Islam & Democracy
اسلام اور جمہوریت

Harmony or Conflict




Lecture By: M. Ahmad Zafar       
www.aagahi.com

Islam is a Complete Way of Life (دین)

As a Religion
  1. Aqeedah (Creed)
  2. Ibadaat (Modes of Worship)
  3. Customs & Traditions.
As a System of Governance
  1. Political System.
  2. Ecnonmic System.
  3. Social System.
  1. Judicial System.
  2. Inheritance Law.
  3. Family Law.

قَالَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ‏"‏ كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ، كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِيٌّ ..."

Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The Israelis used to be ruled & guided by Prophets. Whenever a Prophet died, another Prophet would take his place ...”

[Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith-al-Anbiya (60), 3455]

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً … ۞

Just recall the time when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to appoint a vicegerent on the Earth” ...

[Surah Al-Baqarah (2), 30]

King David (e.s) as the Caliph

يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ ۞

[Surah Saad (38), 26]

Islamic System is Based on Khilafah

The role of the Khaleefah is, simply put, to apply the Shariah, to manage the affairs of the Muslim nation, and to take care of the needs of his people.

[The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, Page 237]

Other words that are sometimes used interachangeably for Khaleefah are “Imam” and “Ameer”.

[The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, Page 238]

Democracy & its Brief History

  • Democracy is a Greek work which means “Rule of Common People”.
  • Greeks had a religion and we not atheist.
  • Greek Philosopher Plato wrote his famous book “Republic” in 380 BC.
  • The city state of Athens was one the first to practice democracy.
  • The oldest trace however is found in India 599 BC known as “Gana Sangha”.
  • “Secular Democracy” came into existence after the French Revolution.
  • Democracy has many variants:
    1. Direct Democracy
    2. Representative Democracy (Republic)
  • But democracy in the true sense has hardly ever existed.

What Exactly is a Parliament?

From the French ‘parler’, to speak; the original sense of the word was the action of speaking, speech, conference or discussion: hence the council called by a monarch to discuss some matter of general importance.

[The Leadership of Muhammad by John Adair, Page 29-30]

Old Greek Criticism on Democracy

  • Socrates in the dialogues of Plato gives an example of a ship and the decision to appoint a captain.
  • Socrates’s point is that voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition.
  • A Skill needs to be taught systematically to people.
  • Allowing citizens to vote without the required education will give irresponsible results.

The Ill of Following the Majority

وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ‌ مَن فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُ‌صُونَ ۞

اگر تم اُن لوگوں کی اکثریت کے کہنے پر چلو جو زمین میں بستے ہیں تو وہ تمہیں اللہ کے راستہ سے بھٹکا دیں گے وہ تو محض گمان پر چلتے اور قیاس آرائیاں کرتے ہیں۔

[Surah Al-Anaam (6), 116]

Islamic Criticism on Democracy

  • Socrates in the dialogues of Plato gives an example of a ship and the decision to appoint a captain.
  • What Allah has said in the Quran.
  • Muslims also state that an “Aalim” and a “Jaahil” cannot be equal.
  • Comments of Allama Iqbal on Democracy.

Allama Iqbal’s Views on Democracy

جمہوریت اک طرز حکومت ہے کہ جس میں
بندوں کو گنا کرتے ہیں تولا نہیں کرتے


[علامہ اقبال، ضرب کلیم]

Obey Allah, His Messenger & Those In Authority

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّـهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا

[Surah An-Nisa (4), 59]

What Does Obedience to the Ameer Means?

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “The Muslim must hear and obey, whether he likes it or not, unless he is commanded to commit a sin; if he is commanded to commit a sin, then there is no hearing and no obeying.”

[Muslim, Kitab al-Emarah (33), 4763]

Abu Bakr’s Address as Khaleefah

“... O people, I have indeed been appointed over you, though I am not the best among you. If I do well, then help me; and if I act wrongly, then correct me ... Obey me so long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. And if I disobey Allah and His Messenger, then I have no right to your obedience ...”

[The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, Page 246]

Umar’s Address as Khaleefah

Umar stood up & delivered a speech in which he said: “O people, whoever among you sees any crookedness in me, let him straighten it.” A man stood up and said: “By Allah, if we see any crookedness in you, we will straighten it with our swords.” Umar said: “Praise be to Allah Who has put in this ummah people who will straighten the crookedness of Umar with their swords.”

[The Biography of Umar ibn al-Khattab by Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, Vol 1, Page 213]

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَمَثَلِ الْفَرَسِ عَلَى آخِيَّتِهِ يَجُولُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى آخِيَّتِهِ وَإِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَسْهُو ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ

ابو سعید خدری رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے کہ نبیﷺنے فرمایا: مومن کی مثال گھوڑے کی مانند ہے جو رسی کے ساتھ باندھا ہوا ہے وہ پھرتا رہتا ہے اور آخر میں اپنے باندھنے کی جگہ واپس لوٹتا ہے ، اور مومن بھی غلطی کرتا ہے پھر ایمان کی طرف واپس لوٹتا ہے۔

[Musnad Ahmad, 11335] (Daeef)

… أَمْرُ‌هُمْ شُورَ‌ىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ … ۞

... and whose rule [in all matters of common concern] is consultation among themselves ...

