In recent years there have been numerous attempts - some funded by governments
of kufr such as Amerika - to get Muslims to accept that Islam is compatible with
democracy, and that Muslims should imitate the kuffar by establishing democratic
governments in their lands.
What is Democracy?
Democracy is that system of government which depends on, or requires, the
establishment of a modern nation State. That is, it depends on the concept of
"nationalism": the division of the world into sovereign nations with formal
boundaries. In addition, it is generally accepted that the purpose of a
democratic country is to ensure the happiness, and the security, of the
"greatest number", with the people assumed, and expected, to rely on the
government of the day to provide these or at the very least provide conditions
where they can flourish.
In democracy, the government is elected by majority vote, and the government,
once elected, is said to be have been given a mandate by "the people". This
mandate allegedly gives that government and its officials the power the make and
enforce laws, and to collect taxes, as well as to enter into diplomatic
relations, and alliances, with other countries. In addition, the government
assumes the right to declare, on behalf of "the people", war on other countries
and expects - and may legally require - its citizens to fight in such a war.
In reality, in all democratic countries the government is supported by only by a
percentage of the people - who voted for the winning political party - with
those who did not vote, or who did not vote for that political party, having to
accept the rule of that political party. In some countries, a government may be
elected by, and have the support of, less than half the population.
In democracy, the representatives of the people, who are elected by vote, seldom
- after such an election - consult all or most of the people they are supposed
to represent, and in many instances these representatives support legislation,
and government actions, which many people (sometimes a majority) do not approve
of. In addition, these representatives are often susceptible (as are
governments) to "lobby and interest groups" and it has become commonplace in
most Western democracies for some representatives to use their power and
influence to enrich themselves. Many people - often a majority - regard many
politicians in democratic countries as an unscrupulous, corrupt, group of people
whose personal conduct often leaves a lot to be desired.
In democracy, as in most other countries, the Media exert a powerful influence,
often using their power of propaganda to form and sway people's opinions.
The concept of democracy means an acceptance of the belief that the majority, or
a majority at any one time, know what is right. That is, what a majority feel or
assume or believe to be right, or are manipulated by politicians and the Media
to believe is right - as manifest by their votes, or their opinions - should be
lawful. That is, it is majority (and often a minority) who posses the right to
legislate, with democratic representatives allegedly acting on their behalf. In
essence, and in theory, in democracy, sovereignty is said to reside "in, and on
behalf of, the people."
In truth, the democracy of modern nation States is a fraud, since the
politicians and governments rarely represent, and seldom consult, the vast
majority of their people, and are increasingly prone to corruption as well as
skilled at manipulating public opinion through the Media and appealing to the
basic, primitive, feelings of people (which often involved some appeal to
"patriotism") in order to fulfil the agenda of cabals, lobbies and interest
groups, and to ensure the survival of their government and themselves.
Government in Islam:
The basis for government in Islam - as revealed in the Quran and Sunnah - is
Bayah and Khalifah. These stem from the fact that, for Islam, supreme authority,
and sovereignty, resides in Allah (SWT). It is Allah (SWT) and Allah (SWT) alone
who knows what is right and who can therefore determine what our laws should be.
Many of these laws - which manifest the distinction between right and wrong -
are given in the Quran and Sunnah, just as the Quran and Sunnah are the source,
the only source, for judging issues: for deciding what is right and wrong in
circumstances not mentioned in Quran and Sunnah. A Muslim is a person who has
submitted to Allah (SWT) and who has taken an oath - the Shahadah - to this
effect.
Thus, Islam accepts as an indisputable fact that we human beings, being fallible
and prone to error and misguidance, should not take upon ourselves the duty of
making laws, of determining what is right and wrong. In addition, in Islam, the
final authority in any matter is the will of Allah (SWT) as manifest in Quran
and Sunnah. This is in complete contrast to democracy where the final authority
is "the people" or a majority of it, or some government official who is said to
be acting on their behalf.
In Islam, the basis for government is bayah: or more correctly, the bayah
contract. This is a contract - determined and manifest by an oath of allegiance,
or loyalty - between the Muslim community, the Ummah, and their leader, the
Khalifah (or Ameer). The content of this contract is ruling according to Quran
and Sunnah and these alone in order to implement Islam: that is, in order to
establish the will of Allah (SWT) on Earth. This means and implies that Shariah
and Shariah alone is the only type of law allowed, since it is the law of Allah
(SWT).
The important thing for Muslims to understand is that the purpose of government
in Islam - as evident in the bayah contract - is ruling according to Quran and
Sunnah and these alone.
In Islam, the Khalifah, or Ameer, takes a bayah from the Ummah to govern over
them according to Quran and Sunnah. That is, it is the Muslim community who
freely determine who is, or should be, Khalifah, and provided the Khalifah rules
according to Quran and Sunnah then the Muslim community, having given their oath
of loyalty, is honour and duty bound to obey that Khalifah. However - and there
are many clear evidence for this - if the Khalifah ceases to judge and rule
according to Quran and Sunnah then the Muslims are duty bound - commanded by
Allah (SWT) - to dispose him.
The relationship between the Muslim community and the Khalifah is determined by
Shura, that is, by consultation. This Islamic consultation is, however, not done
by the process of secret voting, in an election, or otherwise, but rather by
directly appealing to the community, or their leaders (such as Majlis al-Ummah),
as well as through seeking the advice of pious, learned Islamic scholars. The
Khalifah, having consulted the Ummah and the scholars, then makes a decision.
The Difference Between Islam and Democracy:
The difference between Islam and democracy is simple, and profound. Government
in Islam is bound by, and determined by, Quran and Sunnah and exists only to
implement Islam. An Islamic community, governed according to Islam, exists to
manifest the will of Allah (SWT) and so prepare the way for individuals to,
InshaAllah, achieve Jannah. In democracy, society exists to manifest the will of
the people and to strive to make them happy and fulfil their material desires in
this life.
In addition, democracy means and implies the nation State whereas, for Islam,
there is only the boundary between Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Kufr: since all of
the Muslims are one community, the concept of citizenship of one particular
sovereign non-Islamic nation is irrelevant as are the so-called "borders"
established by kuffar governments. A Khilafah - a Muslim community ruled by a
Khalifah - exists to unify Muslims, to protect Muslims from the kuffar, and to
make Islam triumphant in the world.
Thus it is clear that Islam and democracy are incompatible.
May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala forgive us for our mistakes and may He guide
us to and keep us on the Right Path.