Islāmic System of Government — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2

Introduction

In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Islāmic System of Government.

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: XII – First Era of Life in Madinah Comes to an End and the Islamic System of Government
Pages: Book pp. 535–536 (PDF pp. 559–560)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [The Dawn of a New Era] | Next: [True Right of Government Rests with the Majority and Reaches Individuals Through Democracy] »

Historical Account

Since one feature among the two main distinctions of this new era was the establishment of a purely Islāmic government, at this instance, it would be appropriate to mention the fundamental teaching, which the Founder of Islām presented with respect to the system of government. First and foremost, in this regard, it should be understood that as per the practice of Islām in other worldly issues, Islām has only presented one primary teaching and has left the details to be settled by the circumstances of every era, country and nation. In actuality, as far as issues of this nature are concerned, it is this very method which is most sensible and appropriate. In other words, fundamental guidance should be given but matters of detail should be left open. For if this practice is not employed and a single rigid, unchangeable, and detailed law is applied in every era and nation without taking a variance of circumstances into account, it is obvious that religious law shall become a curse instead of a source of mercy; and instead of disseminating guidance shall become a means of misguidance. Hence, with immense wisdom, Islām has only given fundamental guidance in this respect, which may be equally applied in reasonably differing circumstances of all types.

True Right of Government Rests with the Majority and

Reaches Individuals Through Democracy

Islām fundamentally teaches that with the exception of Prophets and Messengers, who receive the right to rule through the eternal right of rule which belongs to God, all people possess an equal right to rule. In other words, rule actually belongs to the majority and in this right, no one person possesses more of a prerogative than another individual. However, in order to lead a system of government, since a consolidated administration is necessary and the final management of government must also rest in the hands of a head of state or president, Islām teaches that with mutual consultation, people should appoint any individual who they believe to be most capable to rule as their Amīr. As such, God the Exalted states in the Holy Qur’ān:

“O Ye People! Allāh the Exalted orders you to hand over the trust of sovereignty to those who are capable. Then, those who are elected as rulers have been commanded by Allāh the Exalted to rule with equity and justice.”

[An-Nisā’ (4:59)]

In this fundamental verse the right of authority has been alluded to by the word ‘Amānat’ [i.e., Trust]. The purpose of this is to make an indication towards the fact that the right of government actually belongs to everyone equally and specific people receive it by the majority as a trust. Hence, anyone who receives an opportunity to govern should understand that this is a trust, which has been endowed upon him by the people. It is mentioned in a Ḥadīth that on one occasion, a Companion by the name of Abū Dharrra requested the Holy Prophetsa to appoint him as the Amīr of a region. The Holy Prophetsa responded:

یَا اَبَا ذَرٍّ اِنَّكَ ضَ عِیْفٌ وَاِنَّھَا اَمَانَةٌ وَاِنَّھَا یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ خِ زْیٌ وَنَدَامَةٌ اِلَّا مَنْ اَخَ ذَھَا بِحَ قِّھَا

وَاَدَّی الَّذِیْ عَلَیْهِ فِیْھَا

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: XII – First Era of Life in Madinah Comes to an End and the Islamic System of Government | Navigation: « Previous: [The Dawn of a New Era] | Next: [True Right of Government Rests with the Majority and Reaches Individuals Through Democracy] »