Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
4. The Concept of the State in Islam
~ 64 ~
4. THE CONCEPT OF THE STATE IN
ISLAM
IN order to explain the concept of the state in Islam, I would like to
quote some of the relevant verses from the Quran.
Say: “O God! Lord of Power, You give power to whom
You please, and You take away power from whom You
please.” (3:26).
Some points are made here very clearly: one being that the
actual possessor of power is God and that it is He who grants
power on earth to whom He wants and who takes away power from
whomsoever He wants. So the whole matter in this regard rests
with God. If someone receives power, it is not due to his own
effort: it is given to him by God alone. Similarly, when power is
taken away from him, it is done by God alone.
Thus the dominance or subjugation of any group is ultimately
for God to decide. According to this verse, no human being has
any power whatsoever. The theory that comes to light is that
political power is totally governed by God, just as the entire
universe is running in accordance with the divine plan. It is like
saying that God alone is the controller of the universe and that He
alone has the final word as to who is going to be given political
power. Just as God exercises full power over the setting and rising
of the sun, so also has He full power over the granting of political
ascendancy.
