Accountability is one of the core creeds of Islam. The Quran says, if anyone does an atom’s weight of good shall see it in Allah’s court, and if anyone does an atom’s weight of evil shall also see it[1]. However, any bearer of burden (of responsibility & accountability) shall not bear anyone else’s burden[2]. The Prophet (s.a.w) is reported to have said, “Every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you is answerable with regard to his…
The Quran does not explicitly give any specific composition of the electorate or any specific electoral process for electing the Chief Executive or Head of the Islamic State. However, it has alluded to various criteria for the candidate[1] and has enjoined to incorporate the ‘consultation among the Muslim community’[2] in the appointment process. Moreover, the Quran has not given any fixed method of consultation, and this may vary depending on time and circumstances as is evident from the early history…
The following criteria can be derived from the Quran for electing or appointing people in authority: (1) integrity (taqwa)[1], (2) honesty[2] & trustworthiness[3] (amanat), (3) knowledge (ilm)[4], (4) wisdom (hikma)[5], (5) sound judgement (hukman) [6], (6) decisiveness (fasl-al-khitab)[7], (7) safeguarding of national interests (hafeez)[8], (8) physical capacity (jism, quwat)[9], (9) good intelligence quotient (istimbat)[10]. People in the executive authority should be conscious of Allah’s commands and not prone to follow their personal desires instead of the will of the Almighty[11];…
The Believers (in the Islamic Ideology) have been told categorically in the Quran that all of them are a single brotherhood[1]. They are enjoined to hold Allah’s rope (i.e. His Book) firmly all together and do not become divided into sects[2]. Dividing Ad-Deen into various sects is tantamount to associating partners with Allah which is unforgivable[3]. The believers have been warned in the Quran that if they divide themselves into sects, then Allah’s Prophet (s.a.w.) will have no concern whatsoever…
Nationality and citizenship are two legally distinct concepts in a number of countries. For example in Israel, there are Israeli citizens of diverse religions but Jewish nationality is distinct from Israeli citizenship[1]. The definitions and criteria of nationality and citizenship differ according to the laws of different countries. But wherever these concepts are distinct, nationality and citizenship entail different rights and obligations for their holders. Muslim Nationality is not based on birth within a particular geographical area or on having…
Three essential powers for running a state are the legislative power (to make laws), the judicial power (to interpret the laws and decide matters accordingly) and the executive power (to implement the law and the decisions thereby). As far as the judicial power or authority is concerned, the Quran clearly states that the ultimate judicial authority belongs to the Almighty[1]. However, the Quran also clearly establishes the judicial authority of the Messengers delegated to them by their Lord[2], who must…
During the lifetime of the last Messenger (s.a.w.) of Allah, the interpretation and application of the Islamic Laws was not a problem whatsoever as the Messenger (s.a.w.) was vested with the Supreme Judicial Authority and his interpretation and application of the Islamic Laws was final and definitive. It was rightly so because he was the direct recipient of the Divine Code from the Almighty and no one could know and understand better than him the letter and spirit of the…