الفكر السياسي الإسلامي وتطوره من الشورى إلى الديمقراطية

From Shurah (Counseling) to Democracy: A Scholarly Review of the Evaluation of Islamic Political Thought

Abstract

There has been a tussle going on between Islam and democracy for many decades in the Muslim world which has benefited most certainly the anarchic factions like kings, lords and army dictators. Though democracy is close to Islam and thought to be the best of all types of governments as majority is authority in it that may make or mar the government. In a democratic setup, the individual and personal rights and freedom are considered which is why it is preferred more these days. Many as Muslim thinkers are also in favor of it, but still there is a large faction of clerical scholars who deem democracy as the root of all evils since it empowers general public as an authoritative and decisive force. However with the passage of time, the Islamic counseling system has evolved and come very close to the spirit of democracy. Therefore, may contemporary scholars hold Islamic counseling and democracy almost similar. This article aims to present a preview of democracy and counseling in the light of what the Ulema (Scholars) say about it.