ISLAAM AND DEMOCRACY

Who says we can't discuss democracy? We can discuss it and remind ourselves how devilish it is, even if any good at all comes out of it. The fact that alcohol has some benefits doesn't make its consumption halal. The fact that riba brings some material and worldly benefits to its perpetrators does not validate it. In the same vein, someone who commits zina must have enjoyed him or herself materially. But the act of zina is still sinful and illegal. The fact that prayers offered in bid'ah form is accepted doesn't mean bid'ah is halal. The fact that sihr (magic) works for its perpetrators doesn't validate the evil of sihr. The fact that a robbery, looting, kidnapping are successful doesn't mean they are good. There are so many examples in this regard. Democracy is also one of the evils that can't be validate based on some benefits that comes out of it.

Many Muslims have been deceived by ignorant people (even among those who claim to be scholars) to think democracy is good because it improves people's well-being. What is the essence of improving people's well-being, while the hereafter suffers. Democracy doesn't care about the hereafter. It is all about this world. You can always see this trait in many democrats, no matter how good they are. They can use anything to attain position of authority. It is a religion on its own. Go and read 'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Greene. The propounders of democracy didn't contemplate the hereafter in their postulations. They don't even have the tools to do it. 'Nemo dat quod non habet'. Let's now ask ourselves, how many years do we spend on the surface of the earth? It is disastrous to bargain this world with the hereafter. The shari'ah on the other hand takes good care of our mundane affairs and matters of hereafter. It leaves nothing undiscussed regarding our success in this life and the herafter. The shari'ah is divine, comprehensive, indivisible and perfect. It has no any shortcoming whatsoever. 

Democracy (ruling by human desire) is a great evil, and the ruling on it as discussed by scholars does not change. Go and read the explanations of Sheikh Fawzaan حفظه الله on 'Nawaaqidul Islaam' of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdilwahhab رحمه الله. Democracy is drafted and promoted by the ignorant people. Those who are ignorant about Islaam and Sunnah. Yet, you will see many Muslims following it blindly. Any Muslim who appreciates democracy, prefers it or expresses pleasure over its dominance is either a deviant or an ignoramus. 

Democracy itself is one of the signs of the end time. It is a sign of rejection and opposition to the dictates of Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. How will a reasonable Muslims who knows his religion very well be happy about it? The best generations have come and gone, the generations when the divine injunctions reigned supreme, the generations of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Companions رضي الله عنهم and those who follow them رحمهم الله. Democracy (preference of man made law over Allaah's law) on its own, is a sign of the strangeness of the Sunnah in our world. So, why should a Muslim approve of it and even liken it to the shari'ah of Allaah? SubhanaLlaah! 

So, mind you, when we discuss anything relating to democracy, it doesn't mean we approve of it. We hate it with passion. We only discuss it sometimes, because the activities of its devilish soldiers affect us directly, and we would not stop condemning it. Even if any worldly benefit comes out it, it will never cease to be evil that it is. We should always know and affirm in our hearts that democracy is not halal, and that Allaah's shari'ah is supreme. We should always feel sad that we find ourselves under this kufr system. We should always seek Allaah's forgiveness over our sins and incapacitation to change the system to that which pleases Allaah, because Allaah says:

(وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ)

And wheoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, then it is those who are the wrongdoers [Surat Al-Ma'idah, Q5: 45, Sahih International]

Let us not deceive ourselves, by the fact that we are under this kufr system, we should know that we are among the dhoolimoon (wrongdoers). We must continue to manifest the sadness of not being able to rule by Allah's injunctions in our hearts. We must keep seeking Allaah's forgiveness. And anytime we have any opportunity to apply the shari'ah under the kufr system, we must strive to apply it. For instance, we have the liberty to  dress properly, the power to compel our women to wear full hijab (or  even niqab), if we fail in this regard, Allaah will question us. Despite the dominance of democracy, we must still strive to uphold the tenets of Islaam always, we must strive to practise the Sunnah to the best of our ability. 

Being under a kufr government is not an excuse to neglect the Sunnah and the way of our salaf. Wherever we find ourselves, let us be good ambassadors of Islaam and Sunnah. Perhaps, Allaah might use that to cleanse our sins and accept us into His mercies. It is unfortunate that today, you will see that many Muslims are so pleased with democracy as if it is not a form of kufr. They neglect the Sunnah. They even attack the sunnah. By Allaah, that is not Islaam. 

May Allaah guide us all.