Consultation is Necessary in Government

Islām stipulates the following fundamental teaching to guide those people who are elected as rulers according to the recommendation of the people:

“The task of the believers is to fully obey God, and worship Him, and to settle matters of administration with mutual consultation, and to spend the wealth which God has given to them upon the people.”1

In this verse, a ruler has been obliged not to follow a course of dictatorship and tyranny after being elected as the Amīr, rather, to keep in mind that sovereignty has only been given to him as a trust; he should continue seeking the public opinion and discharge the responsibilities of his government with the consultation of the people. Thus, Allāh the Exalted even addresses the Holy Prophet(sa) himself saying:

“O Prophet, consult the people in matters of administration; but when you have decided after consultation, then put your trust in Allāh.”2

According to Qur’ānic idiom, this instruction is not only limited to the Holy Prophet(sa), but also applies to his Khulafā’ and followers.

In summary, as far as the system of government is concerned, Islām only presents two fundamental principles. Firstly, that the right to rule equally belongs to all the people, and in such a case, they should elect the best person from among themselves as their Amīr. Secondly, anyone who becomes an Amīr and takes charge of government, is obliged to fulfil his trust with justice and equity, and to discharge all the important responsibilities associated with politics and government with the consultation of the people. In other words, in the matter of sovereignty, Islām has absolutely prohibited a hereditary system. Furthermore, Islām has also forbidden that a ruler should lead a despotic and autocratic system of government. However, even in the current era, as the power of veto, etc., is generally accepted, in exceptional circumstances, Islām has afforded an Amīr the power to reject a proposal made by the majority if he deems necessary.3 However, either way, in light of the Islāmic Sharī‘at, an Amīr has been ordered not to settle any important matter without first seeking counsel. This was to such an extent, that Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra), who was the second Khalīfah of the Holy Prophet(sa) and was considered a great expert in Islāmic politics states:

“No Islāmic government can be accepted as being lawful without a system of consultation.”4

These are the fundamental principles which Islām has instituted with relation to the Islāmic system of government. However, as mentioned above, except for basic rules, Islām has not interfered in the intricate details of this issue. For example, Islām has not given any specific instruction with regards to questions which relate to the exact manner in which the elections of an Amīr or President should take place; or the principles upon which the consultative body should be formulated; or the method an Amīr should employ in order to ascertain the public opinion with respect to matters of national importance after he has been elected; the kinds of issues which should be put up for consultation and the secondary details relevant to the system of government, etc. These questions and other details of this nature have been left open for every country, nation and era.