Given the many varieties and claims to democracy today and throughout history, it is important to have a clearly defined understanding of what the core differentiating characteristic of democracy is, if the word is to have any meaning - i.e. what defines it distinctively from other potential forms of government. Our objective here is to … Continue reading Democratic Theory (1): What makes a democracy ‘democratic’?
Month: October 2019
Caliphate Contentions (3): There is nothing in the Prophetic example (sunna) to suggest that establishing a Caliphate is an obligation upon the Muslims.
[TL:DR 1. There are several Prophetic narrations which indicate the obligation of both establishing an Imam, and of obeying an Imam 2. Any narration which talks about the necessity to obey the Imam of the Muslims is also a proof of the necessity to establish such an Imam if it isabsent 3. These narrations link … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (3): There is nothing in the Prophetic example (sunna) to suggest that establishing a Caliphate is an obligation upon the Muslims.
Caliphate Contentions (2): The obligation to establish a Caliphate is not mentioned in the Quran, and therefore is not an obligation.
[TL:DR1. The obligation can be derived from the Quran directly 2. Every verse that mentions a law that must be implemented is an evidence for the obligation to establish an authority to implement that law 3. Ali Abdul Raziq was the first contemporary scholar to make the claim there was no evidence in the quran … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (2): The obligation to establish a Caliphate is not mentioned in the Quran, and therefore is not an obligation.
Caliphate Contentions (1): There was no consensus among the companions that appointing a Caliph is obligatory upon the Muslims.
[TL:DR] 1. There is a clear consensus of companions upon the necessity to appoint an Imam2. Their consensus also shows that they considered appointing the Khalifa to be an utmost priority, which was prioritised over both the burial of the Prophet – peace be upon him – and the sanctity of life.3. The companions differed … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (1): There was no consensus among the companions that appointing a Caliph is obligatory upon the Muslims.