There is no contention over whether politics is required or not. Islaam emphasizes the essence of politics beyond what any other civilization contemplates. The difference between the Islaamic and secular perspectives to politics however lies in what decision is taken, the mode, basis, purpose and the goal of taking decision. The following verse of the Qur’aan addresses this subject matter accordingly:
“And it is He (Allah) Who has made you the Khaliifah (inheritors) of the earth and raised some of you in ranks over others so that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely, your Lord is swift in retribution; yet, certainly He is also Forgiving, Merciful.” (Al-An’aam, Qur’aan Chapter 6 v 165)
The terms Khaliifah (vicegerents or inheritors), ranking some people over others, bestowal of divine provisions and the fact that man shall be taken to account regarding how the divine provisions are utilized, are all indicative of the use of leadership or government and politics as effective public decision-making tools in human affairs. Those (i.e. the leaders) said to be of certain degree or rank above others in this verse, are the Messengers and Prophets of God as well as the human leadership who follow the footsteps of the seal of Prophethood, Muhammad (s a w). While the leaders are those ranked certain degrees above others, those above whom the leaders are ranked are the followers (or the masses). The fact that the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s a w) upon whom Allah confirms the title of the leader of the whole world has also been acknowledged and accorded the most influential person in history by both the Muslims and the non-Muslims alike, is a testimony to the fact that politics is not only an essential aspect of human/social life, but it is also natural with, and inseparable from Islaam.
It follows that in Islaam, political responsibility or leadership is a divine trust. It is neither “the minority have their say" nor "the majority have their way.” It is neither “the majority carries the vote” of the democrats nor “the survival of the fittest” of the Machiavellians (the autocrats). It is also not “the dictatorship of the tyrants”.
Politics under any civilization requires influence, power and authority. In Islaam, these are not solely subject to human desires, but in accordance with the will of Allah (God). This implies that leaders under Islaamic system of government exercise authority, power and influence or take decisions on behalf of the divine being. In Islaam, sovereignty is that of Allah Alone. Human sovereign body is not recognized. The goal of politics in Islaam is a fulfillment of the divine will which results into peace and harmony required for a meaningful and successful human life.
On this basis, the negative pejorative sense in which politics is often seen in secular context, and the feeling that politics is a dirty game do not apply under Islaam. From the perspective of Islaam, politics is a lawful and necessary tool of life activities and positive development.
From the fore-going, it is understood that, the issue of politics, government, state, sovereignty, power and authority have to do with the entire life of man. These concepts or principles have direct bearing on the success in the affairs of every individual or the entire society of mankind. The community of a people that does not concern itself with these issues or which does not have its own position on them is likely to be at the mercy of some other civilisations that are more concerned with them.
The crucial pivot around which all these issues revolve is life goal. When Muslims fail to pursue the divine or their genuine life goal, they are then left with the option of accepting the whims and caprices of the prevailing secular power which determines human activities.
The genuine life goal of the Muslims notwithstanding, Muslims stand the risk of failing to attain it should they decline from conducting their life affairs in accordance with the basis of their being Muslims - the true Islamic ‘Aqiidah. It is therefore unfortunate to note that some Muslims are contented with secular governments or authorities, toying with their life goal.
Understanding and appreciating the imperativeness of politics and government is indeed sacrosanct. It is however impossible to evolve a government of a people’s choice without effort. In order to replace an existing undesirable government with an ideal one, this effort becomes imperative. The effort or striving or struggle based on sound ‘Aqiidah and justified Gaayah (goal) of Islaam is called Jihaad in Islaam. In the history of mankind there is no known successful system without Jihaad. In other words, history and human experience have shown that every system that has evolved and every government that has emerged, irrespective of its origin, philosophies, goals and context, must of necessity have made Jihaad the most vital approach to its success.
The imperativeness of Jihaad is implied by the slogans “no government without power and no power without government” as well as “there is no power without authority” as “there is no authority without power”. In other words, to attain power, a government must be put in place. With a government in place, attainment of power is feasible. Power is equally of no effect without authority. When a government has authority, it is considered to be possessing genuine political power and when the government has authority, its power is considered relevant and effective. It follows that it is impossible for the modern or westernized Muslims to hope to attain the divine set goals without Jihaad.
Refusal to do Jihaad is indicative of weak ‘Aqiidah (faith). A people of weak ‘Aqiidah, unprepared to wage Jihaad, are considered neither having comprehended the concept and methodology of an Islaamic government nor will they be able to operate one if it falls on their laps. The idea of these brands of Muslims arrogating power to themselves in the name of innumerable chieftaincy, traditional or religious titles such as Emirs, Obas, Obis, etc, is a mere self-deceit and illusion as their assumed power absolutely lacks any iota of authority. Obviously, much as these titles connote power, their holders cannot and do not have the moral or legal rights to pass Fataawa (rulings) concerning serious issues and crimes like Rida (apostasy) Zina (adultery and fornication), armed robbery, abandonment of Salah (prayer), decline from fulfilling Zakat (compulsory alms giving), etc. In fact the so-called Muslim leaders cannot even take a stand on any matter especially if such a stand contradicts the position of the secular state or government to which the authority and sovereignty has been ascribed.
