Reforming Politics for Real Independence

The countrywide debate around Pakistan’s Independence Day, 14 August, has extended to questioning the form of the constitution and politics practiced. It is a fundamental discussion, which will define the direction of the efforts of the long suffering Muslims of Pakistan, for change. Real independence will not be found in changes in faces alone, or in anti-American rhetoric. Real independence is independence from Western secularism, its capitalism, its Democracy and its global political order. Real independence mandates a complete commitment to the Kalima, as alluded to, in the popular saying, “What is the meaning of Pakistan? Laa ilaha ilAllah.”

Currently, politics in Pakistan, as in the rest of the Muslim World, is defined by the Western civilization. It is guardianship and representation of the people in their affairs, but from an angle that contradicts Islam, both in its roots and branches. It is from a secular angle, where religion has no role to play whatsoever. Religion is purely a personal affair and is not to play a role in politics and ruling. So in the West, Christianity is the state religion but does not influence the constitution, policies and laws of the state. In the Muslim World, Islam is the state religion, but again, it has no influence upon constitution, laws and policies.

Whilst the West achieved progress through adopting secular politics, the Muslim World has not. Secular politics is an open door for colonialists to impose their will on the Muslim World. Local political elites manipulate politics, laws and constitutions in order to serve the interests of the colonialists. So, the Muslim World has a political leadership that has surrendered its decision making to foreigners. It will continue to do so, as it does not have the standard of Islam, to prevent that.

The reformation of politics in the Muslim World is the need of the time. Reformation for the Muslim is according to the standard of the Deen of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,

«كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمْ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِيٌّ وَإِنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي وَسَيَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ فَيَكْثُرُونَ»

“The affairs of the Bani Isreal were taken care of by the Prophets. Whenever a Prophet died, he was succeeded by a Prophet. There is no Prophet after me. There will by Khulafaa in large numbers.” The Prophet was then asked, فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا “What do you order us?” He (saw) said,

«فُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الْأَوَّلِ فَالْأَوَّلِ أَعْطُوهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّا اسْتَرْعَاهُمْ»

“Give the bayyah one after another and give them their right, for Allah will ask them about all He gave them in their guardianship.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

In his explanation (sharh) of this Prophetic Hadith, Imam An-Nawawi, states, يَتَوَلَّوْنَ أُمُورهمْ كَمَا تَفْعَل الْأُمَرَاء وَالْوُلَاة بِالرَّعِيَّةِ “They were guardians in their affairs, as the Islamic Ameers and Walis are in guardianship.” So just as the Prophets (as) arbitrated the affairs by divine Revelation, so must the Islamic ameers and walis. He further stated, وَالسِّيَاسَة الْقِيَام عَلَى الشَّيْء بِمَا يُصْلِحهُ “Politics: Execution over a matter, by that which reforms it.” The reformation is by Islam alone, and nothing else. So the Muslims are represented by the Khaleefah, who is given Bayah by their selection. He then becomes the guardian of the Muslims in their affairs, but from the angle of Islam. Thus, the constitution, laws and policies must all be according to the Noble Quran and Prophetic Sunnah. It is this that closes the door for the colonialist and leads to true independence in political decision making.

Thus, it is the Khilafah (Caliphate) State that will ensure complete independence from the colonialist will. It is the Khilafah that will unify the Muslim World, as one state, removing the colonialist borders. It is the Khilafah that will liberate the occupied Muslim Lands, ignoring the restraints of the colonialist political order. And it is the Khilafah that will open Dawah to the entire world, removing material obstacles by Jihad, until, inshaa Allah, the entire world is ruled by Islam.

As for practically, who will lead this political reform of the Muslim World, Hizb ut Tahrir must, at least, be considered. Hizb ut Tahrir has produced an entire constitution, of 191 articles, giving a broad vision of the Islamic Khilafah state. In addition, it has adopted a library of books, which elaborate details of ruling and politics according to Islam, drawn from the centuries of voluminous Islamic Fiqh, written on the subject. It has prepared cadres of Muslims, men and women, from all schools of thought, from Indonesia to Morocco, who have been educated and trained in practicing politics from the angle of Islam. It is from this angle that the Muslims of Pakistan need to re-evaluate the common lament, “There is a leadership vacuum.” Perhaps, if it so pleases Allah (swt), Hizb ut Tahrir will lead us to the real independence that we all make Dua for.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Musab Umair – Wilayah Pakistan