Transcript Islamic Studies Courses in Chabot, Ohlone, Mission, and De Anza Colleges Designed and taught By Hafiz M.

Islamic Studies Courses
in
Chabot, Ohlone, Mission, and
De Anza Colleges
Designed and taught
By
Hafiz M. K. Siddiqi, Ph.D.
Islamic Political and Caliphate system
Siyasah: (Politics) 1. To supervise the people,
protect their rights, and guarantee their safety
and security. 2. To live on earth in the best
possible way, by working to develop and
improve the quality of life. 3. To implement the
Divine message. 4. To live the Islamic ethical
code of conduct. 5. to work for the well being of
The people and keep them away from
corruption. 6. It is an art of protecting the rights
of citizens and promoting family ties.
Essence of all of the above: Politics is a wise
Way to teach the Caliph and his cabinet, the
duties and functions of government,
administration of a country to achieve the
purpose of protecting the rights of citizens,
their mutual relationship, and to help them to
be law abiding citizens, by implementing the
Shari’ah, through law protecting agencies, and
Through independent judiciary.
The Arabic word Siyasah has much
more wider meaning than the English
word politics, (to govern a country….)
because it includes: personal reforms
family reforms, and all aspects of
general reforms connected to the life
of citizens.
Islamic political system is unique in
structure, function and purpose. It is not
pragmatic, nor Theocracy. It is not
hereditary nor Democracy in its popular
sense. It is something different from all
political systems, because of the following
points: 1. Every individual’s or group’s
action must be guided and judged by the
law of God. Please see 5/47-50
2. The sovereignty belongs to Allah (God) and
not to the ruler, nor to the people. The ruler
and the people both help each other in
enforcing and enacting the divine law. The
ruler is elected only to serve them according to
the law of God. Please see 4/58,
3. The main objective of Islamic Shari’ah,
Siyasah, and Khilafah is to establish justice,
Provide safety, security, and protection to all
Citizens regardless of their color, race, and
Religion. Please see 4/135, 5/8, 16/90
4. The elected officials are considered as
a group of people who are there to
exercise their authority on behalf of God
and in His cause.
The people/voters pledge loyalty to divine
law offering utmost cooperation and
support to those who implement the law
as mentioned in 24/51-55,
5. The ruler and the ruled both have their initial
obligation to God and then to each other. The
public will only support the Caliph and his team
As long as they obey Allah (God). See 4/59
In this verse, the obedience to those charged
with the authority is conditional to their own
Obedience to the law of God as written in the
Qur’an and Sunnah. Laa Ta’ata Makhluq, Fi
Ma’siyatil-Khaliq (No obedience to the creation
on account of disobedience to the creator.
6. Officials must be elected from among
the citizens on the basis of competence
and God Consciousness. Every individual
must be Judged on his/her merit. Prophet
Muhammad pbuh said: whoever entrust a
man to a public office where in his
community there is a better person than
this trustee, he has betrayed the trust of
Allah, His messenger, and the Muslims.
7. The duty of citizens, after the election is to
watch the conduct of the ruler and his
Administration, question the handling of the
public affairs, and make sure that the elected
officials are fulfilling their duties and
Responsibilities according to the Shari’ah, and
especially in establishing equal justice for all.
They must be removed from the public office, if
they betray the trust of God and the public. The
Public is not allowed to follow leaders blindly.
8. The elected official’s first responsibility
is to Allah and then to the people. He
must exercise the power on behalf of the
people for their best Interest in the light of
Islamic constitution.
9. Al though the Qur’an is their law and
constitution, they are required by God to
Handle their common affairs by
consultation. 42/38, 3/159
10. Under Islamic Political system, everyone
Enjoys the five fundamental freedoms we
have discussed last week, namely: Life,
Religion, wealth, intellect, and honor.
11. The uniqueness of this system is because
It is: A. work of God B. Created for the best
interest of humankind by their creator C. Its
aim is not world domination. It aims at
submission to God and obedience to His law.
Unlike kings/ruler who, mostly work for self
glory.
D. It is comprehensive, practical, moderate,
And flexible. E. God has revealed only the
Principles, leaving details for the human
Intelligence to work them out and adopt
them.
12. The caliphate system was founded by
the Prophet and greatly improved by those
Islamic leaders who came after the
Prophet’s death and were known as rightly
Guided caliphs.
As mentioned before, the establishment of
Equal justice for all is the primary goal of
Islamic legal, political and caliphate system.
The seven main principles adopted by the
Caliphs who succeeded the leadership after
the death of prophet Muhammad pbuh are:
1.
Free Election 2. System of consultation
3. Freedom of expression with the exemption
Of A. Hate speech B. Blasphemy
C. Defamation
4. Accountability to Allah and to the people:
A.
By providing the public easy and direct
access to themselves B. By personally getting
Involved in finding the grievances of the public.
C. By working very hard in providing the basic
Necessities: food, shelter, and opportunity to
Work, before implementing any punishment
System. 5. Protection of state treasury (BaytulMaal) from abuse and misuse. The Caliph is
only the trustee and care taker of it and not the
owner.
6. Superiority of law, no body is above the law
from high ranking authorities to the Caliph
himself, and from a common lay person to
wealthy and influential individual and groups.
7. The principle of perfect equality: status,
color, family, gender, language, etc. meant
Nothing all human beings were equal and must
be treated equal.
Stories:
1. Election of Abu Bakr (1st Caliph) under
Bay’ah system.
2. Abu Bakr’s wife made a dessert.
3. ‘Umar’s (2nd Caliph) shirt.
4. The hungry children and their Mother.
5. The nursing mother and child benefit.
6. A begger in Madinah.
7. The woman’s dispute with the Caliph and his
reaction.
References: God’s promise: 24/55,
Establishment of power: 22/41, Authority: 17/80,
Conditional obedience to leaders 4/59,
Establishment of justice: 4/58,
The description of Kings: 27/34,
Pharaoh claims: 26/23, 29,
Pharaoh enslaves common people: 23/45-47
Political assassination: 2/49
Consultation: 42/38, 3/159