In Islaam, sovereignty and authority belong to Allah (s w t). The divine authority is exercised through the Islaamic leadership (Khilaafah) on earth. No known Islaamic leadership emerged without the Jihaad approach to securing power, authority and all that are required to decide the affairs of, (or govern) the people in the society. The secular system of government is cognisant of this reality and this is the secret of its global enthronement and popularity. Unfortunately, the believers or Muslims of the modern age have declined from implementing the guidance that has come to them from Allah to govern the universe. The Jews and the Christians had already become guilty of this offence and Allah had for this, promised them of punishment.
“(And remember) when Allah made the covenant with those who were given the (divine) books, they were asked to spread the teachings of the book to mankind and not conceal them; but they cast it behind their backs and sold them for a petty price. What a bad bargain they made! Those who rejoice in their misdeeds and love to be praised for what they have not actually done, should never think that they will escape the punishment; in fact, they shall have a painful punishment; for all the dominions of the heavens and the earth belong to Allah Who has power over all things.” (Aal-‘Imraan, Qura’aan Chapter 3 v 187 – 189).
It is made explicit from these verses that Allah is the Originator of everything, to Him belongs sovereignty and the determination of all affairs. In Suratul Mu’minuun, Chapter 23 of the Qur’aan, Allah poses and answers the questions of who is the creator of everything? Who is the controller of all affairs and to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? The divine answer is that all these are Allah’s. In the process of posing the challenging questions, Allah probes further the prowess and credentials of spirituality or divinity, intellectual and proactive operation of human affairs which human beings arrogate to themselves. Muslims who are the adherents and proponents of Islaam, the only divine cause are under obligation to go about the Islaamic struggle seeking to replace the secular system with the Khilaafah (the Islaamic system of government) by ensuring that sovereignty, power and authority are due to Allah Alone. When Muslims assume this posture, fulfillment of the will of Allah, the Supreme Being is the primary concern. The goal is the divine design to liberate human beings from the oppression and servitude of man to man, to the servitude of man to Allah alone. Since the sole purpose of man’s existence on earth is to worship Allah, Allah does not approve of any form of hindrance on the path of His faithful servants to serve Him accordingly. He has therefore mandated the believers to always rise against secular power, ensuring that the divine will is fulfilled.
In pursuit of this mission, the Prophet (s a w) engaged the unbelievers in about thirty eight (38) Gazwah (military expeditions) within a period of ten (10) years. These battles were all precipitated by the attack on the Muslims by the non- Muslims or secular powers for the singlular reason of invitation of mankind to embrace the divine way of life, Islaam. This aversion to the divine mission notwithstanding, the divine mandate to defend the divine cause is further enjoined in the injunction:
Permission to (fight back) is hereby granted (to the believers against) whom war is waged and because they have been wronged; certainly Allah has power to grant them (the believers) victory – those who have been unjustly expelled from their homes only because they said: “Our Lord is Allah.” Had not Allah checked some people by means of others, the monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s praise is daily celebrated, would have been utterly demolished. Allah will certainly help those who help His Cause; and most surely, Allah is Mighty, Powerful. These are the people who, if We give them authority in the land, will establish Salah (Prayer) and pay Zakah (obligatory charity), enjoin good (or divine justice) and forbid evil; the final decision of all affairs is in the hands of Allah. (Al-Haaj, Qur’aan Chapter 22 v 39-41).
From the divine injunction of the Qur’aan Chapter 57 v 25, it has been made explicit that before the secular conception of how government should be structured, it had been stipulated in Islaam that government is of the legislative, executive and judicial arms.
Khilaafah (Caliphate) in Islaam is the central government of regional and national entities, state governments inclusive. The structure of the society into the legislative, executive and judicial arms or functions, must be in accordance with the divine dictate because Islaamic government is poised to execute divine rule on earth. Conscious Muslims or The Islaamic Movement is therefore not to compromise the “spiritual foundation, the intellectual basis and the radical or pro-active operation” in their pursuit of genuine Islaam or establishment of the Islaamic government. The stiff global struggle and opposition of the secularists against the Islamic struggle notwithstanding, the Muslims are not to compromise the actualization of the divine mandate. The Islaamic government if established however adequately caters for the interest of the non-Muslims alike. The Muslims’ existence under secular state/government is an abbreviation. Islaamic government should rather prevail over human affairs, determining the rights and expectations of the Muslims and the non-Muslims alike. It is when this is pursued and accomplished that man’s purpose of creation or man’s life goal is attained.
While majority of mankind are misguided and cajoled into embracing the secular worldview and authority, those who sincerely wish to pursue and realize the goal of life are admonished further as follows:
Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, there are signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and meditate on the creation of heavens and the earth, (they say): “Our Lord! You have not created these in vain.“ Glory to You! Save us from the punishment of Fire. Our Lord! Those whom You cast into Fire will be in eternal shame and there shall be no helper for such wrongdoers. Our Lord! We have heard someone calling to the faith saying; “Believe in your Lord”, so we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, remove from us our evil deeds and make us die with the righteous. Aal-‘Imraan, Qur’aan Chapter 3 v 90 – 93).
There is no contention of the fact that man’s purpose of creation is to serve Allah through adherence to the divine dictates. It is in this that salvation resides. For anyone to be safe from the torment of Allah and be among the fortunate ones in this world and the hereafter, one must shun deceit of this world and abide by the reality of establishing the government of Islaam which guarantees absolute servitude to Allah and thereby attain the goal of life – the goal of the Islaamic or Muslim Society. This is the true perspective to the issues and essence of political power and government in Islaam.