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Sophia, Vol. 43, No. 2 , October 2004. Copyright 9 2004 Ashgate Publishing Limited.

A N I S L A M I C A P P R O A C H T O T H E

SUSTAINABILITY OF DEMOCRACY

M.O. ADENIYI

D e p a r t m e n t o f R e l i g i o u s S tu d ie s ,

O b a f e m i A w o l o w o U n i v e r s i ty , l i e Ir e, N i g e r i a

T h e c o n t e m p o r a r y v i e w p o i n t o f m a n y s c h o l a r s i s t h a t p o l i t ic s a n d r e li -

g i o n a r e t wo p a r a l l e l d i s c o u r s e s wh i c h n e v e r me e t, " o r t h a t r e l ig i o n i s ap e r s o n a l m a t t e r w h i c h s h o u l d n o t b e i n j e c t e d in t o p o l i ti c s . T h e i r a r g u -

m e n t f o r t a k i n g t h is s t a n d i s t h a t t h e t w o a r e i n c o n g r u e n t a n d t h er e fo r e ,

i t i s b e t t e r t h e s e a r e l e f t a p a r t . Bu t r e l i g i o n i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h mo r a l s ,

t r u th f u ln e s s , h o n e s t y a n d a h o s t o f m o r a l v i r t u e s a ll o f w h i c h a r e m e r e

p l a y t h i n g s i n th e h a n d s o f s o - c a l l e d p o l i ti c i a n s, t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f

w h i c h m a y a f f e c t th e c i t i z e n s o f t h e c o u n t r y n e g a ti ve l y.

T h e v i e w t a k e n h e r e i s t h e r e la t io n s h i p b e t w e e n r e li g io n a n d p o l i -

t ic s h a s b e c o m e s y m m e t r i c a l l y i m p o s s i b le t o d iv o r c e o n e f r o m t h e o th er .

M o r e i m p o r t a n tl y , t h e p a p e r b r i n g s t h e d e m o c r a t i c c o n t r ib u t i o n o f t h e

P r o p h e t M o h a m m e d t o w a r d s e s ta b li sh i n g a j u s t a n d e q u it a bl e s o c i et yt h r o u g h h i s a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e M e d i n a C o n s t i t u t i o n d r a f t e d d u r i n g h i s

t im e . A t t e n ti o n i s g i v e n t o t h e d e m o c r a t i c a d m i n i s t ra t i o n o f t h e s u c c e s -

s o r s o f t h e P r o p h e t w i t h a v i e w t o e s ta b l is h i n g t h e f a c t t h a t i f I s l a m i s

p r a c t i c e d i n i ts t ru e s t f o r m , t h e r e a r e d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s t o b e f o u n d i n

it. A n d i f s u c h I s l a m i c v i r tu e s a r e m a d e u s e o f t h e y c a n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n

d e mo c r a c y , b u t a l s o i mp r o v e o n i t .

1 .0 The Con cept o f Dem ocracy

D e m o c r a c y , a c c o rd i n g t o A b r a h a m L i n c o ln a s q u o t e d b y L a te C h i e f O b a f e m i

Aw olowo (1966) has been d e f ined as ' the governm en t o f the peop le , by the

p e o p l e , for the peo p le ' . 1 E tymolog ica l ly , ' de m ocra cy ' acco rd ing to C ohen

( 1 9 7 1 ) i s m a d e u p f r o m t w o G r e e k w o r ds : d e m o s mean ing ' the peop le ' and

k r a t e i n m ean ing ' t o ru le ' . 2 Anc ien t p h i losopher s and s t a tesmen used th is

concep t in a r easonab ly s t r a igh t fo rward way . 'We a re ca l l ed a democracy

beca use the admin i s tr a tion i s in the hands o f m any and no t o f the f ew 3.

D e m o c r a c y i s ' g o v e r n m e n t b y c o n s e n t ', ' ru l e b y t h e m a j o r i t y '. 4

The r ea l co ncep t o f democ racy accord ing to E l l io t t (1973) i s that o f a

g r o u p in w h i c h t h e m e m b e r s o f th e c o m m u n i t y g e n u in e l y g o v e rn t h e m s e l ve s ,

in wh ich the governed pa r t i c ipa te in mak ing the d i r ec tive dec i s ions wh ich

af fect them all 5. The essen ce o f dem oc racy therefo re i s par t ic ipat ion in the

g o v e r n m e n t o f a c o m m u n i t y b y t h e m e m b e r s o f t h at c o m m u n i ty . I t is self-



