The Ummah’s Charter by Al-Khilafah Publications

68. The ruling structure in Islam fundamentally differs from all other structures of ruling. It is not a monarchical system, nor does it approve of the monarchical system. It does not allow the head of the state any rights other than those that any individual in the Ummah is entitled to. Nor does it make the head of the state an owner; he is rather an executor of the Shar’ of Allah. Also, he is not a symbol for the Ummah, where he owns but does not govern. He is rather appointed by the Ummah in the post of ruling, where he governs on her behalf, without owning any thing of this ruling. This structure does not have crown prince hood at all either.

Nor is it a republic system. The leadership of the state in it is not fixed for a specific period. It is rather fixed with a specific manner. Thus, the khaleefah has to meet certain conditions in order to be suitable for the post of Khilafah. If any of these conditions was broken, then he will become alien from the Khilafah, and he is removed immediately or becomes subject to removal. However, as long as he meets these conditions, he will remain as khaleefah until he dies. Moreover, the people limit the functions of the president of the republic in the republican system. This is different to Islam, where the functions of the head of the state are not limited; for he has all the functions, and he is the state with all of its functions.

It is also not an autocratic system, because the head of the state is restricted by the ahkaam of Shar’. So he cannot allow something that is haraam, nor prohibit something that is halaal. He is rather bound by the Shar’. This is different to the autocratic system, where the head of the state has unrestricted authority and he proceeds according to his own view. He is the legislator and the executor. While the Khaleefah is not the legislator, he is rather executor of the shar’.

It is not also an imperialistic system. This is because the governed provinces, no matter how much they are different in terms of ethnic origins, they are all related to one central authority. Islam put the different ethnic origins all over the State on the same level. It does not give the centre of the state any advantage over the other provinces. Besides, all the provinces have one budget and revenues are collected for the interest of all of them. Expenses in each province are not decided based on its own revenues, rather based on its own needs, regardless of the amount of its revenues. Moreover, all the provinces have the same law and ruling authority.

It is also not a federal system, where its provinces are separate through their self-autonomy, and at the same time united through the common ruling. It is rather a system of unity, where all its provinces are considered one country. None of its provinces has any of the ruling authority, neither in the internal policy, foreign policy, economy or education, or any other authority at all. Rather, the whole authority is in one hand, and in one center. The Shar’ ordered killing and fighting in order to preserve the unity. The Messenger (PBUH) said: “And whoever gave a bay’ah to an Imam, thus giving him the clasp of his hand the fruit of his heart, let him obey him as much as he can. If any other person came wanting to dispute with him, then strike the neck of the other person.” Thus, the structure of the State differs from the structure of all the other States. He is a Khaleefah who implements the Shar’; he cannot become a Khaleefah, i.e. he does not have the authority, unless the Muslims appointed him by the bay’ah, willingly and happily. Once he becomes Khaleefah, all the functions of ruling fall into his hands alone.

69. Authority differs from force, though it cannot continue without it. Similarly, force differs from authority, though it cannot be sound without it.

Authority is ruling, and it is the Wilaayat ul-Amr (responsibility in charge). It is an executing entity for the host of thoughts, concepts and criteria accepted by the Ummah. Thus, the function of the authority (sultaan) is to execute the rules (aHkaam), look after the affairs of the people, and manage their matters.

Thus, it is different to force, though authority cannot exist without force. This is because force is the tool for protecting the authority and the host of thoughts, concepts, criteria and rules upon which the authority is established. Force is, at the same time, a tool that the authority uses to execute the rules, repress the criminals, tyrants and offenders, and subdue them until they abide by the rules.

As for force in the State, it is not for looking after the affairs of the people or managing their matters. In other words, it is not authority (sultaan), though the existence, formation, management, planning and preparation of force are not possible without authority.

Force is a physical entity represented in the army, including the police, by which the authority executes rules, subdues the criminals and sinners, suppresses the rebels and resists the aggressors. It is also taken as a tool to protect the authority and the host of thoughts, concepts and criterion, on which the authority is established.

It thus becomes obvious that authority is different to force, and that force is something different to authority.

Therefore, it is not allowed for the authority to become force; because if the authority became force, then it’s caring for the people’s affairs would be perverted. This is because the authority’s concepts and criterion would become concepts of suppression, oppression and dominion, and not concepts of caring. The authority would also change to become a military rule that has no task other than intimidation, domination, suppression, oppression and shedding blood.

As it is not allowed for the authority to change to become force, it is likewise not allowed for the force to become authority, because it would start to rule using the logic of power. It would also look after the affairs of the people with the concepts and criterion of martial laws and the concepts of suppression and oppression. These two approaches would create destruction and ruin, cause terror, fear and panic, and lead the Ummah to the brink of ruin. This would cause greatest harm to the Ummah, while the Shar’ee principle states: “it is not allowed to inflict harm, and nor to answer harm with harm.”.

70. The ruling system is based on four principles:

a) Sovereignty is for the Sharee’ah and not for the people.

b) Authority belongs to the Ummah.

c) Appointment of a single Khaleefah is Fard on the Muslims.

d) Only the Khaleefah has the right to adopt Sharee’ah rules.

