Here is our discussion article for the week: There seems to be a perception prevalent in the west, that Islam and democracy cannot co-exist. From the premise that Islam does not separate mosque and state, it is falsely assumed that an Islamic state is a theocracy- a state controlled and run by an organized theocracy. Then it must be noted that traditionally most of the Ulemas (scholars) and jurists of Islamic Law were independent of the state and its politics. They carried out court without being beholden to the executive body of the state and served as advisors to the rulers but did not seek political office. It must also be noted that the ruler’s decision in an Islamic state were never considered divine. According to Sunni jurisprudence the ruler of an Islamic state is not necessarily a religious authority. His/her opinions and decisions are open to debate and to challenge by religious scholars, legal experts, public officials, advisors and most importantly the public. To assume that laws based on a religious tradition are any less democratic than secular laws is to undermine the dynamic nature of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh). Furthermore there is no centralized religious authority in Islam - most religious affairs and decrees are agreed upon by Ijma (consensus) of qualified and recognized scholars. In case of difference of opinion based on legitimate grounds the citizen is free to choose which opinion to follow. This grants every Muslim freedom to choose and to exercise her own judgment, free from fear of excommunication. The often repeated mantra that Islam and democracy are incompatible is to assume that the western style democracy is the only legitimate way. Dr. Ali Mazrui a leading Islamic intellectual at Georgetown University has defined nine principles of Islamic democracy that are worth mentioning to open a dialogue on democratization of the Muslim world on its own terms. Islamic state regardless of the form of government, must conduct its affairs on the principle of shura or mutual consultation. Islam also stresses on egalitarianism as the basis of law as was illustrated in the statement of Prophet Muhammad “Arab has no superiority over non-Arab and non-Arab over Arab”. Islam guarantees freedom of religion and believes there should be no coercion or forced conformity to religion, based on the Qur’anic decree “there is no compulsion in religion”. Islamic democracy would also promote religious ecumenism–coalitions of mutual belief as reflected in Qurans reference to Jews and Christians as ‘people of the book’ and those with whom Muslims had a covenant. Islam has a heritage of electoral representation in the form of a college of elders and the institution of Ijhtihad or continual reinterpretation of Islamic law that is sharia compatible and time and space sensitive. Islamic democracy encourages Ijma or consensus that is maximum support without force that can also put down dissent without force and through scholarly intellectual persuasion. Hijra (to seek asylum) is encouraged in Islam when it is not possible to practice one’s faith freely and without coercion. Dr. Mazrui considers hijra as the mother of present day pluralism. Islamic states through history have shared power with its citizens of other faiths and still do thereby encouraging political pluralism. Shariah also recognizes and ensures the rights of its religious minorities by granting them protection and freedom to practice their faith and exemption from military duty in return for a token tax called jizyah. In this regard it should be noted that Islamic law also includes religious minorities eligible to receive social assistance from the state without having to pay that Zakat which is mandatory on Muslim citizens. Zakat funds are used to provide social assistance to the needy. It is clear upon reflecting on the above principles of Democracy Islamica that there is fertile ground for democratic institutions in Islamic thought that can be nurtured without having to import foreign political ideologies to the Muslim world. Another bone of contention cited as anti democratic, is Islam’s concept of gender equality in the social realm. Unlike the secular concept, Islamic concept is based on equity and justice and not sameness and uniformity. Furthermore equitable and just treatment of women under Islamic law is a sacred right that is non negotiable. The third faulty premise, upon which the Islam as anti democracy argument rests, is to assume that today’s Muslim states are in fact Islamic. The fact of the matter is that they are anything but. The agitation and the struggles in the Muslim world are a by product of a century of colonial rule and 70 years of neo-colonial rule by proxy states suffering from economic, political and social corruption and a consistent brain drain. Critically to help nurture democracy in the Muslim countries we must see democracy as the representation if not the will of the people. We kill any momentum the democratic ethos might gain if we only accept the will of the Muslims when we agree with their choices and ones that serves our economic and political interest. If we wish to convince the Muslim populace that we want for them what we want for our selves then we must respect their choices, their way of life and their faith. In this global village there is no other moral option.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:08:30 +0000
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