Islamic

Political
System
Zainab Akmal
VFM, Islamic Studies
 What is an Islamic
State?
❏ In the Islamic State, sovereignty rests with Allah
who delegates political authority to the selected
person.
❏ The law in Islamic state is in accordance to Quran
and Sunnah.
❏ An Islamic state is a welfare state.
Purpose Of Islamic State
❏ In Islamic state, one has to promote good and
stop evil.
❏ To ensure that Islamic values and teachings are
being implemented and followed
❏ All the aspects of lives of the public are
supervised to be in accordance to Shariah
❏ Promoting peace and order
❏ Amr bil maroof wa nahi an al munkir
“Islamism is the belief that Sharia (Islamic
law) must be imposed wherever possible
on a society, beginning, of course, with
Muslim-majority countries.”
—Dennis Prager
Characteristics of an
Islamic State
An Islamic State will must have the following characteristics:
↠ Sovereignty lies with Allah
↠ The ultimate law is Quran and Sunnah
↠ The Caliph/ruler will work for the public under the command of
Allah
↠ Neither a democracy, nor a theocracy, it’s a theo-democracy

The 3 C’s of Islamic State

⇝ Constitution
⇝ Consent
⇝ Consultation
Basic Principles of an
Islamic State
⧫ Justice
⧫ Shura
⧫ Freedom of speech and expression
⧫ The ruler is answerable to Allah and the
public
⧫ Equality
⧫ Judiciary is independent of the executive
⧫ Public interest
⧫ Election
⧫ Consensus
⧫ Compliance to Shariah no matter what
⧫ Interest of Deen over personal interest
Duties and Functions of Islamic
State?
Executive for Civil and
Legislative
Military
The sovereignty belongs to Allah All the laws are to be made in
and it is a trust which is accordance to Quran and Hadees
administered by men for the
- spiritual and temporal both.
well being of all without
exception.

Judiciary Cultural Duties

All the peoples should be considered equal It is duty of an Islamic state to ensure that
before law and also the Head of the state Islam is being safeguard and the Islamic
is not exempted. The non Muslims
identity is not in danger because of culture or
inhabitants of the Islamic state enjoy a
Judicial autonomy, each community exterior reasons.
having its own tribunals.
Also the spread of Islam.
 Some Important Aspects of An Islamic
State

Shura Foreign Policy Laws of War

The Quran commands the Muslims again and International relations are very The Muslim law of war is Humane. It does
again to take their decisions after consultation essential for any country to survive. not permit the killings of minors, women, the
whether a public matter or a private one. The Similarly, Islam also emphasizes on very old, children, sick and monks. Islam
practice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has how an Islamic state should seeks to establish a world community with
reinforced this disposition as Holy Prophet establish relations with other states. complete equality among all the peoples
(PBUH) always consulted his companions and without distinction of race, color, class or
the representatives of the tribes of his In terms of sufferings and country.
adherents before taking decision and also all happenings of the world, Muslim and
the Caliphs continuously consulted with other Non-Muslim states will be equal. Everyone is responsible for spreading the
Companions. good and stopping the evil.

(May Allah Be Pleased With Them)

 ““You can take the Muslim out of the
Caliphate, but you can't take the Caliphate
out of the Muslim.”
—Mike Klepper
Salient Features of an
Islamic State
⧫ Religious Freedom: everyone is entitled to practice their
religion freely whether muslim or non-muslim
⧫ Peace: measures and steps should be taken to ensure peace
within the state and with other states
⧫ Abiding by the Treaties: whenever any treaty is made,
every effort should be done to abide by it
⧫ Use of Power: the use of power should be for the uplifting of
people and stopping transgression, not to violate the rights of
public
⧫ Social Welfare State: a Muslim state must be a
theocratic, democratic social welfare state. Devising laws as per
the will of Allah
⧫ Civil Liberty: the fundamental constitution will guarantee
that all citizens have equal civil liberty
⧫ Women Rights: in an Islamic state, women are entitled to
Salient Features of an
Islamic State
⧫ Economical System: the economical system of Islam is
neither capitalistic nor socialist in nature - it has a balanced
approach with Allah being the Supreme Owner and Creator of
everything
⧫ Laws of Inheritance: the property and inheritance of a
person has to be divided and taken care of under the Islamic law
and not as per the wishes of individuals or state
⧫ Taxation: Apart from Zakat (that’s compulsory), Islamic state
can impose tax on citizens, but it should be for their own benefit.
The tax should be used in the areas which will ensure social
welfare of people
⧫ Trade and Business: everyone has a right to do their own
business or run their own trade
⧫ Justice: Sovereignty belongs to Allah and the principles of
Social Justice are derived from his attributes.
 Fundamental Rights of a citizen in
Islamic State

