From: jodar@aludra.usc.edu (Nicholas Jodar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.arabic,soc.culture.african,soc.culture.afghanistan,soc.culture.turkish,soc.culture.lebanon,soc.culture.asean,talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Islamic Government (was Re: Algeria Vs. the US...)
Date: 14 Sep 1992 12:49:44 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu
Summary: [REPOST ARTICLE]
Keywords: Khalifa, Shoura, REPOST

[I am reposting this article as it may have 'bounced'....]

*   *   *   *   *

In article <BuJyvB.GLD@ucunix.san.uc.edu> minhaszt@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Zafar T Minhas) writes:
>
>man you opened up a can of worms. let me tell you this much, the majority
>of muslim scholars have not decided that yet. however there are some common
>themes that muslim scholars to in a country ruled by islamic law:
>
>1)respect for life (all lives)
>2)freedom of religion (not necessarily respect for them)
>3)strict laws of evidenc when making accusations and trials
>4)freedom of speech (only though in such a manner that they do not
>  offend people nor do they call for anarchistic tendencies, this freedom of
>  speech is also not allowed for things already against islam. for example
>  nude paintings and music glorifying sex or crime is not allowed).
>
>5)all people are allowed to run for office with the exception of the head of
>  the government and that is only for a muslim (which makes sense since in an
>  islamic state the head of the government would have to be a muslim)
>
>6)the non-muslims of that country enjoy special rights (they do not have to
>  be in the military, in return the pay a jizyah, the money which is used is
>  for their protection in war) the non-musims are known as dhimmi which is
>  short for dhimmat-ullah (protected by god).
>
>7)elections are held to choose the khaifah or amir
>
>the process of choosing a leader is much different in a true islamic country
>than in western democracies and even in muslim countries you see today

[deletion]

I am presenting here (to the best of my knowledge) how a Shoura
is made/run, and how a Khalifa is elected.  I am not an ulema, 
my understanding is weak, and my memory is bad.  For these
reasons I request those brothers who know more than I to correct
my errors.

[I beg Allah's forgiveness for my weakness and insufficiency in ]
['His' service, and I ask for his protection from Shaitan and   ]
[from my own Desires.  None can protect me except Allah.  If I  ]
[have made any errors, I beg Allah to bring them to my attention]
[so that they may be corrected.  If I have made none, then it is]
[only through the Grace of Allah and all praise is due only to  ]
['Him.'                                                         ]

Note #1:  Selection of a Khalifa is done my the Maglis Al-Shoura,
a Shoura representing all the people.  (The Amirs choose their
Amirs, who choose their Amirs, etc.)  It is similar to the U.S.
congress in this way.

Note #2:  'Imam' == 'Spiritual/Religious Leader'
          'Amir' == 'Leader'
          (Substitute 'Amir' for 'Imam' when appropriate.)

Auzhu billahi min ash Shaitan nir ajeem.  Bismillah....

-------------------------------------------------------------------

*ETIQUETTE FOR CONDUCTING AL-SHOURA*

-All worldly concerns are put on hold, all nefs left at the door.
 One is holding Shoura before Allah (SWT) and should be thinking
 of the best way to serve the Ummah and Allah (SWT).

-Everyone sits in a circle in attentive posture.

-The Imam (or shoura) selects one person to explain etiquette.

-After the etiquette of Shoura is explained, Shoura begins.

-When Imam decides Shoura is over, the group disassembles.

-There is no discussion about the appropriateness of any 
 decisions reached by the Shoura.


DURING SHOURA:


-Correct posture during the commencement of the Shoura is 
 kneeling (as in Qa'dah Akhira).  One may change posture later as
 one becomes uncomfortable, but should always appear attentive.

-One speaks only when the Imam asks one to speak, and only to the
 extent that one is asked to speak. (ie. Answer the question
 asked of you.  Period.)

-If one must leave the Shoura for any reason whatsoever, one
 raises one's hand and waits to be called upon.  After being
 called upon, one requests permission to leave and gives one's
 reason for leaving.  The Imam then decides whether one is allowed
 to leave or not.

-If asked for an opinion, one says 'Auzu billahi min ash Shaitan
 nir ajeem' and 'Bismillah,' and gives one's best opinion.  One
 should be careful to avoid thinking of one's own interests, or
 another's, rather than the good of the Ummah.

