Aslam

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

Democracy is not an Arabic word. Rather it is derived from the Greek, and it

is a composite of two words: demos, meaning the masses or the people,

and kratia, meaning rule. So what is meant is the rule of the masses

or the rule of the people.

Secondly:

Democracy is a system that is contrary to Islam, because it gives the power

of legislation to the people or to those who represent them (such as members

of Parliament). Based on that, in democracy legislative authority is given

to someone other than Allah, may He be exalted; rather it is given to the

people and their deputies, and what matters is not their consensus but the

majority. Thus what the majority agree upon becomes laws that are binding on

the nation, even if it is contrary to common sense, religious teaching or

reason. In these systems legislation has been promulgated allowing abortion,

same-sex marriage and usurious interest (riba); the rulings of sharee‘ah

have been abolished; and fornication/adultery and the drinking of alcohol

are permitted. In fact this system is at war with Islam and its followers.

Allah, may He be exalted, has told us in the His Book that legislative

authority belongs to Him alone, and that He is the wisest of those who issue

rulings and judge. He has forbidden the association of anyone with Him in

His authority, and no one is better than Him in ruling.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So

the judgement is only with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great!”

[Ghaafir

40:12]

“The

command (or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you

worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight

religion, but most men know not”

[Yoosuf

12:40]

“Is

not Allah the Best of judges?”

[at-Teen 95:8]

“Say:

‘Allah knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the

unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees, and hears

(everything)! They have no Walee (Helper, Disposer of affairs, Protector,

etc.) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His

Rule’”

[al-Kahf

18:26]

“Do

they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better

in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm Faith?”

[al-Maa’idah

5:50].

Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Creator of all things and He

knows what is good for them and what is in their best interests of rulings.

Human beings vary in intellect, attitude and customs, and they are unaware

of what is best for them, let alone what is best for others. Hence in

societies that are ruled by the people in terms of legislation and laws, one

sees only corruption, immorality and disintegration of the social fabric.

It

should be noted that in many countries this system has changed into

something that has no reality behind it, and it is mere slogans by which

people are deceived; in fact the real ruler is the head of state and his

helpers, and the people are suppressed and have no say in anything.

There

is nothing more indicative of that than the fact that when this democracy

produces results that do not suit the desires of the rulers, they crush it

underfoot. Cases of election fraud, suppression of freedoms and silencing of

the voices of those who speak the truth are well known to everyone and do

not need further proof.

This

is very clear in many countries and does not need any proof.

It

says in Mawsoo‘ah al-Adyaan wa’l-Madhaahib al-Mu‘aasirah (2/1066):

Representative democracy:

This

is one of the democratic systems in which the people exercise authority

through a council of elected representatives of the people. In this system

the people retain the right to exercise some aspects of authority directly

by various means, the most important of which are:

1.

The right to propose laws, which is done when a number of

people propse a law in general terms or in detail, which the parliament will

then discuss and vote upon.

2.

The right to a referendum, whereby a law that has already

been approved by Parliament is presented to the people so that they can have

their say.

3.

The right of objection, whereby a number of voters defined by

the Constitution have the right to object to a law within a certain period

after it has been passed, which will result in taking the matter to the

people for a general referendum; if the people agree with it, it will be

promulgated, otherwise it will be annulled. This is included in most modern

constitutions.

Undoubtedly democratic systems are one of the modern forms of shirk, in

terms of obedience and submission, or in legislation, as it disregards the

authority of the Creator, may He be glorified and exalted, and His absolute

right of legislation, and regards that as one of the rights of created

beings. But Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“You

do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you

and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command

(or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship

none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion,

but most men know not.”

[Yoosuf

12:40]

“Say

(O Muhammad SAW): "I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islamic Monotheism),

but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allah). I have not gotten

what you are asking for impatiently (the torment). The decision is only for

Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges.”

[al-An ‘aam 6:57].

End

quote.

Thirdly:

Many

people think that the word democracy means freedom! But this is incorrect

because freedom is one of the by-products of democracy. What we mean by

freedom here is freedom of belief, freedom of decadence, and freedom of

expression, and these also have many negative impacts on Muslim societies,

because matters have gone so far that aspersions are cast upon the

Messengers and the messages, and upon the Qur’an and the Sahaabah, on the

grounds of freedom of opinion; and wanton display and uncovering are

tolerated, and indecent images and movies are propagated on the grounds of

freedom. Many such things are happening, of which there is a long list, all

of which are playing a part in the corruption of the ummah, morally and

spiritually.

