The domestic policy of the Islamic State is to execute the rules of Islam internally. The Islamic State would implement these rules in the land which were under its jurisdiction. It organized and supervised relationships and transactions, implemented the hudud, carried out punishments, enforced high morals, ensured the performance of the Islamic rituals and acts of worship, as well as looking after the citizens’ affairs according to the rules of Islam. Islam has determined the method by which its rules are to be implemented on the people who submit to its authority, whether Muslims or otherwise. The Islamic State implemented the rules of Islam following this specific method. Since, the method is by itself a Hukm Sharii, as well as the rules concerning the issues. Islam came to address all people, for Allah (swt) addressed all mankind with Islam as human beings and nothing else. Allah (swt) says,
“O Mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” [Al- Baqarah, 2:21]
He I also says,
“O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Most Generous?” [Al-Infitar, 82:6]
The scholars of Usul ul-Fiqh (foundation of jurisprudence) considered the Shari’yah as being addressed to every human mind capable of understanding, be it Muslim or not. Imam al-Ghazali said in his book Al-Mustasfa fi al- Usul,
“Verily the governed must be a responsible person in a legal capacity, the condition being that he is sane and able to understand the address of the Legislator. What qualifies the person to be liable to observe the rules is his human nature which enables him to accommodate the mental capability by which he receives and understands the commandments of Allah.”
Therefore, all humans have been addressed by Islam. This address has taken the form of an invitation and an obligation, the first one being intended to invite people to embrace Islam and the latter intending to oblige people to adhere to its rules; this is regarding people in general. As for those whom the Islamic State rules over, Islam considers these as a group of humans who abide by that rule, regardless of their sect, race or creed. All that is required from them is simply allegiance to the State and the ruling system.
Ethnic minorities do not exist as all people are viewed from a humanistic point of view and are citizens of the Islamic State so long as they fulfill the duties of citizenship. Every person holding the citizenship of the State enjoys the full rights decreed for him by the Shari’ah, whether he is Muslim or not. Anyone not holding that citizenship is deprived of these rights, even if he were Muslim. For instance, if a Muslim man had a Christian mother who held the Islamic citizenship and a father who did not, then his mother would qualify to receive sustenance from him and his father would not. If the mother claimed it from him the judge would rule in her favor because she would be classified as a citizen of the Islamic State, whereas if the father attempted to do likewise the judge would reject his claim because he would not be classified as one of its citizens. Therefore, the Shari’ah considers those ruled by Islam as citizens and made the citizenship something which they all hold in common and which qualifies them to enjoy the rights of guardianship and welfare decreed by Islam by living in the Islamic State as citizens.
This is regarding their position from a ruling and guardianship point of view. As for the application of the Islamic laws, this is considered from a legal point of view and not from a religious point of view. This is so, because the Shari’ah texts should be viewed from a legal aspect and the text has been decreed to deal with problems. The Legislator’s aim for us is to follow the meaning and the content and not to stop at the apparent meaning of the text. Therefore the ‘illah (reason) behind the ruling is taken into consideration when extracting a rule. In other words, it is the legislative side of the text that is taken into consideration when viewing a verdict. This verdict, if adopted by the Khaleefah, becomes law and everyone is obliged by it and to execute it.
Therefore, the submission of all people living in the Islamic State to the Shari’yah is conclusive and irrevocable. For the Muslims, it is their belief and their embracing of Islam which covenants them to abide by all its laws because the submission to the belief means submission to all the rules which emanate from that ‘Aqeedah, so their embracing of that ‘Aqeedah obliges them to conclusively abide by all the laws brought by that ‘Aqeedah. Thus, for the Muslims, the Shari’ah is the legislative part of Islam. They are covenanted to carry out all of its rules, whether those related to their relationship with Allah, which are acts of ‘Ibadah (worship), or those related to their relationship with themselves, such as their morals and diet, or those related to their relationship with others, these being concerned with transactions and penalties.
The Muslims are united under the Islamic ‘Aqeedah and by the fact that the Qur’an and the Sunnah are sources of Shari’ah, whereas the principles and verdicts are derived from it. None of them has differed on this issue at all. However, due to Ijtihad, they have differed in the understanding of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and as a result of this difference different schools of thought and sects emerged. This was due to the fact that Islam encouraged the Muslims to make Ijtihad and to the fact that there are natural variances in understanding. Therefore, differences emerged in the understanding of the ‘Aqeedah, the legislation, and methodology of ‘Usul ul Fiqh. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had encouraged Ijtihad and stressed that if the Mujtahid (one qualified to extract rules) makes Ijtihad and he errs, he receives a reward and if he is right his reward is doubled. Therefore, it was never surprising to find the Sunnah, Shi’ah, Mu’tazilah, and other sects. Nor was it surprising to witness the emergence of several Madhahib such as the Shafi’i, the Hanafi, the Maliki, the Hanbali, the Ja’fari, the Zaydi and others. All these Islamic sects and Madhahib embraced one single ‘Aqeedah, i.e. the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, they were all commanded to follow the obligations and abstain from the prohibitions of Allah (swt).They were all under the obligation to abide by the Shari’ah and not by any particular Madhahib .
