Does Islam Reject The Monarchy? ( Part 1 )

All over the world, the number of monarchs decrease gradually. In recent decades, people tend to demand democracy for their kingdom compared to monarchy. According to history, few countries showed that the transformation between two systems happened smoothly, but for others the monarchy was abolished violently.

France revolution have changed the country system.

In fact, not all countries have rejected this kind of system which considered as the oldest form of government in the world. By contrast, monarchy still preserved even in developed countries like United Kingdom, Japan and Spain. However, to adapt this system into current reality, the power of monarch should be limited based on the constitution. As the result, the absolute monarchy is switched to be the constitutional monarchy as the country’s leader could not exercise executive powers. Moreover, the monarch must not intervene in government matter or involve in political activities.

Many people feel that would insult the monarch, but in fact it is honorable respect for them. The king or queen should not involve in politics since it may give the negative impact to them. As we know, politics is not always balancing, true or clean. The politician risk to face the scandal, power abuse, or corruption that alleged by their enemies. Therefore, the monarch must be above politics so as to keep the respect from public.

Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch for 16 countries.

Monarchy from Islamic perspective.

Many Muslims are of the opinion that the monarchy is not in line with Islam. Their arguments based on few evidences as follows:-

1. The actual political system in Islam is Syura as mentioned in Quran and also practiced by the prophet (PBUH). By contrast, a monarch enjoys absolute power in ruling the country.

2. The prophet Muhammad SAW did not inherit his position to his family. This method is followed by the righteous caliphs.

3. In Quran, there is a versus mentioned about king attitude as follow:-

"Verily! Kings, when they enter a town (country), they despoil it, and make the most honorable amongst its people low. And thus they do. ( An-Naml : 34 )

Yang Dipertuan Agung, the head of Malaysia is the one of elected monarch in the world

I absolutely disagree with this opinion. On the contrary, their arguments could be debatable as follows:

1. It is true that the word of Syura is mentioned two times in Quran, but Islam does not specify how it must be implemented. Even, the prophet ( PBUH ) and his companions have performed syura in different ways.

At the same time, the matters pertaining to syura like the criteria for syura members, the result of syura as an order or just an advice to leader still discussed among Muslim scholar until now.

Actually this argument is irrelevant as all of political system involving many people such as advisors, ministers, and practically this is the syura concept.

2. In Islam any act which not practiced by the prophet ( PBUH ) or the righteous caliphs is not necessarily prohibited as long as it is not against Quran and Hadith. In fact, the political system depends to kingdom situation.

3. In the peaceful country, democracy is the best system for the leader and people in balancing between leader and people right. However, when turmoil takes place, the absolute leader is needed for the sake of country.

According to history, Muawiyyah, the caliph after Ali appointed his son as his successor due to turbulence that occurred in the country. Meanwhile, many prophet’s companions still alive at that time, but they did not oppose his decision.

3. While the versus from chapter An-Naml actually is the Queen Balqis's word as the trigger response to Prophet Sulaiman letter. She was unbeliever at that time which mean her quote could not be argued to justify that monarchy is rejected in Islam.

To be continued…