POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY

POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY Not a True Goal POLITICAL power is not the goal of Islam. However, God does grant political power to people as a means by which human beings are tested. Just as they are tested when bestowed with wealth. With the same objective, political authority is granted to every nation one after another according to God’s wisdom. This passing on of power from one nation or group to another is intended so that God might observe how people conduct themselves when they attain political power. (10: 14) This political dominance, according to the Quran, is granted only by God. He bestows it upon whoever He wishes, and withholds it from whoever He wishes. The Quran says: Say, ‘Lord, sovereign of all sovereignty. You bestow sovereignty on whom You will and take it away from whom You please; You exalt whoever You will and abase whoever You will. All that is good lies in Your hands. You have the power to will anything.’ (3: 26) Accumulation of wealth is not the purpose of life. Similarly, attaining political supremacy is not the goal of the Islamic message. It is against the Divine plan that a community should make attainment of political dominance its sole purpose and then strive to realize this objective. As far as the believers are concerned, political dominance is something which has been promised to them. It is not something that believers should set as their goal. In other words, it would not be right for the believers to start a movement aimed directly at the acquisition of political authority. What they must endeavour to do instead is to cultivate within themselves strong consciousness of Islamic faith and fulfil all practical obligations of faith pertaining to themselves. Those who do so are promised by God thus: God has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely grant them power in the land as He granted to those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them. The political dominance, according to the Quran, is granted only by God. He bestows it upon whoever He wishes, and withholds it from whoever He wishes.