Even

that freedom for which countries are calling by means of democratic systems

is not absolute. We see whims and desires, and vested interests, behind the

limitations on those freedoms. At the time when their systems tolerate

aspersions upon the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon

him) and the Qur’an, on the grounds of freedom of expression, we find that

this freedom is denied when speaking about matters such as the “Nazi

Holocaust of the Jews”! In fact anyone who denies this Holocaust is treated

as a criminal and put in prison, even though it is a historical matter that

may be denied.

If

these people really are promoting freedom, then why do they not let the

Muslim peoples choose their own path and religion? Why did they colonize

their lands and play a role in changing their religion and beliefs? What do

these freedoms have to do with Italy’s slaughter of the Libyan people, or

with France's slaughter of the Algerian people, or with Britain’s slaughter

of the Egyptian people, or with America’s slaughter of the Afghan and Iraqi

peoples?

According to those who promote it, freedom may be subject to several

restrictions, including the following:

1.

The law. Man does not have absolute freedom to drive in the

opposite direction to traffic in the street, or to open a shop without a

license, and if he says “I am free,” no one will pay any attention to him.

2.

Custom. A woman in their countries – for example – cannot go

to offer condolences to the bereaved wearing a bathing suit. If she says “I

am free”, the people will look down on her and throw her out, because it is

contrary to custom.

3.

Public taste. One of them – for example – cannot eat and pass

wind in front of people, or even burp! The people will look down on him even

if he says, “I am free.”

Furthermore, we say:

Why

shouldn’t our religion restrict our freedom, as their freedom is restricted

by things that they cannot deny? Undoubtedly what is taught by Islam is that

which is in people’s best interests. If a woman is forbidden to make a

wanton display, or if the people are forbidden to drink alcohol and eat

pork, and so on, all of that is in their best interests, physically and

mentally, and for their general welfare. But they refused to restrict their

freedom if the injunction comes from religion, but they say “we hear and we

obey” if it comes from human beings like them or from a (man-made) law.

Fourthly:

Some

people think that the word democracy is equivalent to shoora (consultation)

in Islam! This is a mistaken notion for many reasons, including the

following:

1.

Shoora has to do with new matters that arise or with matters

that are not explained in detail in the texts of the Qur’an or Sunnah. With

regard to the “rule of the people”, the people may discuss what is

well-established in religion, which may lead to refusing to acknowldge the

prohibitions on that which is forbidden, and to forbidding that which Allah

has permitted or made obligatory. So the sale of alcohol is permitted

according to these laws, as are fornication/adultery and riba (usury), but

these laws put pressures on Islamic organizations and the activities of

those who call people to Allah. This is diametrically opposed to sharee‘ah,

so what does this have to do with shoora?

2.

The majlis ash-shoora (consultative committee) is to be

formed of people who have a deep knowledge of fiqh, Islam and sharee‘ah,

fahm, and have a high level of piety and good character. So no one who is of

bad character or foolish, or is a disbeliever or atheist, is to be consulted

or involved in the shoora process. As for the democratic councils of

representatives, they pay no attention to any of the con ditions mentioned

above. The representative may be a disbeliever, or of bad character or

foolish. What does this have to do with shoora as prescribed in Islam?

3.

Shoora is not binding upon the ruler; the ruler may give

precedence to the view of one member of the council that is supported by

proof, and prefer his view over that of the other council members, whereas

in the case of representative democracy, the agreement of the majority

becomes legally binding upon the people.

Once

this is known, then what the Muslims must do is be proud of their religion

and trust that the rulings of the Lord are best for them in this world and

in the Hereafter, and they should disavow systems that go against the laws

of Allah.

What

all other Muslims must do – rulers and ruled alike – is adhere to the laws

of Allah, may He be exalted, in all their affairs. It is not permissible for

anyone to follow a system or methodology other than Islam. One of the

indications of their acceptance of Allah as their Lord, Islam as their

religion, and Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as their

Prophet and Messenger, is that the Muslims adhere to Islam outwardly and

inwardly; they respect the laws of Allah and follow the Sunnah of the

Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

We

ask Allah to honour us with Islam and to cause the plots of the traitors to

fail.

And

Allah knows best.