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In The Name Of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu
Democracy
?
The Ruling Regarding The Statement That Democracy And Voting Are
Equivalent To The Islamic Shooraa (Counsel)
Question: What is the ruling regarding the statement that Democracy and
Voting are equivalent to the Islamic Shooraa (Counsel)?
The Answer: By Allah, if we did not fear that the ignorant would be
influenced by the likes of these words then it would be obligatory to
avoid even responding to this (statement).
But before we delve into an explanation of the recklessness regarding
this comparison (between Democracy and Voting alongside the Islamic
Shooraa) I would like to remind these people of two great narrations
both being statements of the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him): "Whoever says: I am free from Islaam, and if he is a
liar then he is as he has said, and if he is truthful: he is not
considered in Islaam to be trustworthy. " [Related by an-Nisaa'ee, Ibn
Maajah and al-Haakim from the narration of Buraydah.]
And likewise the statement of the Messenger (may the peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him): "Indeed the servant who speaks without evidence
will remain in the Hellfire farther than the distance between the East
and the West." [Agreed upon from the narration of Aboo Hurayrah.]
So in these two narrations is an advice to the one who speaks against
Allah Mighty and Majestic without either knowledge or guidance nor with
an illuminating book.
Democracy is defined according
to those who believe in
democracy (i.e. the kuffar from
whom it came from); we as
Muslims cannot redefine
democracy and it is not an
Arabic word, rather we can only
take the definition and judge it
on that.
Democracy is defined as:
“The rule of the people, by the
people, for the people.”This means that the people are
the ones to legislate law for
themselves, that sovereignty is
for man.
Democracy calls for so called
freedoms,
The freedom of Religion -Freedom to worship whatever and
whoever they wish, whether one
god or many gods; whether they
worship themselves, their
desires, their money or their
private parts.
The Freedom of Ownership -Freedom to own whatever and
however they like, whether
selling his body or his wife’s
body it doesn’t matter because
he is free.
Personal Freedom -To be free to eat, speak, wear
and behave the way he likes etc.
Freedom of Expression -Freedom to say what you like, to
lie how you like, to slander, to
insult, to swear, to curse
however you like.
However, this will inevitably
causes chaos; so they use this
freedom to vote for someone to
make law and order. In
parliament, they do not eat ice
cream, they legislate law e.g.
to prohibit swearing in public;
but instead permitting swearing
in a ‘legal’ way, in films,
books, media, ‘joking’ etc.
So we have understood that the
people vote to decide what they
think is the best law, then they
count the votes and take the
majority opinion, there is
always confusion and
disagreement, there is no black
and white and is always grey
areas. i.e. It is entirely based
on compromise.
At any rate Democracy and Voting is not combined with the Islamic
Shooraa that Allah has legislated, not in the fundamentals of the
religion nor its subsidiary branches, neither in totality nor in part,
not in meaning or in foundation, and the evidence for these issues is
the following:
5:15 O People of the Book! there
hath come to you Our Apostle
revealing to you much that ye
used to hide in the Book and
passing over much (that is now
unnecessary): There hath come to
you from Allah a (new) Light and
a perspicuous Book.
From this verse alone, we see
that Democracy is fundamentally
contradictory to Islam, and is
irreconcilably against the
command of Allah. Allah ordered
us to implement only and all of
His (swt) commands and
prohibitions, to rule and judge
by whatever he revealed and to
reject any and all opinions that
the people may have, whether
minority or majority.Allah (swt)
said:
5:50 Do they then seek after a
judgment of (the Days of)
Ignorance? But who for a people
whose faith is assured can give
better judgment than Allah?
12:40 "If not Him ye worship
nothing but names which ye have
named ye and your fathers for
which Allah hath sent you no
authority: the Command is for
none but Allah: He hath
commanded that ye worship none
but Him: that is the right
religion but Most men understand
not..
The one who legislates we call
him, “rabb” or “ilah”, so if we
say “there is no ilah except
Allah” we must take Allah alone
as ilah exclusively, otherwise
we commit shirk and we will
become kaafir (a disbeliever).
Allah (swt) said:
4:60 Hast thou not turned thy
vision to those who declare that
they believe in the revelations
that have come to thee and to
those before thee? Their (real)
wish is to resort together for
judgment (in their disputes) to
the Evil One though they were
ordered to reject him. But
Satan's wish is to lead them
astray far away (from the
Right).
First: Who legislated the idea of Democracy? The answer to this would be
the disbelievers. Who legislated the Islamic Shooraa? The answer to this
would be Allah. Does the created have the right to legislate? The answer
to this would be no. Is his legislation accepted (by Allah)? The answer
to this would be no.