The Madhahib is only a particular understanding of the Shari’ah verdict which is followed by the Muqallid (the one who is not a Mujtahid) if he is unable to make his own Ijtihad. The Muslim is commanded by the Divine rule and not by the Madhab. He takes the rule by means of Ijtihad if he can, otherwise he takes it by following a Madhab if he is unable to make Ijtihad. Therefore, all the sects and Madhahib which embraced the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, and believed in the Qur’an and Sunnah - as the sole source of Shari’ah - are all Islamic. Their advocates are all Muslims and the Islamic laws are to be implemented on them. The State should not, therefore, interfere with these groups nor with the followers of various Madhahib as long as they do not deviate from the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, but if they deviated from the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, whether individually or collectively, this would be considered an act of Irtidad (apostasy) from Islam and the punishment of apostates would be carried out on them. The Muslims are compelled by all Islamic laws. Some of these laws are definite with only one valid opinion, like the cutting of the hand of the thief, the prohibition of usury, the obligation of Zakah, and the obligatory prayers being five, etc. These laws are binding on all Muslims following one single understanding, for they are definite and decisive.
There are several rules and thoughts on which the Muslims differed, due to each Mujtahid understanding an issue differently from the other. For example, the prerequisite of the Khaleefah or the taking of the tithe on the Kharaj land or the rental of land, amongst others. In the case of such laws, the Khaleefah adopts an opinion and obedience becomes compulsory on everyone. Everyone who holds a different opinion to that adopted by the Khaleefah should abandon that opinion and comply with the Imam’s opinion. Thus the opinion of the Imam settles all the differences and the obedience to the Imam is compulsory on everyone. The Muslims are all obliged to execute the order of the Khaleefah concerning the opinions which he adopts and his opinion is binding on them, both publicly and privately. Whoever implements a Divine rule other than the one adopted by the Imam will be sinful. Once the Khaleefah enacts a Shari’ah rule it becomes binding upon all Muslims. The Shari’ah rule concerning one issue cannot be multiple for one person.
However, the Khaleefah should not adopt a particular law which concerns matters related to the ‘Aqeedah, because this would cause hardship on the Muslims. But if innovations and tendencies based on erroneous ‘Aqa’id emerged, the State would hold accountable the culprits with firm measures as long as these innovations do not lead to disbelief. If they did, the responsible individuals would be treated as apostates. Also, the Khaleefah should not adopt any particular law which concerns matters related to worship because this too would lead to a hardship for the Muslims.
Therefore, the Khaleefah should not adopt any particular opinion in matters of ‘Aqeedah as long as these were Islamic, and he does not adopt any particular law in matters of worship, except for Zakat, as long as these acts of worship are approved Divine laws. Other than that, the Khaleefah can adopt and enact any particular law related to transactions, ranging from buying and selling, renting, marriage, divorce, alimony, business partnership, custody, etc. He can also enact and adopt a particular law concerning the penal code, or concerning diet, clothing or moral issues, and the Muslims are obliged to obey him in whatever he adopts.
The Khaleefah has to implement the Shari’yah related to the acts of ritual worship. He punishes those who abandon the prayer and those who do not observe fasting in the month of Ramadhan. He implements all laws regarding acts of worship in addition to all of the Shari’yah and this is his duty. The obligation of prayer is not a matter open for Ijtihad and cannot be considered as a law being adopted, it is plainly the implementation of a Divine rule that has been conclusively established among everyone. As for the penal code, the Khaleefah adopts a law which all Muslims will be ordered to comply with, the same as for any other penal code. This is as far as the Muslims are concerned. As for the non-Muslims, these are the people who have embraced a creed other than the Islamic one, and they are classified under the following categories:
1) Those who claim to be Muslims while believing in some issues in their creed which contradicts the Islamic ‘Aqeedah.
2) The People of the Book.
3) The Polytheists, among whom are the Majus (fire worshippers), Hindus, Buddhists and all those who are not People of the Book.
These people will be left alone and there is no interference with their beliefs or their worship. They will be allowed to adhere to their own laws in matters of marriage and divorce according to their religion. The State will appoint a judge from their own people to settle their disputes based on their religion in courts belonging to the State. As for their diet and adornment, they will be treated according to their own rules within the public order. People other than the People of the Book will be treated in the same way. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said concerning the Majus, “Treat them in the same way you treat the People of the Book.”
As for transactions and penal code, they are implemented on Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Penal judgments will be passed on non-Muslims in the same way as on Muslims without any prejudice. All those who hold the citizenship of the Islamic State are obliged to comply with the Shari’yah related to transactions and penal codes regardless of their religion, race, or sect. They all have to abide by the Shari’yah. However, their adherence to the laws would be legislative and legal rather than religious or spiritual. They would therefore not be obliged to believe in them because that would constitute them being forced to embrace Islam; Allah (swt) says,
“No compulsion in the Deen.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:256]
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has forbidden the Muslims from interfering with or persecuting the People of the Book about their belief, but they would be obliged to comply with the Islamic laws from a legislative and legal point of view.
In conclusion, the Islamic State’s domestic policy would be to implement the Islamic Shari’ah on all those who hold the State’s citizenship, whether they were Muslims or non-Muslims. The laws would be implemented as follows:
1) All Islamic laws would be implemented upon the Muslims.
2) Non-Muslims would not be interfered with regarding their beliefs and worship.
3) The non-Muslims would be treated according to their beliefs in matters related to diet and adornment within the general frame work of the law.
4) Disputes related to marriage and divorce for non-Muslims would be dealt with by appointing judges from themselves in courts set up by the State and not in private courts; similar disputes between them and the Muslims would be dealt with according to Islamic law by Muslim judges.
5) The State will enforce all other Shari’ah matters related to economic, social, and legal transactions on every citizen Muslim and non-Muslim alike without prejudice.
6) All those who hold the Islamic citizenship are subjects of the State, their guardianship and the management of their affairs is the duty of the State, without any discrimination.