While Islam does not explicitly forbid kingship, it also doesn’t endorse it as a universally ideal form of governance. The concept of a divinely appointed ruler is not a central tenet of Islam, and the focus is more on justice, righteousness and consultation in leadership. Islam forbids hereditary kingship and lay more emphasis on the shurah which decides for the election of a caliph rather than the choice of an individual who enjoys the lineage of a royal family.
Democracy
Today’s democracy is based on the election system through secret ballot paper, ‘ruled by people’. It is a system of government where political power resides with the citizens, who can participate in decision making, either directly or through elected representatives. Free and fair elections are a corner stone of democratic system, allowing citizens to choose their representatives. The rule of laws is applied equally to all citizens and is enforced impartially. Abraham Lincoln defines democracy in the following words, in a democratic state’ the government is of the people, by the people and for the people’
The Caliphs of Islam
It is to note that in Islam sovereignty belongs to Allah and the caliph has to rule according to the sharia, the Islamic laws. He is entirely responsible for his act of commission and omission to Allah. Accountability on the Day of Judgment before the Lord will imply a thorough examination of his acts. The four rightly Guided caliphs have left a model of their rules which ought to be emulated by the future caliphs of Islam. However, Muawiyah introduced the hereditary caliphate which continued even during the Abbasid reign. That was a monarchy in disguise. But history bears testimony to the fact that the hereditary caliphate did more good than harm in term of territorial expansion. It is surprisingly noted that the Ummayad had occupied 11.5 million sq km of the earth during their hundred years of rule, followed by the Abassid who occupied 8.3 million sq km. The concept of united we stand, divided we fall might have ushered them into an era of success.
Current Muslim leaders
What about our modern Muslim rulers? Strained by many obligations they have no alternative than to be dictated by the superpowers due to their inherent weaknesses. The fear of elusion of power from their hands compels them to adhere to the principles of the western policies. The blessings of America are more needed than anything else. Moreover, the decline of the Muslim nation resides in the fact that division has taken place at all level, whether politics or religious.
Whether king, Sultan, Sheik, president or prime minister of the Muslim nations they are all bound by limitation as far as their foreign politics is concerned. Imran Khan’s visit to Russia cost him his prime ministership. The fear of being out of NATO’s list Erdogan can raise his voice only. Most American military bases are found in many Muslim countries. The dependency on foreign powers led them to lose their self- reliance. The real hero among them is Iran which defies the West.
Moral bankruptcy
Fifty seven Muslim countries have seen the razing of Gaza to the ground and unfortunately they do not extend any military assistance to the Gazaouis. When an outcry bursts out at international level then their voices started taking weight. Perhaps it is too late because death has already taken heavy toll on human lives. The world has gone moral bankrupt. Providing Israel with modern weapons the West helped destroying the small enclave completely.
The two state solution
Recognition of Palestinian state by the West is echoing across the world after witnessing seventy five years of atrocities perpetrated by Israel. Because of the starvation endured by the Gazaouis awake them from their lingering slumber. The majority of the countries besides Israel and USA have agreed to the creation of a Palestinian state at the UN.
All the political systems have failed to rally the Muslim nations on one common platform. After the demise of the prophet SWA a dispute took place between the Ansar and the Mujahireen about the nomination of a caliph. Consequently the Ansar [madinite] proposed to have two caliphs, one from the Ansar and one from the Quraish. Instantly Umar RA replied we have one Allah, one prophet and one Quran then how can we have two caliphs?. The question is can one caliph rule over the Muslim nations one day?
Cassam Tupsy
