R N A N C E

T A N D I N G I S L A M
P I C 1 3 U N D E RS
TO
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Literal meaning
Comes from the word polis means
city ( study of state )

Political Science is the Systematic study

of political and governmental institutions
and processes

Siyaasatul Mar-e-li-i-badatillah
The process that makes human
beings serve Allah s.w.t
POLITICAL SYSTEM
By definition:

STATE is an organized group of individuals

residing in a specific territory who possess
sovereignty over it .

Consists of
Group of individuals ( population )
A territory ( area )
A particular lay system ( structured
government )
Sovereignty ( control )
In Islam, the Islamic State which was established by the
Prophet (S.A.W), is considered as the first and perfect
Islamic State

Under Prophet Muhammad S.A.W ( 622 632 )

Expansion during Rashidun Caliphates ( 632 661 )
Expansion during Umayyad Caliphate ( 661 750 )
Government =
body of people and institution that make
and enforce laws for a society.

Khalifah is the first form of government.

Later the Muslim scholars called it as
Imamah
Khalifa is an Arabic word literally meaning "one
who replaces someone else who left or died" (English:
caliph).

In the context of Islam, however,

The Muslim Khalifa is the successor* (in a line of

successors) to Prophet Muhammad's position as
the political, military, and administrative leader
of the Muslims.

*excludes the prophetic role

Khilafa is a related Arabic word
which, in the context of Islam, is used
to denote the government of the
Muslim state, of which the Khalifa is
the head.

A workable analogy of Khalifa and

Khilafa is president and presidency or
king and monarchy. The Khilafa is a
fardu kifayah on the ummah.
Islam does not explain the
detail of political system for
Islam gives room and chance to
any Muslim societies to
interpret and implement the
Shariah based upon the time
and space or their culture
Islamic Political System

-Flexibility according to
Demographics

-Flexibility according to Time

Period and Space
Allah is the source of all powers and
laws
PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC POLITICAL SYSTEM
Al-Hakimiyyah (Sovereignty)
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)
Al-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
Al-Adalah (Justice)
Al-Huriyyah (Freedom)
Al-Musawah (Equality)
Al-Muhasabah (Accountability)
PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC POLITICAL SYSTEM

H K S A H M M
Al-Hakimiyyah (Sovereignty)
It Means Sovereignty belongs to Allah SWT

Allah is sovereign as al-Quran tells us that

Allah is the Creator and Lord of the whole
universe including humankind and all that is
associated with them. He possesses ALL the
powers and attributes of sovereignty and
none else whatever possesses any of these.
Al-Hakimiyyah (Sovereignty)
Therefore, sovereignty of the entire universe
belongs ONLY to Allah alone and none other
than Him has a share in it.

Sovereignty over all of humankind rightfully

belongs to Allah
Al-Hakimiyyah (Sovereignty)
He is Allah , other than whom there is no
deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the
Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the
Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller,
the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever
they associate with Him
Surah Al-Hashr Verse 23
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)
We as the believers are the vicegerents of
Allah.

Vicegerency = The Position, Function, or

Authority of a vicegerent.

Vicegerent = A person exercising

Delegated power on behalf of a sovereign
entity or a ruler
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)
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.
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)

As Allahs agents, 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 (10:14).
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)
Allah has promised, to those among you who believe
and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety,
grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as
He granted it to those before them; that He will
establish in authority their religion - the one which He
has chosen for them.............

(An-Nur: 55)
Al-Khilafah (Vicegerency)
Legitimacy in the Islamic political order comes first and
foremost from accepting Allah SWT as the Sovereign
and His Law.

Second, the society must be governed BY and IN

ACCORDANCE with the will of the people.

The people or the Ummah are the actual

repository of Khilafah and those in authority
MUST HAVE the CONFIDENCE and SUPPORT of
the Muslim population
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
LM = To extract honey from the hive
or from anywhere it is
connected

Extracting an opinion as a result of consulting one

another
TM =
To evaluate the opinion of experienced people on
certain affairs so as to direct us to a positive position,
which is closest to the truth
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
The whole system of Islamic state from its
inception to the selection of the head of
state and all those in positions of power
as well as its dealings must be
conducted by Shura, whether it is
carried out directly or indirectly through
selected or elected representatives.
-Shura (Mutual 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" (3:159, 42:38). This is an
important part of the Islamic political
system. There is no scope for despotism
in Islam. The Quran and the Sunnah will
be the basis of legislation in Islam.
Despotism = the exercise of absolute and total power especially in a cruel and oppressive way
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)

Those who hearken to their Lord, and

establish regular Prayer; who (conduct)
their affairs by mutual
Consultation; who spend out of what
We bestow on them for Sustenance;

( Surah Al-Shura : 38 )
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
Even the Prophet SAW was commanded by
Allah
...Consult them in affairs ( of moment )...

( Surah Ali Imran : 159 )

Following this advice and lead, khalifah

Umar admonished There is no khalifah
without consultation
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
The practice of Shura was the mechanism
followed at all levels in selection of political
leadership by Prophet Muhammad and his
followers.

It was the Islamic community that

selected the first four rightly-guided
khulafa, although the method of
selection and the process of approval
differed.
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
Shura is not applicable to matters on which an
injunction exists in al-Quran and as-Sunnah

The result of Shura SHOULD NOT

contradict with the legislative injunction
in al-Quran and as-Sunnah
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
-Shura (Mutual Consultation)
l-Adalah (Justice)
It means putting a right thing in proper
place or placing something in its rightful
place where it belongs.

Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct

and giving to relatives and forbids immorality
and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes
you that perhaps you will be reminded.
( Surah Al-Nahl: 90 )
l-Adalah (Justice)
Islamic law based on the Quran and Sunnah is
equally accessible to all and equally applicable on
members of the society from the lowest to the
highest, without any distinction or discrimination.

No pulling strings in punishment, no unfair bias in

punishment, no blackmailing or corruption in
punishment, no favourable exception in
punishment, MUST BE FAIR AND JUST. etc.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was asked to declare

that: I have been commanded to maintain justice
between you.
l-Adalah (Justice)
Islam strongly emphasizes on the importance of
justice in all dimensions. In fact, Those who are
unjust will be met with punishment in the
hereafter.

Also, all the personal, civil, political, social, and

cultural and economic rights of an individual are
guaranteed under Islamic law. All people have
equal rights and each and everyone is equally
responsible before the law.

It is the obligation of the rulers to ensure that each

member of the society particularly the weak, is
given his due rights.
l-Adalah (Justice)
Example of al-Adalah ( Justice )

(a)Having upright and capable public officials.

(b)Managing the public policy in a just way.
(c)Distributing wealth and opportunities in an
equitable manner.
(d)Placing righteous and just people in carrying out
public matters.
(e)Ensuring Punishment is met with justice for all
people.
(f)Oppression-free ruling.
l-Adalah (Justice)
Reward of a Just Ruler

The Prophet (s.a.w) mentioned the just ruler

foremost among even whom Allah will cover with
His shade on the Day of Judgment when there will
be no shade but his. And the Prophet (s.a.w)
warned against oppression in all its forms when he
said , Stay clear of oppression, for oppression is
darkness on the Day of Judgment.
l-Adalah (Justice)

OPPRESSION
l-Adalah (Justice)
Thailand
Myanmar
Phillipines
Palestine
Egypt
l-Huriyyah (Freedom)
The rulers must not tyrannise the ruled
or take away their freedom.
Types of Freedom:

(1) Freedom of Thought and Belief

(the root of all these branches of freedom and it is
the closest link between these freedom and the
political system of the state).
l-Huriyyah (Freedom)
Freedom of EDUCATION
(2)
The freedom to learn

Freedom of PROPERTY
(3)
The freedom to own or possess wealth

(4)PERSONAL Freedom
Life, movement, security, liberty,
choosing rulers, criticise, evaluate the
rulers, elections, speech, choice
l-Huriyyah (Freedom)
Islamic legislation gives a great
consideration and respect to this
freedom because Allah swt has created
man with a nature, which entitles
people to their freedom of choice and
freedom of will in forming opinions and
actions according to them

Take away peoples freedom =

l-Musawah (Equality)
Individuals comprised in a society are
EQUAL in rights, liberties,
responsibilities, and public duties which
are to be enjoyed by all without
discrimination of race, origin,
language, or creed.

-Equality is the Basis on establishing

common freedom
l-Musawah (Equality)
If this principle is neglected the structure
of public system will collapse or become
useless in practice.

NO DISCRIMINATION ! NO APARTHEID !

NO RACIAL INEQUALITY ! NO SECTARIAN

INEQUALITY !
NO RACIAL SEGREGATION !
l-Musawah (Equality)
PAST EXAMPLES:

US Slavery ( 1700s-1970s)
South African Apartheid ( 1700s 1994 )

ONGOING:
Israeli Apartheid on Palestinians
Myanmars treatment of Rohingyas
-Muhasabah (Accountability)
Divided into two aspects:

(a)Permissiblity to call the head of state to

be accounted.
(b)The scope of obligation to obey.

You are answerable to what you do, NO

IMMUNITY, NO EXCEPTIONS, NO
PARDONS, EVEN IF YOU ARE THE RULER
Based on Sound Witnesses and Evidences
-Muhasabah (Accountability)

ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT

The Islamic political system makes the ruler and the

government responsible firstly to Allah and then to
the people.
-Muhasabah (Accountability)
Islam permits the head of state to be
called for accountability in regards to
common offences ( in the state penal
laws), the crime of high treason, violation
of law and any forms of misconduct and
negligence as well as failure in
performing the duty.

Everyone, even head of state is

responsible for his/her actions
-Muhasabah (Accountability)

Those who are wrongly

accused/accounted for their actions or
misconducts must first be proven guilty
before being punished or put into jail.

Everyone will be accounted for their

actions on the day of Judgment by Allah
SWT.
-Muhasabah (Accountability)
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 heavier than
the ruled.

Any ordinary citizen of an Islamic state

has the right to ask any question on any
matter to the ruler and the government.
-Muhasabah (Accountability)
[We said], "O David, indeed We have
made you a successor upon the earth, so
judge between the people in truth and do
not follow [your own] desire, as it will
lead you astray from the way of Allah ."
Indeed, those who go astray from the
way of Allah will have a severe
punishment for having forgotten the
Day of Account.
(Surah Sad: 26)
-Muhasabah (Accountability)
Islam indeed orders Muslims to OBEY the
leaders as long as they OBEY the laws of
the Almighty. (Shariah law).

Once they deviate from the right path,

against Allahs laws, asking people to
deviate from the teachings of Islam, at
that particular moment, the ruled people
ARE NOT OBLIGED to obey.