The legislator of Democracy is the created whereas the Legislator of the
Islamic Shooraa is Allah the Glorified. The God of the Islamic Shooraa
and its adherents is Allah the Mighty and Majestic while the god of
Democracy and its adherents is the disbelievers and their desires. So do
we have any other god besides Allah?! Allah Most High says:
"Say: Shall I seek a judge other than Allah?" [Soorat-ul-An' am: 114]
"Say: Shall I take as a helper any other than Allah, the Creator of the
heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed. Say:
Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to
Allah (as Muslims). And do not be like the pagans." [Soorat-ul-An' am:
14]
"Say: Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all
things?" [Soorat-ul-An' am: 164]
This is the complete distinction between Democracy and Voting and
between the Islamic Shooraa.
Second: The distinguished Shooraa is that which pertains to the
administration and guidance of the Ummah and is established by the
People of resolve and structure from amongst the 'Ulamaa, the Righteous
and the Sincere but Democracy (on the other hand) is established by the
People of disbelief and crimes and from the ignorant of both men and
women, so when the Muslims or the 'Ulamaa enter alongside with them then
it is only to play with the Muslims.
Is it permissible to equate the good, righteous and believing Muslim,
the one whom Allah has chosen and selected, alongside the criminal whom
Allah has distanced Himself from and detested?!! The Most High says:
"Shall We make the Muslims (comparable) to the criminals? What is the
matter with you and how do you judge?" [Soorat-ul-Qalam: 35-36]
And the Glorified says:
"Do those who do evil deeds think that We will make them equal alongside
those who believe and do righteous deeds whether dead or alive? Evil is
the judgment they hold." [Soorat-ul-Jathiyah : 21]
And the Glorified says:
"Shall We make those who believe and do righteous good deeds as those
who commit crimes upon the earth? Or treat the Pious as wicked?" [Soorah
Sad: 28]
Third: The people who make up the general body of the Shooraa do not
make the Haraam (the prohibited in Islam) permissible nor do they make
the Halaal (the permissible in Islam) impermissible, they do not hold
falsehood to be true or hold the truth to be false which is in
opposition to the followers of Democracy who allow the Haraam and forbid
the Halaal and hold the truth to be false and assist in falsehood. So
the people on the Shooraa consult with one another regarding those
issues that have occurred from the issues of truth and they implement
it, they are followers and people who emulate but they do not come
together with rulings that oppose the Rule of Allah. Those who innovate
and make falsehood obligatory legislate by other than what Allah has
revealed and Allah the Glorified says:
"Or do they have partners alongside Allah who have legislated for them a
religion which Allah has not permitted?" [Soorat-ush- Shura: 21]
And the Glorified mentions:
"And if any of them say: I am a god besides Him then that one We will
recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense those who do wrong." [Soorat-ul-Anbiya:
29]
And the Glorified says:
"They have no Protector other than Him, He does not share His Rule
alongside anyone." [Soorat-ul-Kahf: 26]
Fourth: The Shooraa is not assembled except in rare instances so
whatever Allah has ruled with and His Messenger (may the peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) and that ruling is evident then there is
no Shooraa needed. As for Democracy then it opposes the Rulings of
Allah, the Most High says:
"Do they desire the judgment from the Days of Ignorance? And who is
better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm Faith." [Soorat-ul-Ma'
idah: 50]
And the Glorified says:
"And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then they are
disbelievers. " [Soorat-ul-Ma' idah: 44]
"And whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed then they
are wrong doers." [Soorat-ul-Ma' idah: 45]
"And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed then they are
the sinful." [Soorat-u-Ma' idah: 47]
Fifth: The Shooraa is not a religious duty nor is it obligatory in every
instance; rather it differs based on the various circumstances and
conditions. In one instance it may be obligatory and in another it is
not. And this is why the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) would assemble the Shooraa to set in motion some of the
battles and raids and other times he would not, it all differs based on
the various conditions.
As for Democracy then it makes it (the setting up of a Shooraa)
compulsory on its followers and doesn't allow any person from the Rulers
and Leaders to ever abandon it, and that it must implement it and apply
it upon the people, but whosoever has obligated upon the people what
Allah has not made compulsory then he has coerced the people and Allah
the Most High says:
"Do the disbelievers think that they can take My slaves as protectors
besides Me? Indeed We have prepared Hell for those who disbelieve."
[Soorat-ul-Kahf: 102]
Sixth: Democracy rejects the Divine Islamic legislation and accuses it
of deficiency and non-righteousness whereas the Shooraa establishes the
strength of Islam and its effectiveness for every time and place.
It is impossible for us to refer
to any law other that of Allah,
in any dispute we must return to
Allah and his laws for
arbitration. We can never
believe in Allah as Al Hakam
(legislator) exclusively and
then refer to man-made law for
arbitration, Allah (swt) said:
“2:256 Let
there be no compulsion in
religion. Truth stands out clear
from error; whoever rejects evil
and believes in Allah hath
grasped the most trustworthy
hand-hold that never breaks. And
Allah heareth and knoweth all
things.
