Purposeful vs. Tyrannical Democracy

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Purposeful vs. Tyrannical Democracy

By ABID ULLAH JAN

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The history of Democracy is taking new turns. For the first time, an aggressor
used its might and the label of democracy to legitimize a puppet it imposed on
Afghan nation.

At the same time two more “free” and “fair” elections will happen in 2005, in
Iraq, under the auspices of the American occupation, and in Palestine, under the
auspices of the Israeli occupation.

The emphasis everywhere is on holding elections, which are declared either
rigged (Ukraine) or null and void if winners are presumed to be anti-Europe or
Anti-Americans. Elections are glorified if they happen to give direct or
indirect legitimacy to dictators like Musharraf and Mubarak.

Elections!! Is this what democracy entails, or it has been reduced only to
holding elections? Are elections a magic bullet that legitimizes occupations in
occupied lands, legalizes human right violations at home and abroad and allows
concentration camps to keep thriving? Or democracy is reduced to a fig leaf of
elections used for covering the lies behind consolidating a police state at home
and invasions of sovereign states and butchery of more than 100,000 people
abroad?

Although voices in the US are muted, and while there are not yet demonstrations,
as on the streets of Kiev, demanding free, honest, and general elections in the
US, many nevertheless sense a changing tone in public discourse. There is a new
curiosity; at least, about what democracy might entail as many realize that
elections are not the end.

The world’s oldest democracy today stands as a model of extremism and
intolerance. It presents to the world a model of the most effective police state
ever existed. Its two party dictatorship is universally recognized fact. With
the help of its military might and the use of veto power at the UN, it has
ignored international will, violated almost all international laws and norms of
decency.

A look at American democracy forces one to ask: Is this the ultimately refined
form of governance and way of life that the rest of the world has to adopt under
the barrel of a gun?

By American standards, the answer to this question is yes. Bush mentioned the
other day that democracy and war on terrorism come before liberation for
Palestinians from the Israeli occupation. This is far insidious than what
“democratic” America and “democratic” Israel have been doing to Palestinians for
more than 50 years.

This demand is designed to precipitate civil war in Palestine. The US and Israel
are perfectly aware that the democracy is mere window dressing and that what the
US and Israel really want is a Palestinian authority that will declare war on
all Palestinian resistance organizations, including those within the Fatah
movement. Not only would such a course be political suicide for any PA
government, it would plunge Palestinian society as a whole into a dark and
endless tunnel of internecine warfare.

Then, what is true democracy and the most suitable form of human organization?
What are the traits of a system that could address the ultimate needs of human
organization? Who has the answer and keys to the best form of human governance?

Although many would disagree, but the fact remains that Islam is the solution
and Islam has the answer. Unfortunately, we are passing through an unfortunate,
darkest age of human history, where a majority of both Muslims and non-Muslims
are scared to death of Islam. No one is ready to peel off the layers of
disinformation and Islamophobic propaganda to understand the reality.

Most importantly, Muslims have miserably failed to be Muslims (individually) the
way they are supposed to be, let alone presenting the finest form of governance
based on the principles of Islam to the rest of the world.

Here are a few facts, which may show that democracy is not the end in itself as
Bush and his allies would like us to believe. Democracy is a fraction of the
means to human governance, human development, stable patterns of human
interactions and, above all, the purpose of our existence.

Similarly, elections, fraudulent or otherwise, are in turn a fraction of
democracy. Holding periodic elections are no guarantee to what human beings
actually need for a civilized and peaceful existence. Let us see how.

Islam’s principles of universal brotherhood and doctrine of the equality of
mankind are the main pillars for the social uplift of humanity. All great
religions have preached the same doctrine but Islam has practically put this
theory into actual practice in the past. Its value will be fully recognized;
perhaps centuries hence, when international consciousness being awakened, racial
prejudices may disappear and greater brotherhood of humanity come into existence
at a great cost.

Miss. Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949), a Hindu poetess, speaking about this aspect of
Islam wrote long ago: "It was the first religion that preached and practiced
democracy; for in the mosque, when the minaret is sounded and the worshipers are
gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the
peasant and the king kneel side by side and proclaim, God alone is great." The
great poetess of India continues, "I have been struck over and over again by
this indivisible unity of Islam that makes a man instinctively a brother." [1]

This helps us draw one of the basic principles for democracy: equality.
Interestingly, this is what the US hates the most. From refusal to signing
Koyoto protocol, to opposing landmines treaty, to rejecting International Court
of Justice and bullying at the UNSC with the help of Veto power, to bypassing
the UN for invasion and occupations are a few examples of how this democracy
wants to stand above everyone else. It shows the US hates equality and
brotherhood.

