ISLAM AND POLITICS

ISLAM AND POLITICS T HE Prophet of Islam has said: “Perform your prayer as you see me performing it.” The same he said about Hajj. He said: “Learn the method of Hajj from my practice.” It means that there is an example in the Prophetic life for prayer and Hajj. So, Muslims must emulate this Prophetic example forever. But it is significant that the Prophet of Islam never gave any advice about politics. Although he was the head of the Medina state, he never said that make your political system by seeing my political practices. This difference between ibadah (worship) and politics is very important. It means that as far as the ibadah is concerned there is a set example. And people are required to be guided by this example forever. But with regards to the political system, there is no such set pattern of politics in Islam. From this difference we can draw a very important principle, which is in contrast to the form of ibadah. The political system is based on the social condition of a given time. In every society, depending on the real social situation, the Islamic politic has to be adopted accordingly. From this difference it is very clear that Islamic ibadah has a set pattern forever but Islamic politics has no such eternal norms. Islamic politics can be termed as a kind of situational politics that is based on social realities. This is the practical concept of politics. The Prophet of Islam has said: “As you will be so will be your rulers.” It means that Islamic politics is subject to people than to some fixed norms. In other words the Islamic government is a people’s government rather than any kind of theocratic government. By seeing the Prophet’s life, one can say that there are three forms of an Islamic government: the first form can be said to be a secular government. The second form as a mixed government. And the third form can be called an Islamic government. Examples of all these three forms of political systems can be found in the life of the Prophet. The political system in Islam is based on the social condition of the time.