The Concept of State in Islam

Abstract

The state in Islam is founded on certain principles which, according to
the faith of a Muslim, are laid down in the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Holy
Prophet. The first principle is that all authority in the universe vests in
Allah, Who is the Omnipotent and Omnipresent Creater of the universe.
Thus, according to a Muslim’s faith Allah alone must be obeyed to the
exclusion of all others, and obedience may be rendered to man only under
Allah’s command in the case of the Prophets whereunder rendering
obedience is in fact to Allah and not to human beings. The second
principle is that the law has already been laid down by Allah in the form
of commands of what is good and what is evil, in the Qur’an, which is the
pure word of Allah whereas Sunnah of the Holy Prophet is the
authoritative exposition of the Qur’an. These commands have been sent
in the form of revelation from time to time to the Prophets for the
guidance of mankind, the last being the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) through whom the faith had been completed and
perfkcted in the Qur’an. Allah has already placed in the nature of man
the knowledge of good and evil and has furhter clarified the distinction
between good and evil in the Qur’an. Thus, the law of Allah, properly
called, consists of Awumar and Nawuhi (the positive and negative
injunctions of the Qur’an) and it is on this basis that according to a
Muslim’s faith all legislation has already been made by Allah and every
Muslim is enjoined to promote good and to suppress evil.
In the Qur’an no mode of lite is prescribed for a politically and
economically subjugated Muslim community. In Sura 4: Verse 59 the
Muslims are commanded to obey Allah, to obey the Holy Prophet and
those having authority over them, who are from amongst them.
Consequently, a Muslim is to render obedience firstly to Allah, then to
the Holy Prophet, lastly to those members of the Muslim comminity who
command authority over him provided that they are acting only in
execution of the commands of Allah and the Holy Prophet. So, it is
evident that rendering obedience to those who command authority over ...