You see, all of us says,
"Democracy is good", "Democracy is right". But no one actually ready to define
Democracy. There is a need to know, is democracy good in Islam or not? But first
of all we have to understand that what democracy is?
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
"Lo! 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 assemlies 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
"Those who eat Riba will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the
standing of a person beaten by Shaytan leading him to insanity. That is because
they say: "Trading is only like Riba,'' whereas Allah has permitted trading and
forbidden Riba. So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops
eating Riba, shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to
judge); but whoever returns (to Riba), such are the dwellers of the Fire ـ they
will Abide therein."
Allah says in Quran, Chapter 33, Al Ahzaab, Verse 36
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have
decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever
disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain 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
"And so judge between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain
desires, but beware of them lest they turn you far away from some of that which
Allah has sent down 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
"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
"But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you judge in all
disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your
decisions, and accept (them) 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
"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? Verily, 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 style to select a person
for performing a specific job. Islamic Sharia'a permits such kind of 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 style 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.