I have the opportunity to attend this forum last Saturday at a dialogue on ‘Islamic State: Which Version, Whose Responsibility’ with prior understanding that the organizer had invited a collection of representatives that include among others known Islamic scholars who could independently share his thought on Islamic State, free of political influences, to discuss this contentious issue in our country. Unfortunately, there was none.
What disappointed me was the keynote address by Dr Ahmad Farouk, whom in my opinion was unable to give a just and complete overview of the subject matter to the participants. I must admit that he was quite judgmental and bias through the selective references he made to support his points.
He had stated that the terminology of Dawlah Islamiyyah or Islamic State was never mentioned in the Qur’an, but this in any way does not justify that secular democratic state is the ultimate choice that Muslims have to be able to live harmoniously with non-Muslim in multicultural societies. In fact the argument was too shallow to deduce such conclusion and to allow secularism to take place and eventually to provide pluralism practice.
As layman and moreover, the non Muslims, we wanted to understand how Islamic government or Islamic state was established from historical point of views. There must be essence or guiding principles from the early years of Islam, whereby numerous governments have been founded as “Islamic”. And the most notably was Islamic State of Medina established by the prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) himself in Medina, and the caliphate systems, the subsequent governments formed by the prophet Companions, Saidina Abu Bakar, Umar, Usman and Ali. As the book of faith, the Qur’an lays the basic foundation that guides muslim, in this respect, however, the first system of government established by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 622 CE, under the constitution of Medina should be seriously considered as the solid reference of the model of Islamic state.
Finally, we should also be reminded of what the Quran says about leader and leadership which is part of the establishment of Islamic
State.
An Nisa [59]: O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
Al Imran [28]: Let not the Believers make the disbelievers their friends and take them into their confidence in preference to the Believers. Whoever will do this shall have no relation left with Allah; however your show of friendship towards them will be pardonable, if you do so to guard against their tyranny. Anyhow Allah warns you to fear Him because to Him you shall return.
‘Those in authority’ here meant the believers as elaborated by Tuan Guru Hj Hadi Awang in his book “Sistem Pemerintahan Negara Islam” chapter 6.
Dr Azizi Ayob
Chairman, I-Medik Selangor/Wilayah Persekutuan
