On social media, some journalists have opined that Islam does not support democracy and that it does not suit Pakistan.
Some intellectuals have echoed this, even claiming that democracy has failed worldwide. I would like to briefly comment on this serious topic. Instead of rejecting democracy, I would suggest that either democracy does not suit Pakistanis or Pakistanis do not suit democracy. Democracy is not only a political system; it is a culture and a mindset. Communism and monarchy are absolute dictatorships. Has democracy failed in Britain, France, Germany or Canada?
Great British philosopher Bertrand Russell, in his book “Proposed Roads to Serfdom”, criticized absolutism and dictatorial regimes under Marxian socialism. Similarly, Austrian-British economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek, in The Road to Serfdom (1944), unveiled the dangers of tyranny and fascism that result from government control of economic decision-making through central planning. He argued that the abandonment of individualism inevitably leads to loss of freedom, an oppressive society, the tyranny of a dictator and the serfdom of the individual.
Regarding Islam and democracy, in my book “The Message of Islam” (New York, 2005), I discussed this in the chapter “Political Thought of Islam.” The Holy Quran, addressing the Prophet in Sura Al-Imran (verse 159), says: “Take counsel with them on the conduct of matters.” Similarly, Sura Shoora (verse 38) states: “Their way is to counsel among themselves.” These verses, referring to the companions of the Prophet, establish a precedent for Muslims till doomsday. General counseling is an evolutionary process of democracy. Islam honours the opinion of people and is, therefore, a democratic religion. The Prophet said his Ummah would never gather on wrong decisions, encouraging consensus. Those who claim Islam is not democratic are often serving dictators or monarchs, misinterpreting Islam for personal gain.
We must differentiate between Western and Islamic democracy. In Western democracy, people are sovereign and Parliament can even justify actions against morality, such as legalizing homosexuality. In Islamic democracy, governments are elected through free and fair elections, but no law can contravene Islamic teachings; forbidden remains forbidden, as sovereignty lies with Allah.
Pakistan’s founding fathers, Dr. Allama Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, supported democracy. Quaid-i-Azam repeatedly affirmed it in speeches and Iqbal wrote: Sultani Jamhoor ka ata ha zamana, Jo naqsh kohn tum ko Nazar aye mita do
(The epoch of the rule of the people has come; any ancient trace that you see, erase it).
For democracy to function in Pakistan, reforms are essential. The Constitution declares Pakistan an Islamic State, where human freedom, justice, parity, equality and liberty are central. These goals cannot be achieved without a welfare state, which requires people’s active participation in government formation. Presently, Pakistan suffers from mobocracy rather than democracy. Prerequisites for true democracy include education, social justice, parity, equality and economic welfare. Voters should be at least matriculate and candidates for provincial and national assemblies and the Senate should be graduates; otherwise, democracy cannot function effectively.
To nurture democracy, feudalism, regionalism, parochialism, sectarianism and fascism must be uprooted. Dictatorship breeds Nazism, military rule, fascism and Marxist socialism. Democracy remains humanity’s only beacon of hope and we must strive to establish democratic institutions globally.
—The writer is a contributing columnist, based in New York.
