Understanding Politics In Islam: Fiqh al Siyasah

Adapted and rearranged from the book Fiqh al-Dawlah written by Professor Yusuf al Qaradawi.

1. What is the aim of politics in Islam?

According to Al-Mawardi from his book Al-Ahkam Al-Sultaniyyah, it is hirasatud din wa siasatud dunya - to uphold the religion and administer the world. Politics is not munkar - it is not a depravity - real ethical politics is noble and virtuous because it administers the affairs of all creatures, bringing man closer to good and away from fasad - evil. According to Ibn al-Qayyim, politics is in reality, the justice of Allah the Almighty and His Prophet (peace and the blessings of Allah be upon him).

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was a politician as well as the messenger conveying the risalah - the message of Islam, a murabbi - teacher, a Qadi - Chief Justice, head of the nation and Imam of the ummah. The Khulafa' al Rasyidun - the rightly guided leaders who succeeded him were also politicians following the Sunnah - way of the Prophet, establishing a just administration, practising ihsan - the betterment of good and providing the leadership of 'ilm - knowledge and Iman - belief.

However in the present time, due to 'politics' man faced suffering as a result of deceit and political ploys and scheming and devious politicians, whether in the form of past colonialists, treacherous rulers, tyrannical leaders and regimes preaching Machiavellian philosophies (where the ends justifies the means).

It became a common theme to label and describe committed Muslims as 'political' so that they are regarded warily and wickedly for the purpose of disassociating and furthering apart the people from them, intending that society will shun and hate what is called 'political Islam'. It has been such that symbols of Islam like the headscarf, the proper attire and congregational prayers - Salat jama'ah are attempted to be labelled as 'political'. (recently described as Islamophobia post 9/11)

It is a blatant lie for those who say that there is no religion in politics and that there is no politics in religion. This deceit was once tried in the form of an attempted fatwa - a decree while the members of the Ikhwan al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood) were imprisoned in the detention camps of Egypt in the 50's. The regime wanted to influence the masses to regard the activists and the Dai' (the very people who wanted to uphold the Syari'ah, Al-Qur'an and Al-Sunnah) as the purveyors of fasad - evil by using corrupted 'ulama - paid compromised scholars.

2. The Fight against Fasad and Zulm (Corruption. Evil, Transgression and Tyranny) is the utmost in Jihad

From the understanding of the Prophet's tradition (mafhum hadith):

Munkar (transgression) is not limited to khamr - liqour, gambling and zina - - unlawful sex but degrading and defiling the honour and dignity of the people and citizens is a major transgression; so is cheating in the elections; refusing to give testimony - neglecting to vote; letting government be in the hands of those who are not deserving and undesired; stealing and squandering the nation's wealth and property; monopolising the people's needs for personal gains or cronies' interests; detaining people without crime or just cause; arbitrary arrests without judgement from a fair court of law; torturing human beings in prisons and in the detention camps; giving, accepting and mediating in bribes; cowering up to and praising evil rulers; allowing the enemies of Allah and the enemies of the Muslim community to be leaders and in turn shunning the able believers - the mu'min.

These are all grave transgressions!

When a Muslim remains quiet upon seeing all of these it means that he or she "does not deserve to live" (is not alive) in the sense of the mafhum of al-ayat and al-hadith - the true understanding of Qur'an and Sunnah. Islam requires that every Muslim has to have political responsibility. A Muslim is required by his Iman - faith to be truly concerned with the affairs and problems of the ummah - community, helping and defending the meek and the weak, fighting tyranny and oppression. By retreating and abstaining oneself, it will only invite divine retribution and has been described as possibly being seized by the flames of hell (mafhum ayat).

3. Political Freedom is Our Utmost Need Today - huriyya

Islam is always being rejuvenated, its message spreading across the globe, its resurgence, its reverberating call heard by all even if it is given some limited freedom. Therefore the first battle is to obtain freedom to deliver the message of da'wah - the call to good, to excellence, to prevent evil and corruption; the risalah of tawhid (Unity of God), spread consciousness and enabling the existence of Islamic movements and civil society - mujtama' madaniy.

True democracy is not for the whims and desires of the tyrannical rulers or their cronies, it is not the place to jail and incarcerate its fighters and not the place to torture its proponents.

Democracy is the simplest and proper way to achieve the aims of a noble life, to be able to invite all to Allah and Islam, to be able to call others to Iman without having our souls being imprisoned and our bodies sentenced to be executed by hanging. It is the space for a free and honourable nation to have the right to choose, evaluate the rulers, change governments without coups and without bloodshed.

The theory, the way and the system which looks alien maybe adopted if it benefits us and as long as it does not contradict clear Islamic edicts and the rules of Syariah. We appraise, amend according to our spirit, we do not adopt its philosophy, and we do not allow what is forbidden and vice versa. We do not relinquish or compromise what is ordained or compulsory - the wajib in Islam.

The gist of democracy is that the public, the people can choose the rulers who are going to administer them; the people having the right to select, criticise and terminate; and the people are not forced to accept systems, trends, and policies which they do not agree to and they are not abused. They are free to hold elections, have referendums, ensuring majority rights, protecting minority rights, having a sound opposition, have diversity and representation through multi parties, have press freedom and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. But once again to constantly uphold and safeguard the principles of Islam, the firm rulings, the al-thawabit: the determined laws - hukm qat'i, the daruri - the essentials of religion and the non-ijtihadiy must not be compromised or neglected.