-If one is not asked for their opinion, one remains silent and
 attentive.

-If one is asked to do something by the Imam, one should say
 'Inshallah.'  It is one's duty to do as directed by the Imam.

-If one is asked to do something by the Imam that is beyond one's
 capabilities, (eg. to ask one's daughter a question when one
 doesn't have a daughter), one should remind the Imam of that
 limitation.  If the Imam repeats their request, one says
 'Inshallah,' and does one's best to comply.

-If the Imam utilizies one's opinion in making a decision, one
 should say 'Astafirghla' in one's heart.  We know that we are
 weak and ignorant, and that we cannot express ourselves well, so
 we beg Allah (SWT) to forgive us and to make things turn out for
 the best DESPITE our opinion being used.

-If the Imam does NOT utilize our opinion, we should say
 'Alhamdulillahi' in our heart, for Allah (SWT) knows best.
 (That, and we would have been held accountable for the results
 stemming from our advice....)

-The Imam may choose to ask the entire group for an opinion, some
 of them for an opinion, or none of them for an opinion.  After
 consulting those the Imam chooses to consult, (if any), the Imam
 makes a decision.  The evidence/advice is weighed, the Imam
 seeks Guidance from Allah (SWT), says 'Auzu billahi min ash 
 Shaitan nir ajeem' and 'Bismillah,' and gives their decision.
 This decision is final and may only be changed by the Imam.


AFTER THE SHOURA:


-The Shoura disassembles in an orderly fashion, without an undue
 amount of noise, and those present proceed with their duties.

-If one has questions in regard to the discharging of their
 duties, one does one's best to find the answer.  If one is unable
 to work it out on one's own, or with the help of fellow muslims,
 one seeks direction from the Imam.  (In other words, the Imam
 should not be mobbed after the Shoura by those with questions.)

-Those representing groups must pass on details of the
 proceedings to their constituents as soon as possible.



*REMEMBER*:  The Shoura was given to us through the Prophet (SAW)
 by Allah (SWT).  Allah (SWT) has promised us that 'He' will be
 involved in the decision-making process and that whatever results
 there are, good or bad, will be of 'His' choosing.  While we have
 no control over Results, we are responsible for conducting our
 affairs in the manner given to us by Allah (SWT) and trusting in
 'Him' to take care of us, 'His' Ummah.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

*ETIQUETTE FOR SELECTING AN IMAM*


-Al-Shoura is made of those representing the people who will be
 under the Imam selected.

-Al-Shoura is conducted, the Shoura selecting the best candidates
 among them for the position of Imam.  Those candidates that are
 qualified, and who are willing to accept such a position, are
 pooled together.  The Shoura then selects one person who
 will select the Imam from that pool.  (Hereafter referred to as
 the 'acting Imam'.)

-The 'acting Imam' then conducts the process according to the
 etiquettes of Al-Shoura (asking for opinions, et cetera).  

-The 'acting Imam' then asks if the entire group is willing to
 abide by their decision.  The group says 'Inshallah.'

-The 'acting Imam' says 'Auzu billahi min ash Shaitan nir ajeem'
 and 'Bismillah' and then selects the Imam.

-The Imam then takes on all duties and responsibilities of their
 position.



The position of Imam is NOT a coveted one.  It requires being on
duty 24 hours a day and being held responsible for the actions of
all those under one's leadership.  On the Day of Judgement, the
Imam will be brought before Allah (SWT) bound and gagged.  Allah
(SWT) will then bring all of the Imam's followers to bear witness
as to how they behaved and how the Imam made use of their time.

The Imam, therefore, bears a heavy responsibility.  (Indeed, of
all the creatures on earth, only mankind was stupid enough to
accept the office of Vice-Regent from Allah (SWT)....)  It is
only through the mercy of Allah (SWT) and 'His' help that the
Imam can carry out his duty to lead his followers and be an
example to them through his conduct.


*REMEMBER*:  The role of Leadership among muslims, and its
 selection process, was given to us through the Prophet (SAW) by 
 Allah (SWT).  Allah (SWT) has promised us that 'He' will be 
 involved in such a process and that whatever results there are, 
 good or bad, will be of 'His' choosing.  While we have no control 
 over Results, we are responsible for conducting our affairs in 
 the manner given to us by Allah (SWT) and trusting in 'Him' to 
 take care of us, 'His' Ummah.



Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan