Concept of democracy in Islam

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.