Economical Political
Social Rights Rights Rights
➺ Right to life
Every citizen can equally benefit ➺ Freedom of speech and
➺ Religious Freedom
from the wealth of state, expression
➺ Right to acquisition of
employment and profession ➺ Participation in legislation
Property Right to Honor
opportunities ➺ Shura
➺ Right to equality
➺ Right to agreement ➺ Right to impartial justice
➺ Right of speech and
writing
➺ Right to marriage
➺ Right to Education.
 Duties of Citizens of an Islamic
State

Promotion of goodness Practicing Islamic traditions Not to interfere in the

and stopping the evil and pray freedom and liberties of
others

Jihad, whenever necessary Promote and ensure unity Tolerance towards non-
and equality muslims

A muslim should never go against the tenets of Islam

 Historical Development of
Islamic Law
❏ During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islam started with a
handful of people and spreaded through Makkah to the Medinah.
❏ Islamic law was in a process of formation and stability during this time.
❏ Ayaat were revealed upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in accordance
to the latest happenings, developments and sometimes in answer to
any confusion.
❏ In Medinah, after Hijarah, Islamic law finally managed to take a definite
shape.
❏ Any problem, query, confusion which any Muslim had, they used to
bring it to Prophet (PBUH) and he would then elaborate that point in
light of Allah’s will.
❏ Companions used to follow each and every move and word of Prophet
(PBUH) and it was one of the major way of development of islamic law.
 Historical Development of
Islamic Law

The Era of Caliphs

❏ After the Prophet (PBUH), the Righteous Caliphs - Hazrat Abubakr,
Hazrat Umer, Hazrat Usman, and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with
them), reigned for around 30 years i.e., 632 - 661 AD.
❏ They played a vital role in cementing the Islamic laws.
❏ Not only did they know Prophet (PBUH) more than any other, so they
knew what he would do in a particular situation and so forth, they also
were so righteous in their knowledge of Islam that they would do Ijtehad
and decide.
 Historical Development of
Islamic Law
The Umayyads
⥵ During the times of Hazrat Usman and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with
them), differences of opinions begun to form between different groups of
Muslims.
⥵ After Hazrat Ali (RA), Hazrat Ameer Mua’wiyya (RA) became the caliph and
during his reign, Islam spreaded a lot.
⥵ Because he belonged to the Banu Umayya clan, the line of rulers that
descended from him is known as Umayyads.
⥵ Although his rule was a good one for Islam but he made his son, Yazid, the
ruler, neglecting the Islamic principles of merit and consensus.
⥵ From 661 to 750 AD, the Umayyads ruled and made significant contributions
to Islamic law.
⥵ The public law sphere was standardized, codified and established while the
private law spheres remained diverse.
⥵ The first ever Islamic jurisprudence school was established.
 Historical Development of
Islamic Law
The Abbasids
⥬ When the Ummayads strayed, another family rose to power - the family of
uncle of Prophet (PBUH), Hazrat Abbas (RA), starting the Abbasid caliphate
(750 AD).
⥬ Abbasids had support of Persians and they were of the view that Islamic law
need to be in accordance to Quran and Hadith and the personal likings and
wants must not be kept in view while making any ruling.
⥬ A scholarly sect rose in this era which debated and conversed about the
attributes of Allah and about the nature of Quran.
⥬ Every community was made inclusive by being represented by their own
council at state level.
⥬ Scholars were encouraged to deduce rulings, discuss and debate about
Islamic laws and theories.
⥬ Traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) were collected and the jurisprudence of the
sources of Islamic Law were codified and written.
⥬ The Quran was analyzed.
 Historical Development of
Islamic Law

The Abbasids
During the Abbasid era, the four main schools of thought of Islamic
jurisprudence were formed.
1. Imam Abu Hanifa - Hanafi school of thought (700 - 795AD)
2. Imam Malik bin Anas - Malki school of thought (713 - 795AD)
3. Muhammad ibn Idris - Shafai school of thought (767 - 820AD)
4. Ahmed bin Hanbal - Hanbali school of thought (780 - 855 AD)