96 M.O. ADENI YI

g o v e r n m e n t . N o o n e d o u b t s t h a t i n th e s m a l l e r sc a l e o f i n d i v i d u a l l if e a n d

cond uc t , s e l f -gov ernm en t is a g rea t an d i n t r in s i c va lue .T o E l l i o t t , d e m o c r a c y m a y b e e i t h e r d i r e c t a n d e x e r t e d b y p o p u l a r

as sembl i es o r i nd i rec t and exer t ed by r ep resen t a t i ve i n s t i t u t i ons . O ther

c h a r a c t e ri s ti c s o f d e m o c r a c y i n c l u d e th e r u l e o f la w a n d f r e e d o m . 6

W h e n a c o u n t r y a g it a te s t o h a v e th e s y s te m o f d e m o c r a c y a n d a t th e e n d ,

s u c h f r e e d o m o f d e m o c r a t i c r u le b e c o m e s a r e a l i t y in t h e p o li ti c a l s y s t e m o f

s u c h a c o u n t r y , th e n e x t t h i n g f o r t h e c o u n t r y i s th e i s su e o f s u s t a in a b i l it y o f

d e m o c r a c y s o t h a t i t m a y n o t d i e p r e m a t u r e l y . T h e w a y f o r w a r d t h e r e f o r e ,

a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s p a p e r, i s to s e e h o w r e l ig i o n vis-h-vis I s l a m c a n c o n t r i b u te

t o t h e s u s t a i n a b i li t y o f a n y d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m .

I t i s o f t en as se r t ed t ha t i t i s imposs ib l e t o d ivo rce r e l i g ion comple t e ly

f r o m p o l it ic s i n a n y s o c ie t y. T h i s i s b e c a u s e m o r a l v a l u e w h i c h i s th e b e d r o c k

o f a n y r e l i g io n o f t e n a p p e a l s t o t h e c o n s c i e n c e o f t h e p o l i ti c a l a c to r s . F o r

e x a m p l e , i n a n y s o c i e t y t o d ay , t h e b u r n i n g d e s ir e i s t h a t s i n ce t h e c o u n t r y

i s a ' s e c u l a r ' s t a te , r e li g i o u s i n fl u e n c e s h o u l d b e c o m p l e t e l y ta k e n o f f f ro m

po l i t i ca l dec i s i ons and ac t i v i t i e s . Even some po l i t i ca l ac to r s a t t empted t o

r e l eg a t e r e l ig i o n t o th e b a c k g r o u n d a t t h e e x p e n s e o f o t h e r s u b j e c ts o n t h e

s c h o o l c u r r i c u lu m .As a ma t t e r o f f ac t , i n p r i nc ip l e , t he i dea appear s f eas ib l e bu t i n r ea l

p r a c t ic e , i t s e e m s i m p o s s i b l e s i n c e p o l i ti c a l a c to r s a r e h u m a n b e i n g s w i t h

c o n s c i e n c e s . E v e n w h e n r e l i g i o u s e l e m e n t s a r e r e m o v e d f r o m p o l i t i c a l

dec i s i ons and ac t i v i ti e s , i t is impo ss ib l e t o r emo ve t he m ora l t r a i ts o f t he

po l i t ica l ac to r s , s i nce m ora l t r a it s a re i n t eg ra l pa r t s o f the i r phys i ca l an d

p h y s i o l o g i c a l m a k e - u p .

In an i dea l s i t ua ti on , mu tua l r e l a t ionsh ip be twe en re l i g ion and po l i ti c s i n

a n y s o c i e t y is e x p e c t e d t o l e a d to p o s s i b le d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s o c i et y . O u r

p o i n t o f a r g u m e n t h e r e i s t h a t r e li g i o n h a s t h e t e n d e n c y o f h e l p in g p o l i ti c a la c t o r s t o a r ri v e a t m o r e r a t i o n a l d e c i s io n s t h a t a r e c a p a b l e o f p r o m o t i n g

na t i ona l su rv iva l .

R e l i g i o n a n d p o l i t i c s h a v e p l a y e d a n d c o n t i n u e t o p l a y v i t a l r o l e s i n

t h e s o c i o - c u l tu r a l a n d g e o g r a p h i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n a t io n . R e l i g io n a n d

po l i t i c s a re o f t en d i s ce rn ib l e i n v i ta l po l i cy dec i s i ons by t he po l i t ica l l eader s .

A n e x a m p l e c a n b e m u l t ip l ie d in th e c a s e o f P ro p h e t M o h a m m e d . O s e n i

( 1 98 4 ) o b s e r v e d t h at P r o p he t M o h a m m e d w a s a g o o d e x a m p l e o f a p ol it ic a l

l e a d e r w h o u s e d r e l i g i o n ( I sl a m ) t o a c h i e v e n a t i o n a l s u rv i v a l in M e d i n a w i t h

t h e a id o f M e d i n a C o n s t i t u ti o n .7



AN ISLAMIC APPROACH TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DEMOCRACY 97

2 .0 T h e M e d i n a C o n s t i t u t io n a n d D e m o c r a t i c V a lu e s

W e h a s t e n t o o b s e r v e t h a t at t h e t i m e o f t h e P r o p h e t ' s b i r t h , t h e A r a b i a n f o r m

o f g o v e r n m e n t w a s f a r f r o m b e i n g d e m o c r a t i c . It w a s a p a t r ia r c h a l s y s t e m

d i v i d e d i n t o d i f fe r e n t c l an s . T h e p e o p l e w e r e v e r y j e a l o u s o f th e i r l ib e r t ie s

a n d o f t h e h o n o u r . T h e r e w a s n o r e s p e c t f o r t h e r u l e o f la w a n d p r o p e r ty .

A n d e v e n t h e re w a s n o r e s p e c t f o r w o m e n . A c c o r d i n g t o M a u l a n a A l i (1 9 7 3 )

Mutiah o r t e m p o r a r y m a r r i a g e w a s t h e o r d e r o f t h e d ay . T h i s i s a m a r r i a g e

f o r a fi x e d p e r i o d . I t w e n t u n d e r t h e n a m e o f Mutiah, m e a n i n g p r o fi ti n g b y

o r e n j o y i n g a t h i n g . I n a d d i t i o n , i n t h e c a s e o f in h e r i t a n c e , th e d i v i s i o n o f th e

p r o p e r t y o f th e d e c e a s e d p e r s o n a m o n g t h e h e i r s w a s n o t o n a d e m o c r a t ic

b a s is b e c a u s e t h e p r o p e r t y o f s u c h p e r s o n w e n t t o t h e e ld e s t s o n a n d f e m a l e

c h i l d r e n w e r e n o t c o - s h a r e rs . 8

I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t th e A r a b s h a d a v e r y s t r o n g t r a d i t io n t h a t h e a l o n e

c o u l d i n h e r i t w h o s u i te s w i t h t h e s p e a r , a n d t h e r e f o r e d i d n o t g i v e a n y p o r t i o n

o f a n y i n h e r it a n ce t o s u c h o f t h e h e i rs a s w e r e n o t c a p a b l e o f m e e t i n g t h e

e n e m y a n d f i g h t i n g in t h e b a tt le s . O w i n g t o t h is t r ad i t io n , d a u g h t e r s , w i d o w s

a n d m o t h e r s h a d n o r i g h t t o i n h e r i ta n c e . I n o r d e r t o r e s to r e la w a n d o r d e r a n d

t o e s t a b li s h t r u e d e m o c r a c y a ll i n th e n a m e o f n a t i o n a l s u r v i v a l, th e P r o p h e td r a t t e d t h e M e d i n a C o n s t i tu t i o n . I t w a s r e c o r d e d b y I b n l s h a q q u o t i n g M . M .

M a t t ( 1 9 7 7 ) . 9 T h e c o n s t i t u t i o n c o n t r i b u t e d i m m e n s e l y t o t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e

n e w c o m m u n i t y . W e s h a ll t h e r e f o r e b r i e fl y e x a m i n e a f e w c l a u s e s o f t h e

c o n s t i t u t i o n w i t h a v i e w t o b r i n g i n g o u t s a l ie n t i d e a s a b o u t t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s

w h i c h i l l u s tr a te s t h e d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s i n t h e m .

2.1.1 Clause 12 says:

' A b e l i e v e r sh a ll n o t t a k e a s c o n f e d e r a t e t h e c l i e n t s o f a b e l i e v e rw i thou t t he l a t t e r ' s c onse n t . '

Our personal comment on the clause:

T h i s i s s a y i n g t h a t y o u c a n n o t s a y t h a t y o u g o v e r n t h e p e o p l e

w i t h o u t t h e i r co n s e n t. T h i s i s o n e o f t h e t en e t s w h i c h d e m o c r a c y

p r e a c h e s a n d w h i c h t h e t e n e t o f I s la m e m p h a s i z e s t h r o u g h t h e

P r o p h e t M u h a m m a d . D e m o c r a c y , a s no t ed , is g o v e r n m e n t b y

c o n s e n t . I s l a m d o e s n o t a l lo w t h e r u l e o f p e o p l e b y f o r c e . T h e r e

i s n o c o m p u l s i o n i n I sl am .



