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PPPM3083:

DAKWAH DAN POLITIK ISLAM

TAJUK:

“DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCEPT OF SHURA AND DEMOCRACY”

PENSYARAH:

UST ABU DARDAA MOHAMAD

PELAJAR:

MARLON P. GULENG (A131196)

MOHD. ZULHADI BIN SAIMIN (A134344)

JABATAN PENGAJIAN DAKWAH & KEPIMPINAN

FAKULTI PENGAJIAN ISLAM

TAHUN 3/2013

(FRIDAY/ 8:00-10:00AM)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCEPT OF SHURA AND DEMOCRACY

FAKULTI PENGAJIAN ISLAM

UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

Meaning of Shura

Shura means a serious and effective participation in making a decision, not merely a

ceremonial procedure. The Quran addresses the Prophet who received divine revelation to

rely on shura in making decisions concerning common matters for which no specific

revelation had come: “and take counsel with them in all matters of common concern; then,

when you have made decision (accordingly), place your trust in God” (al-Quran 3: 159).

According to Ibn cArabi, shura means as a meeting to find the truth or advice to find

proof or proven something. As in general meaning, shura means discussion or negotiating to

know or gather different ideas in achieving one decision ( Mohd Izani Mohd Zain 2005: 19).

Meaning of Democracy

Democracy is the ideology1 that has survived despite a general cooling in the fervor for

ideologies as comprehensive intellectual tools for change. Democracy has maintained its

common appeal to the modern human mind, at least with regards to its basic principles, in

spites of the considerable criticism that has been facing conceptually and practically, from its

own supporters as well as its opponents. Derived from the Greek words ‘demos’ (the people)

and ‘kratia’ (rule), used to describe early democratic forms of government developed in the

sixth-century B.C.E. The terms defined as ‘the government of the people share the people, for

the people’ (Fathi Osman t.th: 4). According to the New Columbia Encyclopedia, democracy

has been expanded to describe a philosophy that insist on the right and the capacity of a

people, acting either directly or through representatives, to control their situations for their

own purposes. Such a philosophy places a high value of the equality of individuals and would

free people as far as possible from restraints not self-imposed. It insists that necessary

restraints be imposed by the consent of the majority and that they conform to the principle of

equality (Judith S. Levey & William H. Harris 1975).

1 Ideology may mean any kind of action-oriented theory or any attempt to approach politics in the light of a system of ideas.

Pennock defined democracy as government by the people (Pennock 1979: 3). While

Robert A. Dahl describe democracy as a system which give to the people power and

opportunity to join in making decision in forming laws (Robert A. Dahl 1983: 34-35).

However, according to Imam al-Maududi, democracy is a form of government in which the

common people of country are sovereign. Laws are made with their opinions and can be

amended only with their opinion. Only that law can be implemented that they want, and the

law which they do want would be removed from the statutes (al-Maududi 1969: 129).

In summarizing the meaning stated above, we found out that democracy is a system of

government which consist and practice as follows:

a. The legislative power are in the hands of the people.

b. There are members of parliament which selected by the people as a representative for

their demand.

c. All of the people are the same, there is no gap to each and everyone.

According to Prof. Dr. Yusuf cAbdullah al-Qaradawi in his book entitled ‘Min Fiqh

al-Dawlah al-Islamiah’, voting which is based on majority is the basic and reference for laws

and it is called democracy system. Whatever ideas that win majority vote, it will be

implemented without notifying whether it is true or not. In Islamic practice, this system is

unacceptable. According to the Islamic point of view, if an idea is correct and follows the

Islamic teachings and laws, it will be implemented even though it has only single vote. If

majority of the voters support the ideas that are against Islamic laws, then it is unacceptable

(Yusuf cAbdullah al-Qaradawi 2009:220). That is the consequence that democracy must

face. Base on this statement, it is stated in the Holy Quran in surah al-Ancam verse 116.

Meaning:

“And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. They follow nothing but conjectures , and they do nothing but lie”.

Difference Between Shura and Democracy

The difference between the concept of shura and democracy are as follows:

a. Shura is not limited to the political field; it has to be developed starting with the

family base to be a general way of life in all areas. Whereas, democracy is limited

only for election purposes.

b. Decision made should be based on the result of shura (decide by the member of the

council) according to the will of the Holy Quran and the al-Sunnah. However,

democracy decisions taken were based on the opinions of the majority.

c. Shura has also to be practiced in the elections of leaders and board in workers,

professionals, students’ unions and in the discussions and decisions of these elected

bodies. While in democracy elections and decision-making is based on voting, and its

known and accepted form is ‘one person, one vote’.

d. The concept of shura is to implementing the goals and principles of sharicah, while

democracy ‘it puts the people’s will above God’s will’.

e. In shura, the issues which be made decision through professionalism, expertise, and

ideas that are needed to be accurate should be given to the member of the legislator

party (ahli shura). While democracy, it is based on election and the final result will

be judge accordingly by winning 2/3 (majority) of the participants.

f. Shura means asking opinion from others, however, democracy is a view of life and a

group of constitutions, laws and a system of governance.

g. Shura comes from Allah SWT, while democracy it is based on human ideology.

h. Shura is objective in terms of making decision based on Islamic laws, while

democracy is subjective based on opinions of the people.

i. Shura is a way of life not only limited for electing a leader but also every actions that

a person do while democracy is no other than a social system which made and

decided by a human and it consist of failure or imperfect.

j. Shura is always right if it is based on the al-Quran and al-Sunnah, while democracy

deviates from the path if they make laws according to their party or individual needs.

Conclusion

Based on the discussion above, it is already cleared that the concept of shura and democracy

has its own differences. Simply means democracy is a system in which the people govern

themselves, government by consent, rule by the majority, government with equal rights for all

and sovereignty of the people. Law are made the will of the people that sometimes their

judgment is one-sided. While shura is a system made by Allah SWT to bring justice to all

human being without bias in this life and successions in hereafter, make decision based on

Islamic point of view and taking the Holy Quran and the al-Sunnah as its guidance.

Reference

al-Quran.

Fathi Osman. t.th. Islam in a Modern State: Democracy and the Concept of Shura.

Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University.

Judith S. Levey & William H. Harris. 1975. New Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia

University: Columbia University Press.

Al-Maududi, Abu cAla. 1969. Islami Risalah. Lahore: Islamic Publication Ltd.

Mohd Izani Mohd Zain. 2005. Islam dan Demokrasi. Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Universiti

Malaya.

al-Qaradawi, Yusuf cAbdullah. 1997. Min Fiqh al-Dawlah al-Islamiah. Qahirah: al-

Shuruq.