Syura:

Syura or consultative decision making must be followed truthfully and not just used as rhetoric or as a debating factor. By practising syura, it is closer, hence even better than the spirit of democracy. It is but the lost jewel found, the jauhar, the lost wisdom - al-hikmah which has been rediscovered.

Syura enables musyawarah - mutual representations, debate and consultations to be conducted, obtains views and opinions, empowers the responsibility of the people to advise and counsel the government (ad-dinu nasiha) and establish amar ma'ruf nahy munkar - enjoining good and forbidding evil. Among the obligations of amar ma'ruf nahy munkar is the highest form of jihad (struggle) that is to voice out the truth in front of the unjust tyrant.

The State of Politics in the Ummah:

The musibah or calamity that befell the ummah then and now is the absence and the abeyance of the system of syura and the adoption of an oppressive dynastical ruling system. In the modern era, dictators stay in power by the combining force of arms and gold - power and wealth resulting in the syariah being hindered, extreme secularism being forced upon and cultural Westernisation being imposed. Islamic da'wah , personalities with leadership potential and the Islamic movement become victimised, brutalised, imprisoned and hounded viciously.

4. Qur'anic Examples of Tyrannical Rulers

The Al-Qur'an denounces all-powerful rulers such as Namrud, Fir'aun (Pharaoh), Hamaan and Qarun. Namrud is the culminationof  taghut - the transgressor who enslaves the servants of Allah as his serfs.

There is the pact or collaboration of three parties:

Fir'aun - he claims to be God, carries out tyranny and oppression throughout the land, enslaves the people.

Hamaan - the cunning politician, very experienced, having self interest, loyally in the service of taghut, propping up and supporting Fir'aun and cheating the people, subjugating them.

Qarun - the capitalist or feudalist who takes opportunity from the unjust and oppressive laws, spending fortunes for the tyrannical leader in order to profit and amass more vast returns, bleeding and exploiting the toils of the people. The origin of Qarun was that he came from Prophet Musa's own clan who colluded with Fir'aun due to the love of worldly life and materialism.

The combination of taghut - trangression and Zulm - oppression results in the spread of mayhem and the destruction of the community, subjugating man by force and degradation.

The People:

Al Qur'an denounces the people or citizens who are obedient and remain loyal to their oppressive rulers. The people who remain under the tutelage of taghut are fully responsible and accountable because it is due to their own attitude and capitulation that brought forth these fir'auns and taghuts.

Al-Junud (the collaborators):

These are the armies and enforcers of the rule and order of the taghut. They use force, fear, brutality  and repression to eliminate and subdue all opposition and dissidents of the tyrant.

5. An Example of Leadership

Balqis, the Queen of Saba' as told in the Qur'an was a woman who lead her people well, just and administered them with intelligence and wisdom saving her people from a war that was destructive and made decisions by syura-consulting her able counsellors. Alas, the story ended with the acceptance of Islamby her and her people. She led her people towards the goodness of the world and the hereafter.

Leaders like her are much more capable and qualified with political acumen and wise administration than most of the present Arab and Muslim 'male' leaders. (Prof. Yusuf Qaradawi purposely avoided the term 'al-rijal')

6. Pluralism and Multi Parties in Islam

The existence of various parties or movements is not forbidden as long as unification is not achievable due to differences over objectives, approaches, understanding and the level of confidence and trust. Variety, diversity and specialisation are allowed as long as they do not become contradictory and confrontational or lead to strife. However everyone has to be in one united front when facing the challenges to aqidah - belief, syariah, ummah and the survival of Islam. Relations between parties and groupings should be in the atmosphere of non-prejudice, forgiveness, nobleness, counselling truth and steadfastness, wisdom and engaging in healthy cordial debate.

Even when the Islamic State is established there is no reason to feel distraught at the existence of pluralism and differences.

7. Counselling and Corrective Participation in Politics

Without the shedding of blood, the most effective way as the outcome of long and painful struggles is the existence of political forces which the government in power is unable to contain or eliminate: that is presence of political parties. The ruling regime can get rid of individuals and small groups of opponents but it is difficult for them to defeat or wipe out larger organisations which are well structured, organised and rooted in the masses of society. Political parties have the platform, machinery, newspapers and publications as well as mass influence.

Political parties or political movements are necessary to fight oppression, to enable criticism, bringing back the government to  uphold truth and justice, bringing down or changing the government that does not perform in its trust. These parties are capable of monitoring and appraising the government, offer advice and criticism.

8. Voting

Voting in the elections is a form of testimony. A just testimony is considered valid as long as one is not convicted of crime. Whoever so votes or abstains from voting in the general elections causing the defeat of a trustworthy and deserving candidate but on the other hand allows the candidate who is less trustworthy and undeserving to win, he or she has gone against the command of Allah concerning the giving of testimony.

(first written in 1999 for ABIMLINK and BICNews, Belfast Islamic Centre)

(edited 2012)