U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined democracy as: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”
This is one famous definition of democracy. Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law. It can also cover social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political freedom.
A very famous poet and thinker of Islam Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal defined democracy as:
اس راز کو اک مرد فرنگی نے کیا فاش
ہر چند کہ دانا اسے کھولا نہیں کرتے
جمہوریت اک طرز حکومت ہے کہ جس میں
بندوں کو گنا کرتے ہیں تولا نہیں کرتے
A certain European revealed a secret,
Although the wise do not open the core of the matter.
Democracy is a certain form of government in which
Men are counted but not weighed
In short, democracy is a form of government in which people have authority to make laws of their own will as representative of people “Parliament” has authority to make a law depending upon the opinion of majority regardless of standard of knowledge or qualification of any person. In 1924 when enemies of Islam destroyed the Islamic Caliphate, from that time they are striving to stop the restablishment of Islamic Caliphate in the Muslim world. For this purpose they tried to paste a label of Islamic System on democracy. Most of the muslims who are ignorant of the fundamentals of Islam understand that democracy is not against the teachings of Islam. Due to the absence of a an Islamic State (Khilafah) most of the muslims considered that democracy is good in corrival of dictatorship. So muslims adopted the democratic system to avoid dictatorship. And democracy became standard of politics and government. Muslims did’nt understand that democratic system can never replace the Islamic state (Khilafah).
Democracy is not the name of just voting, elections and to chose political leaders but a system in which law making authority is in the hands of people. It is a system in which people have right to conform or reject any law depending upon the number of votes.
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 12, Yusuf, Verse 67
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ
“Verily! The decision rests only with Allah.”
In Islam, besides Allah, no one has the right to make laws. Allah is our Creater, our Lord and he knows well that what is good and what is bad for us. It is the responsibility of human to implement the laws of God in his society. So, in Islam, Democracy is kufar. It is a shirk. Because in Democracy, “Parliament” has right to pass or reject any law whether it is against to Islamic Sharia or not. As we can see that assemblies in this democratic system have passed many anti-islamic laws like interest (Banking), insurance, stock markets and many other laws against Islamic Sharia’a.
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 2, Al Baqara, Verse 275
الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“Those who eat Riba (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say: "Trading is only like Riba (usury)," whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba (usury). So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba (usury) shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Riba (usury)], such are the dwellers of the Fire - they will abide therein.”
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 33, Al Ahzaab, Verse 36
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا
"It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error."
In Islam, besides Allah, no one has the right to make laws. The Parliament and Senate who have authority to make law have no actuality in Islam. No form of democracy is perfect either it is parliamentary democracy or presidential democracy. It is kufar either it is Western democracy or a democracy with a label of Islamic democracy. Because it gives authority of making laws to people. Democracy in any form has no value in Islam. So, to support or participate in any democratic system is prohibited in Islam without any doubt.
False struggle for imposition of Islamic Sharia’a by Democracy:
It is a fact that muslims have emotional love for Islam. So they want an Islamic system in world. But today, due to false propaganda of media and enemies of Islam against Islamic Sharia’a they have many misconceptions. They understand Islamic Caliphate, a state of terrorism or something else. Therefore they do favour of democratic system and consider it a last hope for the solution of humanity. Some of them believes that democracy cant replace the Islamic System but according to them it is so difficult to establish an Islamic Caliphate. They don’t want to oppose the democratic system. They believes in that “Imposition of Islamic Sharia’a by Democracy” can be possible. But in fact it is impossible.
Introduction of “Shariat Bill” is also like this false struggle. Because, first of all there is no need of voting for imposition of Islamic Sharia’a. Secondly, orders of Sharia’a are not under the choise of majority. Suppose, In this case, today majority of people is in the favour of Sharia’a. But when some people will feel un comfortable, they can introduce a “Non-Shariat Bill”. It is like to make fun of Islamic Sharia’a. It is not the imposition of Islamic Sharia’a but that of democracy. No one has authority to reject the laws of Sharia’a.
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 5, Al Maydah, Verse 49
وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ
“And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you.”
When constitution of any state gives authority to people to make laws of their own will it is a non-islamic state whether punishment of a theif is to cut hand in such state. Because islamic state is the state in which constitution is made on the basis of teachings of Quran and Authentic Hadiths. And the source of all laws will be the Word of God (Quran).
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 59, Al Hashar, Verse 7
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا
"When the Prophet (SAWS) gives you something, take it and when he refrains you from anything, keep yourselves away from it."
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 4, Al Nisa, Verse 65
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
"But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission."
Islamic Caliphate is the only state for which we find arguments from Islam. Which is totally opposite to democratic state, because in an Islamic Caliphate only Allah has the supreme authority in true sense. Power of making law belongs to Allah. No one has the authority to reject the law of God even the cailiph of state is unable to do it.
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 28, Al Qasas, Verse 50
فَإِن لَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“But if they do not respond to you - then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah ? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
Democracy is a governing style of western civilization and muslims should reject this. Allah has chosen for muslims only the Islamic Caliphate.
Election or Voting:
As far as election or voting is concerned, it is only a method for chosing a person for performing a specific job. Islamic Sharia’a permits to use such method for selection but within the boundary of Sharia’a. For example the selection of a monitor or representative of a class. Similarly, the selection of representative of “Majlis e Shoora” or the selection of Caliph can be done by it. It is the duty of Caliph to impose the laws of God in society and Caliph is also under the laws of God. So election or votiong itself is not haraam in Islam but when this method is adopted in a democratic system it is also haraam.
As we have seen all facts about Democracy, it is a form of non-Islamic government. It is not permissible for any muslim to participate in such kind of voting or election because by doing this his representative sitting in the Parliament will make laws himself, which is a shirk (to associate partner with Allah). So in a democratic system voting is haraam.
Our Creater knows well that what is good and what is bad for us. So we have to obey our Creater in any condition, if we want to become succeed in this world and hereafter. For this purpose, there is a need to establish an Islamic State (Khilafat) where every law will be according to the order of Creater. Which He has sent down (Quran) for our guidance. We have to speed up the struggle to establish Islamic Khilafat. This is only the solution for us.
By Qamar Uz Zaman Mustafvi qamaruzzaman90.blogspot.com
