24. Islamic Political System (Basic Concept) Course Instructor & Clusterhead Islamic Studies: CDR(R) Ahsan-ul-Haq

Islamic Political System The political system of Islam has been based on three principles, viz., Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risalat (Prophet hood) and Khilafat (Caliphate). It is difficult to appreciate the different aspects of the Islamic policy with- out fully understanding these three principles. I will, therefore, begin with a brief exposition of them. Tawheed (Oneness) means that one God alone is the Creator, Sustainer and Master of this universe and of all that exists in it organic or inorganic.

Purpose of the Islamic State The Holy Qur’an clearly states that the aim and purpose of this state is the establishment, maintenance and development of those virtues, with which the Creator of this universe wishes the human life to be adorned and the prevention and eradication of those evils the presence of which in human life is utterly abhorrent to God. The state in Islam is not intended for political administration only nor for the fulfillment through it of the collective will of any particular set of people; rather, Islam places a high ideal before the state for the achievement of which, it must use all the means at its disposal. And this purpose is that the qualities of purity, beauty, goodness, virtue, success and prosperity which God wants to flourish in the life of His people, should be engendered and evolved. And that all kinds of exploitation, injustice and disorders which, in the view of God, are ruinous for the world and detrimental to the life of His creatures are suppressed and prevented. Simultaneously, by placing before us this high ideal, Islam gives us a clear outline of its moral system clearly stating the desired virtues and the undesirable evils. Keeping this outline in view the Islamic state can plan its welfare program in every age and in any environment.

Fundamental Rights Although an Islamic state may be set up in any portion of the earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances whether such a per- son is resident within the territory of the Islamic state or outside it, whether he is at peace with the state or at war. Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. It is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, sick persons or the wounded. Woman’s honor and chastity are worthy of respect under all circumstances. The hungry person must be fed, the naked clothed, and the wounded treated medically irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or not or even if they are from amongst its enemies.

Islamic Concept of Sovereignty The word sovereignty is derived from the Latin word ‘Superanus’ which means the supremacy of one over the other. According to Islam, sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Allah and Allah alone. The Quran explicitly describes God as Al- Malik meaning sovereign and Al-Malik-ul-Mulk the eternal possessor of sovereignty.  However in western thought, sovereignty belongs to a person or a group of people but for that existence of a state is mandatory. This concept of sovereignty is not validated in an Islamic society. Whatever is between land and sky belongs to and under the authority of Allah alone. Human beings are sent as khalifa to earth and among them there is a leader who acts as the custodian of rights of powers offered by Allah on him. Therefore he cannot do anything according to his will and go beyond the limits imposed by Allah. Quran says: “To Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth.” (42: 48) “It is He who gives life and death and he has power over all things.” (42: 48) “He is the first and the last the Evident and the Immanent” (47: 3)

From the above ayas it is clear that the concept of sovereignty is universal, absolute, indivisible and inalienable. Allah the sovereign is the primary law-giver. He delegates his authority for administering justice and peace to His agents such as the Islamic state and the khalifa. They only enjoy marginal autonomy necessary to implement and enforce the laws of their sovereign. The attributes of Allah’s sovereignty are also visible in his names for e.g. Al-Wahab (The granter), Al-Ahad (Only One), Al-Qadian (The Eternal) and so on. The constitution of Pakistan is based on the concept of sovereignty. It states that: “Whereas sovereignty over the entire universe belongs Almighty Allah, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.” But this concept is entirely different from the western. According to the western concept sovereignty belongs to the state and sovereign is some determinate human being with unlimited powers. Willoughby says “If a human superior not in the habit of obedience to a like superior receive habitual obedience from the bulk of a given society.” Islamic theory of sovereignty is radically different from the western theories of sovereignty. It is derived from the Quran and Sunnah, which are its basic sources. Islam teaches that the sovereignty belongs to Allah alone and no human being can be the lord of other human beings.