The Concept of State in Islam

Abstract

The state in Islam is founded on certain principles which, according to the faith of a Muslim, are laid down in the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The first principle is that all authority in the universe vests in Allah, Who is the Omnipotent and Omnipresent Creater of the universe. Thus, according to a Muslim’s faith Allah alone must be obeyed to the exclusion of all others, and obedience may be rendered to man only under Allah’s command in the case of the Prophets whereunder rendering obedience is in fact to Allah and not to human beings. The second principle is that the law has already been laid down by Allah in the form of commands of what is good and what is evil, in the Qur’an, which is the pure word of Allah whereas Sunnah of the Holy Prophet is the authoritative exposition of the Qur’an. These commands have been sent in the form of revelation from time to time to the Prophets for the guidance of mankind, the last being the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) through whom the faith had been completed and perfkcted in the Qur’an. Allah has already placed in the nature of man the knowledge of good and evil and has furhter clarified the distinction between good and evil in the Qur’an. Thus, the law of Allah, properly called, consists of Awumar and Nawuhi (the positive and negative injunctions of the Qur’an) and it is on this basis that according to a Muslim’s faith all legislation has already been made by Allah and every Muslim is enjoined to promote good and to suppress evil. In the Qur’an no mode of lite is prescribed for a politically and economically subjugated Muslim community. In Sura 4: Verse 59 the Muslims are commanded to obey Allah, to obey the Holy Prophet and those having authority over them, who are from amongst them. Consequently, a Muslim is to render obedience firstly to Allah, then to the Holy Prophet, lastly to those members of the Muslim comminity who command authority over him provided that they are acting only in execution of the commands of Allah and the Holy Prophet. So, it is evident that rendering obedience to those who command authority over ...