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Jazakallah khayr for this very informative historical post!
Salaam, There are a number of beautiful articles on this website. I visit regularly and commend the often impartial discussions that take place. On this occasion I have to voice a disappointment. Being the beginning of the Holy Month of Muharram, rather than having an article on the political succession that has separated our Ummah for years, why not educate our brothers and sisters on the Martyrdom of Hussain (ra) for that is a clear fact of history. There are many that have a different opinion to this article on the succession of the prophet. I’m disappointed on the timing of this article not the article itself. Rather than fuelling the flames and continuing the lack of awareness of the oppression of the Prophet (sawa) grandson, key holder to the youth of paradise – Hussain (ra), would it not be better in these times where people are being oppressed around the world to share in the story of how to beat oppression with dignity? Salaam & Duas
This article is not about division in the Ummah, it’s exactly what the title says it is “The Electoral Shura Under the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs.” I fail to say what in it is “fuelling” any flames and lacking awareness of “oppression.”
wa salam,
I think you are reading your own thoughts into an article about Islamic political theory.
This article seemed to have serve as a Rorschach test. Your reaction says more about what’s on your mind than on the author’s.
If you really want to draw into current events, what is more current than the Arab Spring, which is getting Muslims to ask the question: How do we want to be governed and what is our history of government?
The article is a straightforward researched piece on Islamic political theory – nothing more.
ws
AS
What AJ is saying is we should be more sensitive to events around us right now. Given that the posting of the article commenced with the day of Ashura, this article can be seen by some as a “rebuttal” piece. I think the article itself is profound and a good post, however the sensitivity of the date it was posted on is the issue.
JazakAllah Adbdullah, that was my point in a nut shell. May Allah swt bless you
fabulous write-up…We need more works based on sound Ijtehaad on these issues..
I wish all world leaders would follow suite because this was the best example displayed by thi caliphs after the prophet
mA nice work with this article; a thorough attempt at academic analysis of a difficult topic.
I think the criticism of Ali (ra) is unfair; you neglect to mention the well positioned subsersive forces at work which would never have allowed such a consultation process to occur and meant this was a poisioned chalice from the start. I’m not sure if there is a ‘structural lesson’ to be learnt from that event (as you have extracted from the previous Shuras). Both his insight into the situation and courage were certainly notable.
Interestingly one can argue that the majority of democratic world leaders are appointed by Shura of some form.
What is the wisdom behind not delegating the next leader?
Doesn’t it lead to more issues if no one is delegated?
With the massive size of the Ummah now, how can it ever be possible to conduct electoral shura??
Assalamualaikum,
JazakAllah khair for the piece.
If I might add, I think that Allah swt revealed his revelation(in the ayat at the beginning of the article) and didn’t specify further the methodology of selecting a leader for a reason.
Like some of the other revealed laws in the Quran, it is revealed as a general guide to make it always relevant till the end of time. With the general rule in place, it is up to our scholars to apply ijtihad to apply it to our society. The sahabahs applied what they felt was needed in their time based on their circumstances and environment. The prophet saw didn’t specify a methodology. Even the three caliphate was elected in their own slightly different manner as pointed out above.
Our challege is to take the lessons and the implement what we feel would suit our circumstances now bearing in mind the Quran and the Sunnah. It’s debatable whether an old text can be applied in totality considering the text was written to address the realities of the time the scholar lived.
We need practical solutions, deliberated and detailed, to face the challenge of the modern world. To offer a solution to show that Islam has the answer.
Wallahulam
Salaam all, I was under the impression that there are FIVE rightly guided caliphs, as the short caliphate of Imam Hasan brought the 30 years as prophesised to a completion.
I don’t believe Hasan (ra) is considered a caliph because his caliphate was never really recognized outside of a small area. The same reason why Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra) is not considered a caliph.
I think you mean Abdullah bin Zubair (RA).. As far as I know, Abdullah bin Umar (RA) was never the caliph; he refused even when offered.. And Hasan (RA) ruled for onlu 6 months, so that will hardly have an effect on the number of years..
I’ve always wondered this, Prophet (saw) left this world after having the message for only 23 years without appointing a successor and then hoped the ummah to vote in these 4 rightly guided Caliphs even when from the beginning he could have told us who who his successor should be. I hope it’s not a sin for thinking this but maybe if he would have told us the successor it would have prevented wars and a lot of problems, wars, etc. Are there any traditions that speak about the prophet telling people his successor?
So informative article.
A very comprehensive exposition of the most important events that took place at the early morning of our great heritage. May Allah reward you abundantly