98 M.O. ADENIYI

2 . 2 .2 C l a u s e 1 3 s a y s :

' T h e G o d - f e a r i n g b e l ie v e r s s h a ll r is e a g a i n s t w h o e v e r o f t h e m

a c t s w r o n g f u l l y o r p l a n s a n a c t t h a t i s u n j u s t o r t r e a c h e r o u s

o r h o s t i l e o r c o r r u p t a m o n g t h e b e l i e v e r s , t h e i r h a n d s s h a l l b e

a g a i n st h i m , e v e n i f h e i s t h e s o n o f o n e o f t h e m . '

O u r p e r s o n a l c o m m e n t o n t h e cl a u s e

S i n c e d e m o c r a c y p r e a c h e s j u s t ic e , f a i r p la y , e t c ., i n o u r d o i n g s , i t

i s th e r e f o r e v i n d i c a t e d b y w h a t t h e P r o p h e t i s s a y i n g h e r e . T h i s

i s t h e e n d - p r o d u c t o f d e m o c r a c y . D e m o c r a c y c a n n o t s u r v iv e

w h e r e t h e r e a r e i n j u st ic e s . F o r d e m o c r a c y t o s u r v i v e i n a n y s o c i -

e t y t h e r e f o r e , th e r e i s n e e d f o r t h e n a t i o n t o b e b u i l t o n j u s t i c e

a s n o t e d i n t h i s c l a u s e o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n . V e r y m a n y v e r s e s

o f t h e Q u r ' a n s p e a k o f j u s t ic e t h a t t ru e M u s l i m s m u s t f o ll ow .

F o r e x a m p l e , th e Q u r ' a n 4 : 1 3 5 , 5 : 8 , 1 6 : 90 e m p h a s i z e a b s o l u t e

j u s t i c e i n a n y s o c i o - p o l it ic a l s y s t e m o f I s l a m . T h e v e r s e s s t re s s

t h a t n e i t h e r l o v e n o r f a v o u r s h o u l d m a k e a r u l e r d e v i a t e f r o mjus t i ce .

2 . 2 .3 C l a u s e 1 7 s a y s :

' T h e p e a c e o f t h e b e l ie v e r s i s o n e , N o b e l ie v e r s h a ll m a k e

s e p a r a te p e a c e t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f a n o t h e r b e l ie v e r w h e r e t h e re

i s f i g h t i n g i n th e w a y o f G o d , e x c e p t i n s o f a r a s e q u a l i t y a n d

j u s t ic e b e t w e e n t h e m a r e m a i n t a i n e d .'

O u r p e r s o n a l c o m m e n t o n t h e c la u s e:

F ro m tha t i dea , i n t h i s c l ause , i t sugg es t s t ha t soc i e ty i s fu l l y bu i l t

o n t h e r u l e o f la w w h i c h i s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f d e m o c r a c y . I t i s

a l s o r e l e v a n t t o t h e p r i n c i p le o f f u n d a m e n t a l l i b e rt ie s o f c it iz e n .

A l l t h e s e a r e e s s e n t ia l a s p e c t s a n d i n g r e d i e n t s o f d e m o c r a t i c

va lues .

2 . 2 .4 C l a u s e 4 1 s a y s :

' N o w o m a n s h al l b e g i v e n p r o te c t io n w i th o u t th e c o n s e n t o f h e r

peop l e . '





A l l s o c i a l v i c e s t h a t n e g a t e d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s s u c h a s k i d n a p p i n g ,

e lope m en t s , e t c . a re a l so c r i ti c i zed in t he Me d in a Con s t i t u t ion as

n o t e d i n t h i s c l a u s e i n th e c a s e o f w o m e n . I n I s l a m , e v e n w h e n

a w o m a n m a r r ie s , s h e d o e s n o t l o se a n y o f t h e r ig h t s w h i c h s h e

p o s s e s s e s a s a n i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r o f t h e s o c ie t y.

2.2.5 Clause 45 says:

' I f t h e y a re c a l l e d t o m a k e p e a c e a n d m a i n t a i n it, th e y m u s t d o

s o , a n d i f t h e y m a k e s i m il a r d e m a n d o n t h e M u s l im s , i t m u s t b e

c a r r i e d o u t e x c e p t i n t h e c a s e o f a h o l y w a r , e a c h m a n s h a ll h a v e

h i s p r o t e c ti o n f r o m t h e s i d e t o w h i c h h e b e l o n g s . '


D e m o c r a c y c a l l s f o r i n d iv i d u a l s a c r i f ic e a n d d e d i c a t i o n f o r s u r-

v iva l and i n f ac t , it ca l l s fo r na t i ona l i sm , pa t r i o t i sm and l ove o f

fa the r l and . F rom th i s c l ause o f t he cons t i t u t i on , t he P ro phe t a l so

ca l l ed i n s t rong t e rm s fo r na t i ona l i sm , pa t ri o t i sm , e t c . wh ich a re

t h e b a s is o f d e m o c r a t i c f o u n d a t i o n s .

T h e i n f e r e n c e w h i c h w e c a n d r a w f r o m t h e a b o v e c l a u s e s a n d c o m m e n t s

po in t t o t he p o l i ti ca l ab i l it i e s o f the P roph e t a s an ab l e po l i t i c i an hav ing

r e g a r d f o r d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f n a t i o n a l s u r v iv a l .

G e n e r a l ly , I s la m e m p h a s i z e s t h e c o n c e p t o f h u m a n r i g h ts . F o r e x a m p l e ,

f r eed om i s the p re - requ i s i te fo r a hea l thy , we l l -ba l anced soc i e ty , and I s l ame n v i s a g e s a s o c i e t y w h i c h e n s u r e s t h e f l o w e r i n g o f h u m a n p e r s o n a l i ty f r e e

f r o m a l l t y p e s o f b o n d a g e a n d s la v e ry . It d e c la r e s i n t h e m o s t e m p h a t i c t e r m s

t h a t n o h u m a n b e i n g h a s t h e r i g h t t o e n s la v e o th e r s . M a n y Q u r ' a n i c v e r s e s

s p e ll o u t c l e a r l y th e c o n c e p t o f h u m a n r ig h t s , f r e e d o m a n d e q u a l i t y ) ~ F o r

e x a m p l e :

Le t there be n o com pulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from E rror:wh oever rejects evil and believes in Go d has grasped the mo st trustwo rthy

hand-hold that never breaks. And G od heareth and knoweth all things.(Baqara 2: 256).

T h e e s t a b l is h m e n t o f j u s t i c e i s o n e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t d u t i e s in I s l a m . T h e

H o l y Q u r ' a n s t at e s c l e a r ly t h a t it is t h e d u t y o f a b e l ie v e r t o w o r k f o r th e

e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f j u s t i c e i n t h e s o c i e t y ) 1T h e Q u r ' a n s a y s:



100 M.O. ADENIY I

Go d com man ds just ice , the do ing o f good, and l iberal ity to ki th and

kin, and he forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion. Heinstructs yo u that you m ay receive admonition.

( S u ra h A l - H a h l . 16:90)

A n y d e v i a t i o n t h e r e f o r e f r o m t h e r u l e o f j u s t i c e i n I s l a m l e ad s t o u n r e s t a n d a

c h a o t i c a t m o s p h e r e . I t i s a g a i n s t t h e c o n c e p t o f m o r a l i t y i n I s l a m i f o n e f a il s

t o l iv e i n p e a c e w i t h h i m s e l f / h e r s e l f w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y i n

i n t e r p e r s o n a l a n d p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s . I n a s i m i l a r v e i n , d e m o c r a c y w a s

a l s o e x h i b i t e d d u r i n g t h e t i m e o f t h e f o u r o r t h o d o x C a l i p h s a f t e r t h e d e a t h

o f t h e P r o p h e t M u h a m m a d . T h e y e s t a b li s h ed c o n s u l t a ti v e c o u n c il f o r ta k i n gv i t a l de c i s io ns on s t a te m a t t e r s . ~2

F o r i n s t a n c e , I . A . H u s a i o b s e r v e d t h a t A b u b a k r ' s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w a s

b a s e d o n c o n s u l t a t io n w i t h e m i n e n t c o m p a n i o n s . A b u b a k r d e c i d e d m a t t e rs

o f s t a t e a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n . H e s e t u p a S h u r a - c o u n c i l o f a d v i s o rs . H e

s e p a r a t e d t h e j u d i c i a r y f r o m t h e e x e c u t i v e .

I n t h e ca s e o f s e c o n d c a li p h - U m a r 's s y s t e m o f g o v e r n m e n t w a s n o t

d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f A b u b a k r w h o w a s t h e f ir s t c a l ip h . U m a r ' s a d m i n i s t r a t io n

w a s a p i c t u re o f Is l am i c d e m o c r a t i c ru l e. U m a r w a s t h e p i o n e e r o f m o d e r n

c i v i l i z a t i o n a t t e m p t i n g s u c c e s s f u l l y t o f o r m a s t a t e b a s e d u p o n t h e I s l a m i c

d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m , t h e s y s t e m w h i c h w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e W e s t a s l a t e

a s 1 9 th a n d 2 0 t h c e n t u r i e s . U m a r w a s t h e g r e a t e s t d e m o c r a t i c a d m i n i s t r a t o r

w h o s e e x a m p l e i s u n p a r a l l e l , n o t o n l y i n t h e h i s t o r y o f I s l a m , b u t a l s o i n

t h e h i s t o r y o f m o d e r n c i v i li z a ti o n . T h e c o n s t i t u t io n o f t h e I s l a m i c c a l i p h a t e

u n d e r t h e r e g i m e o f U m a r w a s b a s e d e n t i r el y o n I s l a m i c d e m o c r a t i c s y st e m .

A l l s t a t e m a t t e r s w e r e d e c i d e d a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e S h u r a . H e a l l o w e d

f r e e d o m o f o p i n io n .

U n d e r U t h m a n w h o w a s t h e t h i r d c a l i p h , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w a s c l o s e l y

r e l a t e d t o th a t o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s . U t h m a n m a i n t a i n e d t h e c o u n c i l o f a d v i s e r s

( S h u r a ) i n t h e s a m e w a y a s i t w a s m a i n t a i n e d b y t h e f ir s t t w o C a l i p h s . A l i,

w h o w a s a l s o t h e f o u r t h C a l i p h o f I s l a m f o l l o w e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t iv e p a t t e r n

s e t b y U m a r . A l i w a s k i n d t o n o n - M u s l i m s a n d h i s j u s t i c e w a s e q u a l t o b o t h

M u s l im s a n d t he n o n -M u s l i m s .

3.0 An Islamic App roach to the Sustaining o f De m ocrac y

H a v i n g s a id a l l t h a t w e h a v e d i s c u s s ed s o f a r o n d e m o c r a c y f r o m t h e I s l a m i c

p e r s p e c t iv e , w h a t c a n w e s a y a b o u t t h e r o l e o f I s la m i n s u s t a in i n g d e m o c r a c y ?

F r o m w h a t h a s b e e n a n a l y s e d s o f a r in t h is p a p e r r i g h t fr o m t h e t i m e o f t h e

P r o p h e t to d a t e , I sl a m a l l o w s a ll i n g r e d i e n t s o f d e m o c r a c y w h i c h c a n s o l v e

a na t ion ' s soc i a l a nd po l i t i c a l p r ob le ms . The c e n t r a l po in t t he r e f o r e i s t ha t i f




a soc i e ty has beco m e the v i c t im o f democ ra t i c po l it ica l i n s tab i li ty , t he cause

mus t be a t t r i bu t ed i n pa r t t o i t s f a i l u re t o u se t he t ene t s o f I s l am to r e f l ec ti n i t s admin i s t r a ti on . Ou r f ir s t sugge s t i on wi l l, t he re fo re , be g ea red t ow ards

m ot iva t i ng r a ti ona l va lue sys t em tha t w i l l pu t na t i ona l i n te res t over and above

per sona l o r e t hn i c i n t e res ts i n the m inds o f t he peop l e . S u ch a na t i ona l va lue

sys t em , we be l i eve , cou ld be i ncu l ca t ed in t he peop l e by m ak in g them rea li ze

tha t i r r e spec t i ve o f l anguage , cu l t u re o r t r i be , a l l human be ings shou ld be

t r ea t ed equa l ly . In t h i s r ega rd , t he Q ur ' an s ays :

0 mankind! W e created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female.

And made you into nat ions an d t ribes , that you m ay know each other(not that ye m ay despise each other) verily the mo st honoured o f youin the s ight o f God is (he w ho is) the m ost r ighteous o f you. And Go dhas full know ledge and is we ll acquainted with all things.

(Surah al-Hujurat 49:1 3) 13

I f e v e r y n a t i o n i s i m b u e d w i t h t h i s s p i ri t o f b r o t h e r h o o d t h a t c u ts a c r o s s

geog raph i ca l , l ingu i s t i c and cu l t u ra l ba r r ie r s ; t he po l i t ica l cu l t u re t ha t ma y

be roo t ed i n e t hn i c l oya l t y wi l l go i n to ob l i v ion . In f ac t , an ega l i t a r i an soc i e ty

w h e r e n o p e r s o n , g r o u p o f p e r s o n s o r a p o l it ic a l p a r t y w i l l b e s e e n a s s e c o n d -ra te c i t i zens o r b e ab l e t o s ee r eason i n po l it i c s o f e t hn i c it y , wh ich t r i gger s

the des i r e no t to w an t i ng t o t o l e ra t e a den i a l o f execu t i ve powe r wi l l go i n to

t h e l i m b o o f m e m o r y . T h i s w i ll n o t o n l y i m p r o v e p r e s e n t d e m o c r a t i c p r ac t ic e

b u t w i ll a ls o l e a d t o l a s ti n g a n d e n d u r i n g d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m .

A n o t h e r m a j o r f a c t o r i n p o l i ti c s t h a t c a n t h r e a t e n a n a t i o n ' s d e m o c r a t i c

p r i n c i p l e s i s r u n n i n g d o w n t h e o p p o n e n t s o r v i o l e n t c a m p a i g n a m o n g

o ther s . In each o f t hese cases , I s l am has go t som eth in g to s ay. F o r examp le ,

c o n c e r n i n g r u n n i n g d o w n o f o p p o n e n t s , w h i c h I s l a m c a l l s s l a n d e r/ s c a n d a l,

t he Q ur ' an s ays:14

W oe to eve ry (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter.(Surah a l -Humazah 104: I)

I f po l i t i c ians and o f cou rse t he e l ec to ra t e a re , w i th t hese t each ings , educ a t ed

on t he da nger s i nheren t i n po l i ti c s o f gun-sho o t i ng , he l l - r a i s ing and c rue l t y ,

t hey wi l l i ndeed re - t h ink , r e -p l an and res t ruc tu re t he i r campa ign s t r a t eg i es

t o e s c h e w b i tt e rn e s s , v i o le n c e , r u n n i n g d o w n o f o p p o n e n t s a n d i n d e e d

u n f o u n d e d a l l eg a t io n s .Y e t a n o t h e r f a c t o r m i l i t a t i n g a g a i n s t s u s t a i n a b l e d e m o c r a c y i n m o s t

n a t i o n s o f th e w o r l d is b r i b e r y a n d c o r r u p t io n . T w o e x p l a n a t i o n s c a n b e

adv anc ed fo r t h is . The f ir s t one i s t he des i r e to ge t back wh a t ever was spen t

i n th e c o u r s e o f c a m p a i g n i n g f o r e l e c ti o n s . T h e s e c o n d o n e i s th e d e s i r e



102 M.O. ADENIY i

t o a m a s s w e a l t h , t h a t is , o v e r p o w e r i n g g r e e d f o r p r iv a t e e n r i c h m e n t . T h i s

g r e e d f o r i ll eg a l e n r i c h m e n t i s s o s t ro n g t h a t w h e n a m e m b e r o f a fa m i l y i sa p p o i n t e d a c o m m i s s i o n e r o r m i n i s te r a n d h e a p p e a r s i n c o r r u p ti b l e, m e m b e r s

o f h i s f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s w o u l d n o t o n l y f e e l d i s a p p o i n t e d b u t a l so m a k e h i m

r e a l i z e t ha t i t i s h i s ow n tu r n to t a ke h i s ow n sha r e , o r h i s f a mi ly ' s o r t r i be 's

s h a r e o f t h e n a t i o n a l c a k e . T o t h is c a t e g o r y o f p e o p l e , t h e Q u r ' a n s a ys : 15

And do not ea t up yo ur proper ty among yourse lves wrongly ne i the rproffer it to the judg es (as a br ibe) so that yo u m ay (sinful ly) consum ea po r t ion o f (other) people 's wealth and that knowingly.

(Surah Baqara2:188)

A n d a g a i n , t h e Q u r ' a n s t r e ss i n g t h e a b o v e p o i n t f u r t h e r s ay s : 16

Woe to those that deal in fraud. Th ose w ho w hen they have to receive exactfull measure. But wh en they have to give by measure o r weight to men,give less than due. D o they think that they will be called to account.

(Surah Al-Tatfif83: 104)

I f p o l i t ic i a n s s h o u l d l e a r n a w o r d o r t w o f r o m t h e s e v e r s e s , t h e i d e a o f

e n t e r i n g p o l i t ic s w i t h a v i e w t o i m p r o v i n g o n e ' s l o t o r th e l o t o f o n e ' s f a m i l y ,

t o w n o r e t h n i c g r o u p , i l le g i ti m a t e ly , w i l l c e a s e . T h u s , m o r a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s

c e n t e r e d o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d h i s r e l a t io n s h i p w i t h G o d , n o t o n t h e n a t i o n o r

t ri b e . O n c e p o l i t ic i a n s h a v e i m b i b e d t h e s p i ri t o f G o d c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e r e

i s n o l o n g e r t h e n e c e s s i t y t o w a t c h t h e m t o s e e t h a t t h e y h a v e n o i l l e g a l

d e a l i n g s a n d t h a t th e y a v o i d c o r r u p t i o n , b e c a u s e t h e c o m p u l s i o n t o v i r tu o u s

c o n d u c t i s f r o m w i t h i n . T h e l e a d e r n e e d n o t b e c o m p e l l e d o r p r e s s u r i z e d

b y t h e o p p o s i t i o n p a r t y o r l e g i s l a tu r e t o b e h a v e w e l l, a s h e i s a l r e a d y b e i n g

c o n t r o l le d b y h i s c o n s c i e n c e a n d h is c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f G o d a n d t h e h e re a ft e r.T h i s p h e n o m e n o n w i l l s u s ta i n d e m o c r a c y . T h e Q u r ' a n f u r t h e r s ay s:iT

On e day we shall call together all human bein gs.. . (and) those w ho aregiven their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure) a nd theywill not be dealt with unjustly in the least. But those who were blind inthis world will be blind in the H ereafter, and m ost astray fro m the path.

