Author: Muhammad Dawood Yousufi Eshaqzahi
Islam and Democracy (Part 1)
In the name Of Allah
Preface
الحمد لله رب العالمين، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له. وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن سيدنا ونبينا محمداً عبده ورسوله، صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين؛
Translation: Infinite praise and gratitude belong to the Lord of all the worlds, who honored humanity with the blessings of intellect, guidance, and revelation and chose mankind to establish justice, safeguard rights, fulfill responsibilities, and cultivate the earth. May endless peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the final Messenger of Allah, who conveyed the perfect divine law and explained to humanity the principles of justice, consultation (Shura), accountability, human dignity, and righteous social order, as well as upon his pure family, his loyal companions, and all those who faithfully follow them until the Day of Judgment.
From its earliest days, Islamic political thought has remained one of the most significant fields of study among Muslim scholars. In the modern era, with the emergence of new political systems and the expansion of global intellectual discourse, the relationship between Islam and democracy has become one of the central issues in contemporary political thought, attracting considerable attention from researchers, scholars, and academic institutions. Given the diversity—and at times the contradiction—of viewpoints on this subject, examining it through authentic Islamic sources and a sound scholarly methodology has become an undeniable necessity.
The book Islam and Democracy has been prepared with the aim of explaining the Islamic perspective on government, sovereignty, consultation, justice, freedom, the rights of the people, and the role of public participation. It begins by introducing the concept of democracy, its historical development, various forms, and theoretical foundations. It then examines, through evidence from the Noble Qur’an, the Prophetic Sunnah, the opinions of Islamic jurists, and the views of Muslim thinkers, the relationship between Islam and democracy in a scholarly, analytical, and well-documented manner. Furthermore, the principal supportive and opposing viewpoints are critically and fairly evaluated, enabling readers to gain a clear and well-reasoned understanding of the different dimensions of this subject.
In pursuit of this objective, the Kalemaat Academic and Research Organization, whose fundamental mission is to advance authentic Islamic scholarship, produce reliable academic works, and address contemporary intellectual questions and challenges, is honored to present this work to the academic and cultural community. The organization believes that producing and publishing well-documented scholarly works plays a significant role in strengthening the culture of research, enriching Islamic thought, and promoting constructive academic dialogue.
Finally, we ask Almighty Allah to accept this scholarly effort sincerely for His sake, to make it beneficial for its author, publisher, and readers, and to grant us all success in serving religion, knowledge, and truth.
وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين
Islam and Democracy
In today’s world, within the unrestrained marketplace of slogans and rhetoric, concepts such as honesty, justice, freedom, and democracy have, according to the author, often been transformed from symbols of truth into instruments associated with falsehood, oppression, domination, and dictatorship. Instead of offering water, they present a mirage. For this reason, this series of discussions examines the subject of Islam and democracy, with the hope that it will be beneficial to readers.
According to the author, democracy is frequently presented as a system claiming to establish the rule of the people and protect their rights. However, the author argues that many of its proponents have used it as a means to advance their own interests and impose their political dominance.
This study seeks to present what the author regards as the true nature of democracy and the objectives pursued by its advocates, while examining what are described as the underlying motives behind its promotion. From this perspective, the author contends that actual democratic practice differs from the ideal image often presented by its supporters and argues that, in many cases, it has functioned as a mechanism through which particular groups exercise authority over the destiny of nations.
This section begins by discussing the meaning, definition, and historical origins of democracy.
Definition of Democracy
Democracy has been defined in many different ways, and no single comprehensive definition has gained universal acceptance, as is the case with many concepts in the social sciences. Most definitions describe democracy as a form of government and focus on its intellectual principles and foundations. For example, the term “democracy” is derived from the Greek word “democratic.” It combines demos (the people) with Kratos (rule or power), referring to the rule or authority of the people. [1]
In modern political terminology, democracy refers to the supremacy of the national popular will and the governance of the state by the people. [2]
Democracy is also described as a form of government founded upon the principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, public consultation, and majority rule.
Some definitions emphasize participation and elections. For example: “Democracy is the method by which the people decide who should govern and what the objectives of government should be.” [3]
According to many contemporary political theorists, democracy, in its most common meaning, refers to a form of government in which political power is vested not in a single individual or a small group but in the majority. This characteristic distinguishes democracy from other forms of government.
Broadly speaking, democracy has been understood from two perspectives:
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Democracy as a system of government, reflected in the definitions mentioned above.
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Democracy as a model for society, whose purpose is to promote the individual and collective well-being of all citizens.
From this second perspective, democracy is viewed not merely as a governmental mechanism but also as a social value and a way of life, although it continues to function as a particular form of political organization.
History of Democracy
The term “democracy” was first used in ancient Greece, particularly in the city of Athens. It is associated with Cleisthenes (c. 510 BC), who, following the overthrow of the rule of Hipparchus and his associates, introduced constitutional reforms that transferred political authority to the demos (the common people). Under this early Athenian form of democracy, all eligible male citizens—excluding women and slaves—participated directly in lawmaking and, by lot, assumed public executive offices in rotation.
To be continued…
References:
[1] Babāʾī, Dictionary of Political Science, Vol. 1, p. 21.
[2] Introduction to Political Science, p. 138.
[3] Theories of Western Philosophers, p. 115.
