The compatibility of Islam and Democracy is an old theme. The concept of Syura, or, Consultation, for example, is often invoked by many as one of the finest examples of democratic dialogue on how a leader could be elected after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The Messenger of Islam himself is often seen as a democrat. After all, he often made decisions through deliberate consultations.
Then again he could not have made any decisions in any way or form that is democratic. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) led 80 of a total of 87 military expeditions during his role as the Messenger of Islam.
Why then the need to explain time and again that Islam is compatible to Democracy ? Why can’t it be taken as an article of faith for the lack of a better word ?
One of the answers might well revolve on “freedom.” While Rashid Ghanouchi, the leader of the En-Nahda Party in Tunisia who is now placed under detention, is completely devoid of any physical and other freedom, it is not without any sense of irony that “freedom,” is what he is most concerned with among 10 other essays that has been collated by Andrew F. March.
Placed as the first essay, Rashid Ghanouchi was adamant that Islam is not against freedom, in turn, any central tenets of Western civilizations.
Just as there is “no compulsion in Islam,” the very essence of Islamic jurisprudence or “Shariah,” cannot contain any items that are coercive in nature. This is all good and swell. Islam permits vox populi to reign supreme.
But it is also just as vital to remember that democracy is not strictly the disarticulation of the interest of the majority. If anything, there must be no tyranny of the minority too.
Elsewhere, Rashid Ghanouchi recalls his meeting with Algerian philosopher of historian Malik Ben Nabi in the 1960s.
Rashid Ghanouchi ennobled Malik Ben Nabi as the successor to Ibn Khaldun, whom the West often referred to as the Father of Sociology; assuming that German sociologist Max Weber is not given that title to begin with.
But in his encounter with Malik Ben Nabi, when Rachid Ghanouchi was merely in his early 20s, the latter explained that Malik Ben Nabi was quick to correct him that “Islam was not a civilization.”
If anything else, “Islam was a revelation.” Rachid Ghanouchi has no struggle and dilemma with the statement of Malik Ben Nabi. Rather Rashid Ghanouchi affirmed that precisely because Islam is a revelation the case that Islam and Democracy can co-exist peacefully and harmoniously is all the more compelling. Why ?
Rashid Ghanouchi used the example of a family gathered around Iftar during Ramadan. While all the senses of the family members will predispose them to break the fast—–to free themselves from the pangs of hunger and thirst—-they nevertheless can exercise the necessary self restraint to manage their vicissitudes of freedom.
Islam and Democracy can co exist, in other words, since the closer a person is to the God, the more he or she can exercise the measured ability to control all the wild urges of freedom.
On Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood, Rachid Ghanouchi has passing references to them. This was after all a book that written well before the events of October 7 th 2023. Rashid Ghanouchi did not take any attitude that was critical against the two. Rather Rashid Ghanouchi argued that Islamic political movements, being what they are, as long as they understand the concept of freedom, can find their correct expression and organizational rationality.
Instead of trying to over throw the tyrants and what not, they can eke out a political space to allow the regal authorities, Sheikhs and what not to co exist.
In light of the war of dogs that had been unleashed against Hamas by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), with a batter eye and a nodding approval from the West, it is anyone’s wonder if Rashid Ghanouchi may still hold such a benevolent view ?
In all, this is a book that is worth a careful reading, if not entirely deserving of a serious and systemic rumination. That being said, the threat facing political Islam is not just internal but geopolitically too. The existential issue facing political Islam has been outstripped by events of October 7 th 2023.
The rise of Russia and China or the alliance that they have stitched together in the Treaty of Unlimited Cooperation on February 3rd 2022, has become a key axis against the West not merely the axis of resistance formed by Hamas, Hizbullah and Houthis in the current war in the Middle East and Iran.