Summary

F r o m w h a t w e h a v e s a i d s o f a r i n t h i s p a p e r , i t a p p e a r s t h a t r e l i g i o n a n d

p o l it ic s g o t o g e t h e r an d o n e is o u t t o h e l p o n e a n o t h e r i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f

t h e s o c i e t y a n d i n su s t a i n in g d e m o c r a c y .

I t i s a l s o o b v i o u s f r o m t h e p a p e r t h a t P r o p h e t M u h a m m a d l a i d t h e



AN ISLAMIC APPROACH TO T HE SUSTAINABILITYOF DEMOCRACY 103

c o n c r e t e f o u n d a t i o n o f a d e m o c r a t ic U m m a h i n M e d i n a i n p a r t i c u l a r a n d

t h a t o f I sl a m a s a r e l i g i o n a n d a w a y o f li fe . T h i s i d e o l o g y o f d e m o c r a c yr e f l e c t e d in the a dm in i s t r a t i on o f a l l h i s suc c e s s o r s - t he C a l iphs . A c a r e f u l

e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e P r o p h e t ' s l if e r e v e a l s t h a t h e m e a n t

a n d p r a c t i c e d d e m o c r a c y d u r i n g h i s t im e a n d t a u g h t h i s f o l l o w e r s t o f o l l o w

t h e p r i st i n e I s l a m i n a ll t h e i r e n d e a v o u r s . T h i s i s h o w h e s e t a g r e a t r e c o r d o f

h o w b e s t to b u i ld a d e m o c r a t ic c o m m u n i t y , a p h e n o m e n o n t h at h as w o n f o r

h i m t h e re p u t a ti o n a s a m o d e l o f d e m o c r a t i c d e v e l o p m e n t .

S imi la r ly , we o bse r v e d f r om the pa pe r t ha t we m igh t no t d ivo r c e de mo c r a t i c

va lue s f r om the Me d ina c ons t i t u t i on s inc e me r e ly a l l t he c l a use s de f e nd

de m oc r a c y . F r om the a na lys i s, i t i s e qua l ly obv ious t ha t no m od e m soc i e ty c a n

su r v ive w i thou t de moc r a t i c po l i t i c a l c u l tu r e . A l l pe op le , i nc lud ing the r u l e r ,

ha d e qua l r i gh ts a nd ob l iga tions a nd w e r e sub je c t to t he s a m e l aw . Th e P r op he t

h i m s e l f d i d n o t c l a i m a n y r i g h ts b e y o n d t h o s e w h i c h o t h e r M u s l i m s h a d . J u st ic e

w a s d e c l a re d t o b e t h e c o m e r - s t o n e o f th e s t a te w h i c h t h e p r o p h e t f o u n d e d .

Re l ig ion an d pol i t ic s should b e u t i l ized for na t iona l surv iva l and i t s cont inu i ty .

Endno t e s

1. O. Awolowo (1966), Thoughts o f Niger ian Const i tut ion (London, OxfordUniversity Press), p. 144.

C. Co hen (1971), D e m o c r a c y (U.S.A., University o f Georg ia Press), p. 3.Ibid.Ibid., p. 28

5. E Elliott (1973), A Dict ionary o f Pol i tics, 7th Ed. (Great Britain, FlorencoElliott), pp. 123-124.

6. Ibid.

7. Z.I . Oseni (1984), 'M uham m ad the Prophet 's Diplomatic Contact with Africa ' InM ala and Co. (Ed.). Religion, Peace a nd Unity in Nigeria, NASR , pp. 7% 80.

8. M . Ali M aulana (1973), The Rel igion of l s la m (Pakistan, Ripon Printing Press,Halore) , pp. 499 and 574.

9. M.M. Matt (1977), M u h a m m a d a t M e d i n a (Oxford, Clarendon Press) ,pp . 221-225.

Y.A. A li, Ho ly Q ur 'an , Tex t , Transla tion and Co mm entary (Pakistan, AsrofPublishing Company Ltd.) , Q.2:256. Surah Baqara. This and all subsequenttranslated Q ur 'a n verses in this pap er are from Yu sufA . Ali.Ibid. Q. 16-90.

Sye d Athar, T he Pious Cal iphs , (n.d) (Diwan Press, Great Britain), pp. 57,9% 100, 168-169, and 228-229.Y.A. Ali, op. cit. Q. 49:1 4Ibid. 104:1Ibid. 2:188Ibid. 83:1-4Ibid. 17:71.

2,

3.4.

10.

11 .

12.

13 .14 .

15.16 .17 .

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