Should the Qur'an be the Government's charter?

[Raban]

My question is rather straightforward, as this is often a touchy subject, thanks to many Western Islamophobes citing that Muslims want to enforce Shari'ah upon the West- but, do Muslims believe that if a society was mostly Islamic there should be no form of Government or regulation outside the Qur'an? Or is it that it is a guidelines of which the individual should live, and the government should be whatever the people desire. I also acknowledge that this is probably highly opinionated, but I am highly curious.

 

[dynavert2012]

in Islam, the Majority shouldn't force the minority for a particular law, for example if we have a society of 95% Muslims, 4 % Christian and 1 % Jews so should Muslims enforce others to sharia? according to the current democratic ways like voting, so the majority will lead the minority to one law
actually this ways are not matched with Islam, in Islam we can't enforce the minority to our laws but to judge among them by their own laws as the quran stated, Allah said "And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein: 5:47, and said "But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah ? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers" 5:43

about your question, so an Islamic government in the west, east or even the middle east can't enforce Shaira for the non Muslim minority

 

[DawudTalut]

My question is rather straightforward, as this is often a touchy subject, thanks to many Western Islamophobes citing that Muslims want to enforce Shari'ah upon the West-

Answer

Religions have a duty to draw the attention of the legislature to moral issues. It is not necessary that all legislation be placed under the jurisdiction of religions….A believer of any religion can practise his beliefs even under a secular law. He can abide by truth without any state law interfering with his ability to speak the truth. He can observe his Prayers and perform his acts of worship without the need of a specific law being passed by the state to permit him to do so…………….This question can also be examined from another interesting angle. If Islam agrees with the question of a Muslim government in countries where Muslims are in the majority, then by the same token of absolute justice, Islam must concede the right to other governments to govern the countries according to the dictates of the religion of the majority.

but, do Muslims believe that if a society was mostly Islamic there should be no form of Government or regulation outside the Qur'an?

Answer

With so many different sects and shades of varying beliefs between one sect and another and one religion and another, nothing short of total confusion and anarchy would be the result. Take for instance the punishment for alcohol. Although it is forbidden in the Holy Quran, there is no punishment specified by the Quran itself. Reliance is placed on some traditions, which are challenged by various schools of jurisprudence. In one locality or country, the punishment would be one thing and completely another elsewhere. Ignorance of the law would be rampant. What holds true for Islam is also true for other faiths. The Talmudic law would be totally impractical. The same can be said about Christianity.
.

But this concept of different religious states in different countries can only have a valid place in Islam if it propounds that in countries with a Muslim majority, Islamic shariah must prevail by force of law. This will again create a universally paradoxic situation because on the one hand, in the name of absolute justice, all states will be provided with the right to impose upon its people the law of the majority religion. On the other hand, each act of the religious minority in the countries of the world would be brought under the severe rule of a religion in which they do not believe. This will be an affront to the very concept of absolute justice.


This dilemma has neither been addressed nor attempted to be resolved by the proponents of Islamic law in the so-called Muslim states. According to my understanding of Islamic teachings, all states should be run on the same principle of absolute justice and as such every state becomes a Muslim state.


In view of these arguments and the over-riding concept of there being no compulsion in matters of faith, religion does not need to be the predominant legislative authority in the political affairs of a state.

Or is it that it is a guidelines of which the individual should live, and the government should be whatever the people desire. I also acknowledge that this is probably highly opinionated, but I am highly curious.

Answer

…….Holy Quran deals with the subject of government without making any distinction whatsoever between a Muslim and a non-Muslim state. The instructions on how a state should be run are common to humanity though it is the believers who are primarily addressed in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran speaks of statecraft equally applicable to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Confucians, Christians, Jews and Muslims etc…………………… Islam propounds a completely neutral central government in which the matters of statecraft are common and equally applicable to all subjects of the state and religious differences are allowed to play no part therein.

Source of above 3 Quotes: http://www.alislam.org/library/books/IslamsResponseToContemporaryIssues.pdf [by 4th Ahmadiyya Muslim Khalifah]

In one verse, the Holy Qur’an teaches us that: there should be no compulsion in matters of faith (Ch.2:V.257). Some of you may not be aware that this verse was revealed when the Holy Prophet of Islam (saw) had already established a government in Madinah. At the time, a covenant had already been made with the Jews and other tribes, and a functioning system of government was in place in which the Holy Prophet (saw) had already been accepted as Head of State. The injunction to keep religion and government independent of each other was revealed at that time and in those circumstances, even though the difference between right and wrong had become manifest, and even though the Muslims believed their religion to be true and their teachings to be unparalleled. With this injunction it became clear that these excellent teachings were to be spread through love and affection, rather than by force or by acting unjustly towards others. Allah has said that a requirement for a just government is that it should separate religious matters from matters of State, and every citizen should be afforded his due rights.

Source:http://www.alislam.org/egazette/ega...azette-separation-of-mosque-church-and-state/[by Current, the 5th, Ahmadiyya Muslim Khalifah]