Mahatma Gandhi realized this fact about bullies, who claim to be civilized and
on a civilizing mission, long ago. In his inimitable style, he pointed out why
such bullies are scared of Islam: "Some one has said that Europeans in South
Africa dread the advent Islam -- Islam that civilized Spain, Islam that took the
torch light to Morocco and preached to the world the Gospel of brotherhood. The
Europeans of South Africa dread the Advent of Islam. They may claim equality
with the white races. They may well dread it, if brotherhood is a sin. If it is
equality of colored races then their dread is well founded."

General Musharraf, one of the chiefs of the Pharaoh of this age, tells us that
Khilafah was just a period. In fact, it was more than that. You cannot bring
back a period, but you can apply the principles from that period. Democracy is a
fraction of the total system of Islam, which was implemented then.

Besides making people realize the ultimate objective of their existence, the
prophet of Islam brought the reign of democracy in its best form. Democratic
principles were effectively in place because of the overall context of
individual, moral, social and spiritual development that took place at that
time.

continued....

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In this age where big corporations are the backbone of democracies; where
quenching individual and collective thirst for material progress is an
impossible proposition, and where presidents and prime ministers of leading
democracies are immune to public prosecution, it is foolish to expect the finest
principles of democracies will ever take roots.

Compare how the extremes of an immoral attitude (Clinton’s poking cigar and
playing with private parts of a White House intern) and a criminal behavior
(Bush’s invading a sovereign state on the basis of lies) are going unaccountable
under modern democracy with the Caliph Ali and the son in-law of the prophet,
the Caliph Mansur, Abbas, the son of Caliph Mamun and many other caliphs and
kings who had to appear before the judge as ordinary men in Islamic courts.

The words of the Qur’an — the most honorable of you with God is MOST RIGHTEOUS
AMONG you — created such a mighty transformation that preferences due to ranks
and race disappeared altogether. Whenever, the second Caliph of Islam, known to
history as Umar the great, saw Bilal, a Negro slave, he immediately stood in
reverence and welcomed him by "Here come our master; Here come our lord."

So far as political and economic affairs influence man's conduct, Islam has laid
down some very important principles to govern economic life. According to Prof.
Massignon, it maintains the balance between exaggerated opposites and has always
in view the building of character, which is the basis of civilization. This is
secured by its law of inheritance, by an organized system of charity known as
Zakat, and by regarding as illegal all anti-social practices in the economic
field like monopoly, usury, securing of predetermined unearned income and
increments, cornering markets, creating monopolies, creating an artificial
scarcity of any commodity in order to force the prices to rise. Gambling is
illegal. Contribution to schools, to places of worship, hospitals, digging of
wells, opening of orphanages are highest acts of virtue. Orphanages have sprung
for the first time, it is said, under the teaching of Islam.

Someone might argue, “But so is going on in modern, secular democracies as
well.” Of course, charity might be going on, but where are the controls on
illegal all anti-social practices in the economic field as mentioned above.
Islam banned such practices and made the good principles part of the overall
dynamics of individual life and governance by default. There you don’t have big
corporation, elites, and other kind of extremists on your back to push you for
controlling resources around the world under one or another pretext. There is no
room for things, such as promoting hunger or dumping food in other countries to
achieve strategic economic benefits for the powerful materialistic hands that
rock the cradle of so-called democracy.

We have been listening sermons of enlightened moderation from the champions of
democracy. Let us compare it with the period when Islam established a governance
mechanism for a people lost in darkness of that age. If for instance,
enlightenment consists in the purification of a nation, steeped in barbarism and
immersed in absolute moral darkness, that dynamic message which has transformed,
refined and uplifted an entire nation, sunk low as the Arabs were, and made them
the torch-bearer of civilization and learning, has every claim to enlightenment.

If civility and tolerance lies in unifying the discordant elements of society by
ties of brotherhood and charity, Islam has got every title to this distinction.
If the virtue of democracy consists in reforming those warped in degrading and
blind superstition and pernicious practices of every kind, Islam has wiped out
superstitions and irrational fear from the hearts of millions.

If the so-called democracies are around for the last hundred years and the
longer period of existence is the criteria for judgment, Islam established a
governance mechanism in place that survived in one or another form all these 14
centuries till the fall of Khilafah in Turkey less than 100 years ago.

Democratic leadership does not need security bubbles worth millions of dollars.
It becomes a shame when the arrangement is for visiting an allied country (Bush
in UK). Bush conquered Iraq, according to his latest reasons, for the Iraqis to
help them establish an enlightened, decent and democratic government. If this is
the case, this established democracy of the United States has done nothing
wrong. Mohammed (PBUH) also conquered Mecca.

