THE BASIC

CONCEPTS OF THE
ISLAMIC POLITICAL
SYSTEM
BS Media 2A
Mr. Muhammad Muneeb Shahid
Islamic Studies
 Islam – The Complete Code of Life

The Political System of Islam

OVERVIEW The Principles of the Islamic Political

System

Comparison with Democracy

Comparison with Monarchy

1
ISLAM – THE COMPLETE
CODE OF LIFE
More than a faith, Islam is a complete code of life. It
concerns every aspect of an individual’s life: from birth to
death (and the afterlife).

Islam acknowledges the nature of mankind, so it set laws

and regulations that will help in leading a successful life
and prospering society.
2
THE ISLAMIC POLITICAL
SYSTEM
♦ Also called the Caliphate System
♦ A complex and complete system of governance
♦ Based on Sunnah and the Holy Qur’an
♦ Potential to create a pan-Islamic system internationally,
beyond geographic borders and nationalities
♦ Operates on some unchangeable principles
♦ Centers around Tawheed, Risalat, and Khilafat/Imamat (i.e.,
sovereignty, prophethood, and vicegerency)
3
THE
PRINCIPLES Sovereignty Prophethood Vicegerency Freedom
OF THE
ISLAMIC
POLITICAL
SYSTEM

Mutual Consultation Justice Accountability Equality

 4
In democracy, the sovereignty belongs
to the masses – the people. The people
elect their leaders, following the
majority system.
The people also possess the power to
change and make amendments to the
law.
DEMOCRACY VS ISLAMIC
In the Islamic political system, the sovereignty
POLITICAL SYSTEM
belongs to Allah. The caliphs are selected based on
the Islamic principles.
Nobody can make changes to the Sharia, as it is
based on Islamic principles. Any unusual
circumstances are handled through consultation (as-
shura).
 5
In monarchy, the sovereign is the
monarch. That individual has the power
to make amendments to and change the
law with little to no accountability.

MONARCHY VS ISLAMIC
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Allah is the sovereign, therefore no
individual can make final decisions
without the principles given in the Qur’an
and Sunnah. Any developments are made
through consultation.
CONCLUSION
 THANK YOU

Any questions?
Syeda Filza Haider | 01-154192-066 | BS Media 2A|
Bahria University Islamabad | Islamic Studies
s.filzahaider@gmail.com
 Abu Hamid al-Ghazali quoted in Mortimer, Edward, Faith and
Power: The Politics of Islam, Vintage Books, 1982, p.37

Sohaib N. Sultan, Forming an Islamic Democracy Archived 2004-

10-01 at the Wayback Machine

SOURCES Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World (2004), vol. 1, p.

116-123.

CITED
Kadri, Sadakat (2012). Heaven on Earth: A Journey Through
Shari'a Law from the Deserts of Ancient Arabia ... Macmillan. pp.
120–1. ISBN 9780099523277.

Benhenda, M., Liberal Democracy and Political Islam: the Search

for Common Ground, SSRN 1475928