By Nabeela Ali

Believe it or not, like it or not, accept it or not, Islam is a super democratic religion in the world. Unfortunately, extremists has tailored it old-fashioned and declared it incompatible with contemporary democratic values just to put into practice their own beliefs to maintain their personal supremacy by creating different sects of Muslims.

The Holy Quran doesn’t endorse these sects in its script; it recognizes and describes the followers of Islam as Muslims, not Sunni, Shia, Wahabi, Deo-bandi etc.

To me, democracy means a system where all people should be able to have their say in one way or another, in everything that impacts their lives. In simple words, democracy is a mutual consultation before making a decision.

Extremists believe “Hell with democracy! Long live Islam!” as these two systems are negating with each other “one can’t be a true Muslim if they’re a democrat” just like “a Jew can’t be a Nazi or a Nazi can’t be a Judeophile”

The implementation of Sharia law is the only solution for the millions of problems of the Muslim world with the establishment of Islamic state. They also believe that whatever they are doing can be justified by the holy Quran.

Extremists proclaim that Islamic law is absolutely incompatible with democracy because Islam is a theocratic system with Allah alone as its head and Allah’s law can only be interpreted by a ruling body of clerics.

In Muslim culture (contrary to Islam) clerics believe that their decree on religious explanation is as equal as Almighty Allah (the creator of the universe) and the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Extremists like to use verses in bits and pieces to justify their violence in the establishment of so called Islamic state, and the implementation of Sharia in the entire world, without any reference and explanation of the context that why and what the purpose was of revelation for that Surah which are being used to radicalize young people.

Extremists use some of the following verses from the holy Quran to prove that Islam is not well-matched with democracy, and Muslims has a duty to establish an Islamic state to rule under Sharia law.

Quran says,  “It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path”( Al-Ahzaab, Chapter#33, Verse#36)

Extremists interpret this verse in their own interest that Islamic Cleric is authorized by Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), to decide about the fate of Muslim community and it is a religious duty upon every believers of Islam to accept that decision and act accordingly. Disobeying them is in fact disobeying of Allah and Muhammad (S.A.W) and their destination is hell.

Whereas, this holy verse has nothing to do with the establishment of an Islamic State and Sharia law. It was revealed on the occasion of Holy Prophet’s marriage with Hadrat Zainab. Opponents raised many objections to this marriage and doubts were created in the minds of the Muslims too. So Allah showed this verse and accepted this marriage as it happened by the will of Allah.

Another holy verse which is commonly used to radicalize Muslims and that democracy is a system of devil. Holy Quran says that “Allah… makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule” ( Al-Kahf, Chapter#18, Verse 26)

According to the interpretation of radicals the whole universe belongs to Allah and only the Muslims have a right to rule the world by establishing the Islamic State where Muslims can practice their lives under the Sharia law.

They also radicalize Muslims by saying this verse has a prediction of victory for Muslims and that this verse places a duty upon Muslims to implement Sharia law, not democracy. It is because in democracy, people are the ones who rule the country, according to the will of the people.

As I said earlier, extremists like to pick bits and pieces from verses, without any context. That changes the meaning of the verse; for instance, if someone is told that the crow is black, and then that person starts calling every black thing a crow.

According to the background of this Sura, it was revealed when the Muslims were persecuted and had a strong opposition. They were in the middle of nowhere and were planning to migrate to Habash. As the Muslims had many fears about their safety and security after migration, Allah revealed this Surah to assure and encourage Muslims the righteous people have been saved in the past. It laid emphasis on that Allah Almighty is the only one ruler and the saviour.

Another verse which is being used to radicalize young Muslims, according to this verse Allah says in the Holy Quran,“What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds, that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment that they make”.(Al-Jaathiya,Chapter#45, Verse#21)

Extremists accept as true that democracy demands equality saying the Holy Quran says “No one is equal to Muslims”, really!

The context of this holy verse was when the people of Makkah had been mocking the messages of the Holy Quran, especially the oneness of Allah, the Day of Judgment, Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet and messenger of Allah. Almighty Allah had warned them in the above-mentioned verse that these evils can’t be equal to righteous.

There are few more verses in the holy Quran which were revealed to explain the way of Allah. Islamic Laws, rules and regulations that have been laid down for people’s organizations, cohesion and conduct of day-to-day life as well as for the solution of social, economic, political and international problems.

Allah says in the Holy Quran,“If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them” (Al-Baqara, Chapter#2, Verse#233)

In another Surah, Allah says in the Holy Quran“And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them” (Ash-Shura, Chapter#42, Verse 38)

Allah says in Holy Quran O Muhammad(S.A.W) “and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision” (Aal-i-Imraan, Chapter#3, Verse#159)

So Islam is a super democratic religion and totally compatible with any democratic system in the world because Islam highlights mutual consultation before any decision even at household level and if the decision is made without mutual consent, there is warning of sin and punishment. Above verses explains democratic values at levels from a family unit to the ruling of the state.