Democracy has everything to do with Islam;
Over 70% of Muslims live in democracies, only 30% of Muslims live in monarchies, dictatorships or theocracies. If these Muslims have a choice, they would rather live in a democracy, because that is as much of an Islamic format of governance as it can be. If you were a Sunni in Iran, Shia in Saudi, Ahmadi in Pakistan or Bangladesh and a moderate in Afghanistan, you’d rather not have an Islamic labeled government. Do I want an Islamic Government? No, neither do you, because the type of governance by Muslims during the times of rightly guided first four Caliphs is not a reality anymore, each one of the nation is having their own laws that make your life difficult. With an exception of a few, we do not have an Islamic government or a Muslim government anywhere to model after, if we do, please write. We should all aspire for Pluralistic democracies; it is good for Muslims and good for the world and vice versa to sustain peaceful co-existence of God’s creation.
Dynastic/Monarchy: If Islam was Monarchy or a dynastic system, Prophet (pbuh) would have assigned the leadership to Ali (ra) or Ayesha or some one in Prophet's family.
Capitalistic :: Leadership would have been assigned to the men who controlled the business in Makkah or Madinah.
Theocracy: Prophet said the religion was complete during his life time and in his last sermon he said, I am leaving this book to you to guide. He did not anoint, appoint or named a religious leaders to interpret the religion. He did not see the need for it. There is no clergy business in Islam, it is between you and the God.
Communist :: Did not exist, as individuals had the right to own the property and business and pay taxes.
Dictatorship: Prophet would have pushed some one to become his deputy, and pushed his beliefs onto others, instead he initiated the Madinah pact that gave rights to every one to practice his or her faith.
Democracy: The Prophet chose democracy, he let consultative form of Government emerge, where by 3 successive Leaders were elected and Ali (RA) at the end from the same generation. Islam does not have clergy,
Mike Ghouse
http://www.worldmuslimcongress.org/
Mike Ghouse is a Dallas based writer, blogger, speaker and a thinker. A frequent guest on talk radio and local television networks offering pluralistic perspectives on issues of the day. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website http://www.mikeghouse.net/
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Democracy is un-Islamic: Swat cleric
19 Apr 2009, 1949 hrs IST, PTI – Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Democracy-is-un-Islamic-Swat-cleric/articleshow/4421371.cms
ISLAMABAD: Hardline cleric Sufi Muhammad, who played a key role in enforcing Islamic law in Pakistan's restive northwestern Swat valley, on Sunday said there is no room for democracy in Islam and it contravenes the Quran.
Addressing a gathering of thousands of people at Mingora, the main city in Swat district, the chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi (TNSM) described democracy as an un-Islamic system.
The existing political system in the country contravenes Islam and the Quran, he claimed.
Asserting that there is no room for democracy in an Islamic system, he accused Pakistan's rulers of appeasing the West by thrusting the system of 'kafirs' or infidels on the people of the country.
Muhammad said many years of struggle for implementing Shariah or Islamic law in Malakand division, which includes Swat, were now bearing results. He claimed all un-Islamic laws will soon be abolished in Malakand.
The radical cleric, who set up Qazi or Islamic courts in Swat even before President Asif Ali Zardari ratified a controversial law to enforce Shariah in the region, said no appeal could be made against a decision by a Qazi court in civil courts.
Such decision could be appealed only in Darul Qaza, or superior courts in the Shariah system, he added.
"Theocracy: Prophet said the religion was complete during his life time and in his last sermon he said, I am leaving this book to you to guide. He did not anoint, appoint or named a religious leaders to interpret the religion. He did not see the need for it. There is no clergy business in Islam, it is between you and the God".
ReplyDeleteMike- the above is a truer statement if ever there was one.
Not only Muhammad did not nominate or appoint a ‘Religious’ leader, but he did not return to Makaa even after its conquest to establish it as his capital city of the State. What is more, no Muslim ruler ever did that, not even the current ‘custodian’ rulers of the country. Makaa was and had always remained a Vatican of Muslims and therefore is not possible to be run as part of an Islamic State. Nor did he name his State as Islamic.
There never was an “Islamic state†till lately, a trend that is a paradox to say the least as, firstly if there was one it would be stating the obvious and secondly the present so called “Islamic States†are a sham and misnomer as all of them fall well short of the designation!
Rashid
AA,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry...I do have something to say about your note:
1.Islam does prescribe rule 1.by the tenets of qur'an and sunnat and
2. by consultation in matters where both are silent.
2.We must have a definition of 'theocracy' before anything can be
said about it.
3.Not all the first four pious khalifas were elected.At least
Umar,ra,was nominated by Abubakr,ra.Of course,this nomination was
endorsed by the assembly of the companions,ra, of rasoolullah,saw
soon thereafter.
R
Farid.
Dear Shah N. Khan,AA,
This statement ( attributed to Soofi Muhammad ) is so obviously wrong
that one is tempted to wonder if it is incorrectly reported.But if
the report is correct,then I fully endorse your criticism of it.
I am also concerned about there being no gestation period for the
population of Swat to become fully aware that severe Islamic
punishments have become applicable for sex related crimes.It was
rather painful to read about a couple flogged and
another shot dead within days of Shariat having become applicable.
A policy of softness should have been followed ( as was demonstrated
by Rasoolullah,saw in the case of a self confessed adultress ) for
the first few months say; rather than the severity seen in the cases
reported hitherto.
Regards,
Farid.