Principles of Governance, Freedom, and Responsibility in Islam

Abstract

I. Introduction Although I have been directly involved in a political process that seeks to establish an Islamic state, I am not going to describe the forms that an Islamic government might take in any particular country. Rather, I will try to describe the universal characteristics of an Islamic state. These derive from the teachings of the Qur'an as embodied in the political practice of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and constitute an eternal model that Muslims are bound to adopt as a perfect standard for all time. The diversity of historical circumstances, however, in which they try to apply that ideal introduces a necessary element of relativity and imperfection in the practice of Islam. An Islamic state cannot be isolated from society, because Islam is a comprehensive, integrated way of life. The division between private and public, the state and society, which is familiar in Western culture, has not been known in Islam. The state is only the political expression of an Islamic society. You cannot have an Islamic state except insofar as you have an Islamic society. Any attempt at establishing a political order for the establishment of a genuine Islamic society would be the superimposition of laws over a reluctant society. This is not in the nature of religion; religion is based on sincere conviction and voluntaiy compliance. Therefore an Islamic state evolves from an Islamic society. In certain areas, progress toward an Islamic society may be frustrated by political suppression. Whenever religious energy is thus suppresed, it builds up and ultimately erupts either in isolated acts of struggle or resistance, which are called terrorist by those in power, or in a revolution. In circumstances where Islam is allowed free expression, social change takes place peacefully and gradually, and the Islamic movement develops programs of Islamization before it takes over the destiny of the state because Islamic thought - like all thought - only flourishes in a social environment of freedom and public consultation (shura) ...