The primary objective of the Islamic political system is to establish a framework that facilitates proximity to Allah. Humanity, as the most honored creation and part of the universal order, embarks on a path that originates from Allah (إنا للّه) and leads back to Him (إليه راجعون), with the ultimate destination being nearness to the Divine Presence.
The Holy Qur’an highlights this truth: <انّ المتقين فی جنات ونهر فی مقعد صدق عند مليك مقتدر >”Indeed, the righteous will be amid gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.”
This position represents the pinnacle of human potential, where individuals become beloved by Allah, and their actions take on a divine essence.
In an Islamic society, all aspects are geared toward human transcendence, achieved through proximity to Allah. Governance plays a fundamental role in facilitating this spiritual elevation. However, this does not imply that individual freedom and autonomy are revoked or that the authority of the state imposes a forced path upon people. Such coercion would fail to achieve genuine nearness to Allah because proximity to Him is a voluntary and spiritual matter rooted in personal acceptance and free will.
Proximity is fostered through love, a heartfelt act influenced by individual choice. Therefore, an Islamic government expands mechanisms and creates favorable conditions for sound choices while restricting sources of moral and spiritual corruption. This approach nurtures the will toward goodness and ensures a proper path of selection, ultimately leading to closeness to Allah.
The goals and key functions of the Islamic political system include:
1. Comprehensive Human Development
The foremost goal of the mission of the Prophets (peace be upon them) is the holistic growth and perfection of humanity—both materially and spiritually—toward Allah Almighty. A governance system based on these teachings must prioritize human growth and development. Consequently, establishing such governance inherently results in rapid societal progress, with all aspects of life reflecting this advancement.
– Key Considerations:
Human growth and perfection are unattainable without righteous leaders. There exists a reciprocal relationship between the establishment of an Islamic government and the moral and spiritual progress of society. In other words, societal progress depends on just Islamic governance, which flourishes when foundational values in society are thriving.
A society moving toward genuine perfection naturally embraces Islamic governance. After the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), this mission continued during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, whose governance nurtured individuals who were already on the path of moral and spiritual growth.
Thus, the relationship between societal perfection and Islamic governance is mutually reinforcing. The more a society grows, the more it facilitates the implementation of Islamic principles. Likewise, the more enduring a just Islamic government is, the faster society progresses. It took thirteen years of effort for the community nurtured by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be ready for the establishment of Islamic justice.
Therefore, only a morally upright and progressive society can carry forward the mission of an Islamic government.
2. Establishing Justice; Implementing the Laws of Sharia
Other goals that are means to achieve the main objective become the goals of a group of functions of the political system. Establishing justice and fairness is one of the divine demands clarified in the verses of the Holy Qur’an: «اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى» Justice means putting everything in its proper place, including all the individual, social, and political duties of the individuals in human society. One of the important duties of the Prophets was to call the servants of Allah to justice and fairness. They aimed for people to establish justice among themselves, but since establishing justice requires sufficient knowledge of all the external and internal aspects and characteristics of individuals—something not possible for any human being without a relationship with Allah Almighty—it is essential for Allah to provide the necessary grounds and prerequisites for standing up for justice. One of these prerequisites is complete knowledge and awareness.
3. Implementing Sharia Law
Among the aspects that have been a source of conflict among Muslims historically is the social and political leadership of Muslims. This position is responsible for implementing religion within the context and core of society. The holder of this position has several duties, including establishing order and discipline in the country, maintaining its borders, overseeing the social order, judging, and enforcing limits.
4. Establishing Order and Security
One of the most important duties of any government is to establish the internal and external security of the country. Many knowledgeable individuals have considered the philosophy of forming a government as primarily establishing security. Ibn Khaldun articulates that whenever a community is established for mankind and the development of the world is achieved through it, there must inevitably be a ruler among them to prevent aggression between groups, as conflict is inherent in human nature. Due to this aggressive nature, a powerful system is necessary to protect the weak from the strong.
Although social order and security are two separate categories, they are inherently linked and are essential means of providing peace and stability in society. Order organizes society into a coherent system with related components and defines the duties of each member. Security prevents disruptions of order and violations of individual and societal rights. Thus, the function of government is more focused on creating a safe environment than establishing order, as the enforcement of laws and norms primarily involves the people and society themselves; the government’s role is to protect the accepted system.
In Islam, social security and peace are respected regardless of the type and variety of political systems, and the disruption of social order and security is considered taboo by jurists. Psychological security also pertains to the feeling of justice within society. When the index of justice weakens, security is compromised, putting the continuity of government at risk.
The goal of security in the political system is of great importance. Following the Renaissance, political philosophers emphasized creating security and preventing chaos as the government’s most significant task. Figures like Hobbes assert that the primary duty of government is to establish order and security, arguing that humans are natural adversaries to one another and that a system is necessary to maintain control and safety in society.
Similarly, John Locke, one of the founders of the idea of imperialism, also identified security as a government goal. In Islam, social security and peace hold paramount importance, and the disruption of social order is universally condemned by jurists. Furthermore, maintaining security within the political framework and addressing sedition that undermines psychological peace and political stability within society receives significant attention.
5. Development of Spirituality
Since Islam was presented to mankind with the aim of ensuring human happiness, and the greatest human happiness depends on practicing spirituality and engaging in divine matters, the Islamic government was founded to guarantee human happiness in both material and spiritual dimensions. Thus, the mission of the Prophets and messengers of Allah is evaluated as the most fundamental objective of the government.
6. Cultural Purification and Growth
Another objective of the Islamic government is the growth and exaltation of both individual and social culture, which encompasses perceptions, tendencies, knowledge, and ethics. The revival of moral values and the purification of souls are among the most fundamental ideals that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) identified as the purpose of his mission, as he stated: «بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ مَكَارِمَ الْأَخْلَاقِ» Translation: “I was sent as a prophet to perfect moral virtues.”
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