THE CONCEPT OF THE CALIPHATE

After this, God did not put an end to human freedom but decided to take away the despotic role of rulers. The Quran refers to this Divine decision thus: “Fight them until there is no more [religious] persecution, and religion belongs wholly to God.” (8: 39). In other words this verse is referring to the end of religious persecution and coercion and the opening of the door to God's blessings upon man. As is well known, the Prophet of Islam and his Companions did precisely this. They transformed the entire political map of ancient times. The role that Muslims played in this period was not of establishing any political system. In actual fact, it is not the aim of the Muslim ummah to establish any particular system. The task that was accomplished in the Muslim period had two major aspects to it: to usher in the age of freedom in the world, and to initiate the task of the scientific study of nature. The Quran (42: 38) refers to people who “conduct their affairs by mutual consultation”. This reference is not in a limited sense. It conveys news of a global revolution. It means that God wants that the age of monarchy be ended and that the age of democracy take its place, so that people can think freely, that their potentials can unfold, that they can discover the secrets of nature, and bring in the age of the divine civilization, which is referred to in the Quran (31: 27) in the following words: “If all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea [were] ink, with seven [more] seas added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted: for, truly, God is Almighty and Wise.” The Age of Democracy The age of democracy is another name for the age of freedom. In line with God’s creation plan, it was essential for an environment of freedom to remain on earth. The role that is required for man to play is possible only in an environment of freedom. This age of democracy started in the Muslim period. It advanced further, in the form of a process, till it culminated in the form of the French Revolution of 1789. Democracy is a great stage in human history. It was in this age that for the first time freedom and peace became a choice for people. Prior to this, people could enjoy freedom and peace only if they were granted to God wanted man to discover the laws hidden in nature so that he could discover the Creator of these laws, and so that such means be developed that the task of inviting people to God could be carried out more effectively.