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After the fall of Mecca, more than one million square miles of land lay at his
feet, and he should have many enemies living around. But this lord of Arabia
didn’t need any security bubble. He lived like a normal individual. He mended
his own shoes and coarse woolen garments, milked the goats, swept the hearth,
kindled the fire and attended the other menial offices of the family in public.

The reason is the motive. Unlike the US conquest of Iraq, the conquest of Mecca
was for the stated objectives — no more and no less. But democracy that is being
imposed at the cost of 100,000 lives now (not to speak of 1.8 million staved to
death by the UN sanctions), is not intended for serving the finest virtues and
principles of democracy. The entire town of Medina where the Prophet of Islam
lived grew wealthy in the later days of his life. Everywhere there was gold and
silver in plenty and yet everyone could see in those days of prosperity many
weeks would elapse without a fire being kindled in the hearth of the king of
Arabia, His food being dates and water.

This new conception of Islam that religion should also devote itself to the
betterment of this life rather than concern itself exclusively with super
mundane affairs, led to a new orientation of moral values. Its abiding influence
on the common relations of mankind in the affairs of every day life, its deep
power over the masses, its regulation of their conception of rights and duty,
its suitability and adaptability to the ignorant savage and the wise philosopher
are characteristic features which democracy can learn from Islam. Fraction
always benefits from the whole. Democracy is a fraction of the total,
encompassing message of Islam.

Islam is an organic unity, whereby the stress on good actions is not at the
expense of correctness of faith. While some religions praising faith at the
expense of deeds, another exhausting various acts to the detriment of correct
belief, Islam is based on correct faith and righteous actions. Means are
important as the end and ends are as important as the means. Together they live
and thrive.

Let us clearly understand the relation of governance with the teaching of Islam.
Democracy has finally come to be ineffective and meaningless unless divorced
from religion or married with secularism. Even Denial Pipes, one of the main
opponents of Islam, admitted in a CBS interview that it is not compulsory for
democracy to be secular. However, it is now confirmed from the
constitution-development experiments in Afghanistan and Iraq that secularism has
been made a pre-requisite for democracy.

That is the reason that not only democracy is meaningless but also Islam becomes
meaningless where end is severed from means. In Islam, faith cannot be divorced
from the action. There cannot be a full government in operation without any
reference to faith. In Islam, right knowledge must be transferred into right
action to produce the right results. You cannot leave Islam at home on the shelf
and go on to run a government without the right knowledge.

How often the words came in the Qur’an -- Those who believe and do good thing,
they alone shall enter paradise. Again and again, not less than fifty times
these words are repeated as if too much stress cannot be laid on them. One of
the basic reason here is that those who believe cannot leave the Qur’an on the
shelf despite its clear injunctions not to “cross the limits set by Allah.” If
there is not even a reference to the Qur’an in the constitution ¾ as is the case
of Afghan constitution under US occupation, and NY Times was pleased to report
it ¾ how can one know what are the standards and where are the limits of Allah.

It is claimed there is no room for contemplation in Islam and an Islamic state
would punish Contemplation. In fact, contemplation is encouraged but mere
contemplation is not the goal. Those who believe and do nothing according to the
limits and standards set by Islam cannot exist in Islam. Those who believe and
do wrong are inconceivable. Divine law is the law of effort and not of ideals.
Unlike the focus on material benefits, it chalks out for the men the path of
eternal progress from knowledge to action and from action to satisfaction.

Lack of satisfaction is the root cause of all problems under so-called
democracies. If the former colonialists were satisfied with their possessions,
they would never have colonized others in the name of teaching them civility.
Same is the story with the present day United States. If these “democratic”
rulers were satisfied, economic and religious extremists would not have been
pushing them into invasions and occupations. If the general public were
satisfied and had peace of mind, warlords would not have seen a single vote from
them.

But what is the correct faith from which right action spontaneously proceeds
resulting in complete satisfaction from individual to the collective and
governance levels. Here the central doctrine of Islam is the Unity of God. There
is no God but God is the pivot from which hangs the whole teaching and practice
of Islam. He is unique not only as regards his divine being but also as regards
his divine attributes.

One has to see the fine relationship between individual behaviour and his acts
as a public representative in the government to understand why governance in
Islam has the most perfect form. In spite of free will, which every Muslim
enjoys, to some extent, every man is born under certain circumstances and
continues to live under certain circumstances beyond his control. With regard to
this Allah says, I will certainly test you in prosperity as well in adversity,
in health as well as in sickness, in heights as well as in depths. In adversity
do not despair and resort to unlawful means. It is but a passing phase. In
prosperity do not forget God. God-gifts are given only as trusts. You are always
on trial, every moment on test.

