Author: M. Farahi Tujegi
Islam and Democracy Part 45
Example and Structure of the Islamic State
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Force and Conquest
Force and conquest is another method of establishing the caliphate in Ahl-sunnah thought. Allama Taftazani explains that the Imamate or caliphate is also established by force and conquest. Whenever an Imam dies and another person, without the allegiance of the people of the covenant or the succession and installation by the previous Caliph, assumes the office of Imamate solely by relying on his own power and might, the caliphate is established and legitimate for him.
Allama Sharbini, another Sunni scholar, writes: “The third way is that a person who has the general conditions of the caliphate, achieves the Imamate by force and conquest after the death of the Caliph and takes charge of the political order of the Muslims. However, the ruling on the living caliph has a two ways: If the living caliph is also among the rulers who came to power by force and conquest, then the one who overthrows him by conquest will be the legitimate Imam; but if the previous caliph came to power through the allegiance of the people of the covenant or the succession and installation of the previous caliph, the Imamate of the conquered person will not be legitimate.
Methods of establishing the Caliphate:
According to the previous notes and the methods mentioned in the election of caliphs, it can be said that there are three main methods for determining the caliph, and some scholars have also mentioned a fourth method. A summary of these methods is as follows:
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Allegiance
Allamah Ibn Khaldun writes: “Allegiance is a commitment to obedience; It is as if the one who swears allegiance makes a pact with the Amir to leave his opinion and the affairs of the Muslims to him, not to argue with him in anything, and to obey him in the responsibilities entrusted to him, whether he likes it or not. In the
past, when swearing allegiance to the Amir, people would place their hands in his hand to emphasize the covenant and agreement. This act was similar to the transaction of a seller and a buyer, and therefore it was called bay’ah, which is derived from the root “ba’ah” meaning to shake hands. This meaning is known in the common language and Islamic law. The same meaning is also mentioned in the Hadith, such as the oath of allegiance of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the night of ‘Aqaba, the oath of allegiance of Ridwan, and other cases. The oath of allegiance of the caliphs was also done in the same way.
The oath of allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, which began with the selection of the Muhajireen and Ansar, and eventually all the Companions, including Hazrat Ali, swore allegiance to him, is of this type.
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Handing over the Caliphate to an Individual
This is the method used by Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). In his will to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he wrote: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is the covenant that Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah wrote in the last moments of this world, which he is leaving, and the first moments of the Hereafter, which he is entering. At a time when the disbeliever believes, the wicked becomes certain, and the liar speaks the truth. I have appointed Umar ibn al-Khattab as Caliph after me; listen to him and obey him. I have not desired anything but good for Allah, His Messenger, His religion, myself, and you. If he acts justly, this is my opinion and knowledge of him; but if he acts otherwise, then every person will be held accountable for what he does. I have no knowledge of the unseen, and I have not intended anything but good.وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُون» “And those who have wronged will know which of them will turn back.” Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
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Consultation among a specific group
In this method, the previous ruler delegates the responsibility of choosing the caliph to a specific group of individuals to choose the new Imam from among themselves. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used this method and commissioned six of the great companions to choose the next caliph. They chose
Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), as narrated in a long hadith from Maymun. In this hadith, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I do not see anyone more worthy than these six, the people with whom the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was pleased when he died. He mentioned the names of Ali, Uthman, Zubair, Talha, Saad and Abdur Rahman and added that Abdullah bin Umar should also participate in this consultation, not to have the authority to make decisions, but to calm his heart.
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Overcoming and Conquering