Allah (swt) informed us that the
first pillar of Tawheed is
“…whosoever rejects
taghout…”
And the second pillar
“…and then believes in Allah…”
[2:256]
This means that we must stay
away from and reject all that is
worshipped, followed or obeyed
instead of Allah (swt), whether
Satan, human, idols, law and
order or a ruler, whether the
law of the UK or the law of the
UN; we must reject it, believe
it is falsehood, hate and hold
animosity towards it and call it
disbelief or disbelievers. Allah
(swt) said:
“It is not fitting for
the believing men or the
believing women, when Allah and
His messenger decide a matter,
that they should have any choice
in the matter, and whosoever
disobeys Allah and his
messenger, they are in clear
misguidance.” [33:36]
When Allah (swt) uses ‘clear
misguidance’ in this and other
ayat, it means Shirk
(polytheism). So it is
impossible for us to vote over
what is right or wrong, or what
is lawful or unlawful as this
has already been decided by
Allah (swt), and it is
impossible for us to have a
choice after that.
In the time of the Prophet
(saw), the jews used to come and
ask the muslims, “who gives
life?” They said “Allah”, they
asked, “who takes life?” the
Muslims said “Allah” … then they
said “who takes the life of the
sheep when you slaughter?” the
Muslims said “it is Allah,” then
they asked “who takes the life
when the sheep dies by itself?”
the Muslims said “Allah,” then
they asked “how do you eat what
Allah kills with your metal
knife, but you do not eat what
Allah kills with His golden
knife?” So Allah revealed the
Ayah:
Seventh: The Shooraa came at the time that Islam was revealed while
Democracy came to the Muslim lands just as recently as the last two
centuries – the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries after the Hijrah –
so does this mean that the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) was a Democrat? Likewise what about the Companions
and all of the Muslims?
Eighth: The meaning of Democracy is: (the Rule of the people by the
people). As for the Shooraa then it means to consult with one another
mutually, it does not contain the fabrication of rulings that are not
from the fundamentals of the Divine Legislation rather it is to
cooperate upon the understanding of truth and refutes the particulars in
favor of the majority and the new issues in favor of the original
affairs.
Finally
Muslims are commanded not to obey evil ones
6:121 Eat not of (meats) on
which Allah's name hath not been
pronounced: that would be
impiety. But the evil ones ever
inspire their friends to contend
with you; if ye were to obey
them ye would indeed be pagans.
“They take their priests
and rabbis as lords instead of
Allah"
Hatib bin Uday used to be from
the Ahl Al Kitab, he said:
“I came to the Prophet (saw)
and at that time I had a gold
cross on my neck, the messengers
said “take this idol
from your neck” and he
recited the ayah … (above), I
said; “how do we do so?”
he said: “didn’t they
forbid what Allah permits, and
you obeyed them, and permit what
Allah forbids and you take it?”
I said: “yes”
he said: “that is the
way you used to worship them.””
May Allah (swt) protect us from
falling into the same hole as
the Jews and Christians, who
left Allah to follow their own
desires, who twist and change
the word of Allah to please
eachother, even to legislate
homosexuality after Allah
prohibited it. Verily Democracy
is a religion of disbelief;
anybody who believes in it is a
disbeliever, anybody who lives
by and obeys its man-made law is
Mushrik as he obeys and
arbitrates to taghout, even
though Allah (swt) ordered him
to reject it, and anybody who
fights to defend it, and kills
and bombs others to force them
into it and dies for the its
sake can never die except as a
kaafir, and will be punished
after that forever and ever in
the hellfire.
The only solution is to reject
this taghout (that which is
worshipped, followed or obeyed
instead of Allah) and to worship
Allah (swt) exclusively, to
leave man-made law and to
embrace Islam, live by Islam and
die for the sake of Allah,
gaining paradise in the
hereafter forever and ever.
Verily Allah will never change the condition of a
people until they (first) change it themselves. 13.11
And if you turn away, Allah will exchange you for some another people,
and they will not be like you. 47.38
O ye who believe! Whoso of you becomes a renegade from his
religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people
whom He loves and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern
toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah and fearing
not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah, which
He gives unto whom He will. Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing.
5.54
If anyone desires a religion OTHER than Islaam (Submission to
Allah), NEVER will it be accepted of him: and in the Hereafter
he will be in the rank of those who have lost (their selves in
the hell of fire).3.85
Allah Knows Best
Author: Ash-Shaykh Aboo Naasr Muhammad bin 'Abdillah al-Imaam
Source: "Tanweer-uth- Thulumaati li-Kashfi Mafaasidi wa Shubuhaat-il-
Intikhaabaat" (Illuminating the Darkness in order to uncover the
corruptions and doubts concerning Voting) by ash-Shaykh Aboo Naasr
Muhammad bin 'Abdillah al-Imaam (hafithahullah) , (pages 31-35)
Translated By: Aboo 'Imraan al-Mekseekee
Taken From: http://abuimransboo kreviews. blogspot. com/ with excessive
modifications
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