This belief and faith create a condition of vigorous increasing effort, keeping
one ever on the alert. Do not consider this temporal life on earth as the end of
human existence. Democracy is not there for a majority to go against the limits
set by the Qur’an and Sunnah, such as legalising homosexuality with 51% vote.
There is a life after death and the rulers have to be accountable for the way
they ruled their people. Life after death is only a connection link, a door that
opens up hidden reality of life, which secular democrats cannot even think
about.

A secular minded person hardly cares if every action in life, however
insignificant, produces a lasting effect. Islam puts one a difficult ordeal.
Physical pain is torture, you can bear somehow. Spiritual pain is hell, you will
find it almost unbearable. This is why an equal number of Muslims find following
Islam very difficult. It is not easy to be in the position of power in
particular and fighting the tendencies of the spirit prone to evil, tempting to
lead one into iniquities ways.

Bringing belief into practice or politics means reach the next stage when the
self-accusing sprit in one’s conscience is awakened and the soul is anxious to
attain moral excellence and revolt against disobedience. This is what leads to
the final stage of the soul at rest, satisfied and contented with doing good
deeds for the benefit of the humanity.

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Imagine rulers, whose soul no more stumbles and why would it. They don’t sell or kill their fellow human beings for material gains or glory. The stage of
struggle passes away for them. Truth is victorious and falsehood lays down its
arms. All complexes, such as how Islam can or cannot be implemented; whether to
be with or against the bullies, are then resolved by default. The house of such
rulers is not divided against itself. They don’t need security bubble among
their own people. The reason is simple. Their personality is integrated round
the central core of submission to the will of God and complete surrender to the purpose in life. All hidden energies are then released. The soul then have
peace. God will then address them:

"O thou soul that art at rest, and restest fully contented with thy Lord return
to thy Lord. He pleased with thee and thou pleased with him; So enter among my servants and enter into my paradise."

This is the final goal for man; to become, on the, one hand, the master of the
universe and on the other, to see that his soul finds rest in his Lord, that not
only his Lord will be pleased with him but that he is also pleased with his
Lord. Contentment, complete contentment, satisfaction, complete satisfaction, peace, complete peace.

That is why democracy is a fraction of this encompassing system and way of life.When the love and pleasure of God is one’s objective, sorrow and defeat do not overwhelm him and success does not find him in vain and exulting.

The “democracy” and “way of life” that the US struggles to impose on others can help a few like Challabi, Allawi, Karzai, and Musharraf extend their rule for a few years. At the most, it can help human being become the master of this
planet. But their souls will not find peace and rest that shapes human society
and gives it real peace. They will never be able to form just societies.

The whole strength of Islam, in individual as well as collective ways to
governing life, lies in resigned submission to Him with a belief that we would
do good deeds, no matter what. If anything bad happens to us, it is the result
of our deeds. If not, whatsoever He does to us, the thing He sends to us, even if death and worse than death, shall be good, shall be best; we resign ourselves to God.

Such thinking turns a person into real human being. And being in that state of
mind, when one rules, he would never lie and kill 100,000 people to occupy
another land. He would never rig elections. He would never submit the “with us or against us” threat from a bully. He would never submit to an unjust power, just because of the fear of survival.

Islam unfolds the highest wisdom that the creator has revealed to human beings. The pre-requisite is that we keep out personal and ephemeral interests aside for
the benefit of the humanity at large. Democracy, in the name of which the US has put survival of millions at stake, would neither work as a magic bullet to address all problems that human beings are facing today, nor would it work as a fig leaf for covering its champions’ crimes against humanity. Democracy is but just a fraction of the total requirements of the human beings. We need to set an environment in which this fraction could serve the bigger purpose and benefit the humanity.

Keeping the ultimate purpose of our existence out, democracy alone fails to
serve even our basic needs in a just manner. Instead it backfires and starts
serving the wealthiest, the most influential, the mighty and ultimately the most
corrupt. It helps us see the rise of Hitler and Bush to power, but it fails to
deliver what it promises. It becomes the worse form of tyranny, because the
tyrants start referring to the mandate from the people.

Islam gives us the purpose and principles that put democracy on the right track
in the overall context and way of life.

Abid Ullah Jan is the author of A war on Islam and The End of Democracy.


Notes
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[1] Miss. Sarojini Naidu, Poetess, in Ideals of Islam. Known as nightingale of
India, Sarojini Devi (1879-1949) was a distinguished Hindupoet, renowned freedom
fighter and one of the great orators of her time. See:
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/freedom/naidu.htm