[Surah As-Shurah (42), 38]

وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّـهِ أَفْوَاجًا ۞

اور آپ دیکھ لیں کہ لوگ فوج در فوج اللہ کے دین میں داخل ہو رہے ہیں

[Surah An-Nasr (110), 2]

Secular Democracy can lead to Shirk

اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّـهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَـٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ۞

[Surah At-Taubah (9), 31]

Hadith of Adi bin Hatim (r.a) as mentioned in Tafseer ibn Katheer

The Only Direct Order of Governance According to Nauman Ali Khan

الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ

[Surah Al-Hajj (22), 41]

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّـهِ وَرَ‌سُولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ۞

[Surah Al-Hujarat (49), 1]

Importance of Consent of All Muslims

… فَمَنْ بَايَعَ رَجُلاً عَلَى غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلاَ يُتَابَعُ هُوَ وَلاَ الَّذِي بَايَعَهُ تَغِرَّةً أَنْ يُقْتَلاَ

“… So if any person gives the Pledge of allegiance to somebody without consulting the other Muslims, then the one he has selected should not be granted allegiance, lest both of them should be killed.”

[Bukhari, Kitab al-Hadood (86), 6832]

Islam on Candidacy (1)

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me (to a position of authority)?' He struck me on the shoulder with his hand and said: 'O Abu Dharr, you are weak, and it is a trust, and on the Day of Resurrection it will be a source of humiliation and regret, except for the one who takes it and fulfills all obligations and does all duties required."'

[Muslim, Kitab al-Emarah (33), 4719]

Islam on Candidacy (2)

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ … يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اجْعَلْنِي إِمَامَ قَوْمِي ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْتَ إِمَامُهُمْ وَاقْتَدِ بِأَضْعَفِهِمْ وَاتَّخِذْ مُؤَذِّنًا لاَ يَأْخُذُ عَلَى أَذَانِهِ أَجْرًا ‏"

[Abu Dawood, Kitab Al-Salah (2), 531] (Sahih)

The Case of Allegiance


Unity is a MUST and no option for any REVOLT


How the Rightly Guided Caliphs were appointed



Dr Israr Ahmad’s Views on Allegiance

“... I think the Constitution will become the basis of the Allegiance ...”


[My Personal Meeting on 17th February 2010]

The Case of Pakistan

 

“If Jinnah’s aim was to create a ‘secular’ state then there was no justification in withdrawing Muslims from India.”

Justice Dr. Javaid Iqbal, Son of Allama Iqbal
Islam & Pakistan’s Identity, Page 309

“Let us lay the foundations of our democracy on the basis of truly Islamic ideals and principles. Our Almighty has taught us that our decisions in the affairs of the state shall be guided by discussion and consultation.”

Muhammad Ali Jinnah during a speech at the Darbar in Sibi, Balochistan, 14th Feb 1948

Leopold Weiss became Muhammad Asad
Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Hadith on Killing Fellow Muslims

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْنَا السِّلَاحَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا

[Muslim, Kitab Al-Imaan (1), 280]

عَنْ إِيَاسِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ سَلَّ عَلَيْنَا السَّيْفَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا

[Muslim, Kitab Al-Imaan (1), 281]

In fact, human ingenuity has not evolved a better method for corporate decisions than the majority principle. No doubt, a majority can err, but so can a minority. From whatever angle we view the matter, the fallibility of the human mind makes the committing of errors an inescapable factor of human life, and so we have no choice but to learn through trial and error and subsequent correction.

[The Principles of State & Government in Islam, Page 50]

Leopold Weiss became Muhammad Asad
Leopold Weiss became Muhammad Asad

Draft Constitution by Hizb-ut-Tahrir (1)

Article 1

“The Islamic ‘Aqeeda constitutes the foundation of the State. Therefore, nothing is permitted to exist in the State’s structure, system, accountability, or any other aspect connected with the State that does not take the Islamic ‘Aqeeda ...”

Article 6

“All citizens will be treated equally regardless of their religion, race, color or any other factor. The State will not discriminate between citizens in any mat- ter, such as ruling, judiciary or welfare.”

Article 21

“Muslims have the right to establish political parties ...”

Draft Constitution by Hizb-ut-Tahrir (2)

Article 26

“Every sane Muslim of legal age, male or female, has the right to elect the Khalifah ...”

Article 102

“The members of Majlis al-Ummah are elected by the people.”

Article 103

“Every citizen has the right to become a member of Majlis al-Ummah, pro- vided he/she is mature and sane; this applies to Muslim and non-Muslim, man or woman ...”

[The Islamic State by Taqiuddin an-Nabhani]

Dr. Israr Ahmad & Tanzeem-e-Islami’s Viewpoint

  1. As a rule Dr. Israr Ahmad has embraced Islamic Democracy.
  2. Political Parties can exist.
  3. Candidacy is allowed.
  4. In fact he has given good practical recommendations on improving the Islamic Republic.

Opportunities in Pakistan

  1. Pakistan became the first country to declare itself as an Islamic Republic.
  2. A declared Islamic Republic unlike countries like Turkey.
  3. No official sect.
  4. Freedom of expression unlike the rest of the Muslim world.
  5. Political governments have now started to complete their terms.
  1. Pakistan has survived the wave of anti-state elements.




Discussion & QA Session







JazakAllah Khair!


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