So the Khaleefah is the one who enacts the constitution and canons. As for the sovereignty belonging for Allah and not for the people, as is stipulated by democratic constitutions, this is because the Islamic Ummah is not directed by her will, to do whatever she wishes. Rather, she is directed by the orders and prohibitions of Allah. She is subject to the Sharee’ah and hence sovereignty belongs to the Sharee’ah. As for the authority belonging to the Ummah, this is because the Sharee’ah has enjoined that the Khaleefah be appointed via the Ummah and that the Khaleefah takes the authority through the Bay’ah. As for the third principle, the obligation of appointing the Khaleefah, it is established in the noble Hadeeth: He (PBUH) said:

“The one who withdraws his hand from an obedience he will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment with no proof for him; and the one who dies without a bay’ah on his neck will die the death of Jaahiliyyah.” So the waajib is the presence of the bay’ah on the neck of every Muslim, i.e. the presence of a Khaleefah who, through his presence, deserves a bay’ah in the neck of every Muslim. As for the fourth principle, this has been established by the Ijmaa’ of the Sahabah. From this Ijmaa’ the famous Sharee’ah principles have been taken: “The order of the Imaam removes the dispute,” “the order of the Imaam is executed,” “The Sultan (Imam) reserves the right to adopt new laws for as many new matters that arise.”.

71. The state is based on eight pillars:

1. The Khaleefah 2. Delegated Assistants - with powers of attorney 3. The Executing Assistants 4. The Ameer of Jihad 5. The Governors (Waalis)

6. The Judiciary 7. The Administrative Departments 8. The Majlis of the Ummah The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) established the state structure in this framework and he ordered the Muslims to appoint a head of state when he ordered them to appoint a Khaleefah. The Messenger (PBUH) chose Abu Bakr and Umar as his wazeers i.e. assistants. He (PBUH) said:

“My two ministers among the people of the earth are Abu Bakr and Umar.” As for the provinces, he appointed waalis and he appointed judges (qaadis) to judge between the people. As for the administration, the Messenger (PBUH) appointed administrators to manage the various governmental departments. As for the ameership of Jihaad, which will administrate the following aspects: foreign affairs, war, internal affairs and industrial affairs, the Messenger (PBUH) and the Khulafaa’ after him used to undertake this post themselves. However, ‘Umar b. al-Khattab established a department for the soldiers and appointed a specific person to be responsible for it, which is one of the mandatory powers of the Ameer of Jihaad. As for the Majlis al- Ummah, the Messenger (PBUH) used to consult the Muslims whenever he wanted. He used to call upon certain individuals consistently to consult them and they were the representatives of the people. This makes clear that the Messenger (PBUH) established a structure for the state in a specific form.

72. The Khaleefah appoints a delegated assistant to undertake the responsibility of ruling. The Khaleefah delegates to him the general responsibility of managing the affairs according to his view and to execute them based on his Ijtihaad.

That is why it is stipulated that in order for the appointment to be a contract of delegation, it should include wording that indicates it is a general supervision, i.e. it indicates that he has all the mandatory powers of ruling. In other words, it should include wording that indicates that he is the delegate of the Khaleefah. Therefore, when appointing the assistant, one must use words that indicate the reality of the assistant, that he is the delegate of the Khaleefah, and he takes all the mandatory powers of the Khaleefah. He has what the Khaleefah has in terms of ruling powers. In terms of authority he is exactly like the Khaleefah. That is why the people used to complain to Abu Bakr about ‘Umar, when Umar assumed the responsibility of assistant. They used to ask him: “are you the Khaleefah or is it ‘Umar?” He used to reply: “me and him”; and this happened in front of the Sahabah. However, the assistant cannot undertake something until he has informed the Khaleefah before doing the action. If the Khaleefah prevents him then he desists from undertaking the action, otherwise he would execute it. Informing the Khaleefah about something does not mean permission has been taken; it is rather informing the Khaleefah about something. He does not wait for permission but does the action after informing the Khaleefah, unless the Khaleefah prevents him from doing so. The Khaleefah is entitled to cancel actions undertaken by the assistant, if they were actions that the Khaleefah could cancel if he had undertaken them himself. As for the actions that the Khaleefah himself could not change if he undertook them, the Khaleefah can’t cancel them if the assistant executed them. This could be a ruling that the assistant executed in its proper way, or money that he spent for its due. The Khaleefah must review all the actions of the assistant, so as to endorse the correct ones and rectify the wrong ones. Thus the assistant represents the Khaleefah in all the functions of Khilafah. However, his function is to inform the Khaleefah of every matter he accomplished and every appointment he performed; all of that must be done before execution. This is beside him abstaining from any action he is obstructed from doing. This assistant used to be called delegate assistant ‘wazeer tafweedh’.

73. The Khaleefah will appoint an executive assistant. His work is part of the administrative actions and not part of ruling. His department executes the directives issued by the Khaleefah to the home and foreign departments, and submits all business to him that needs to be looked into from those departments, so that he becomes the connection between the Khaleefah and others, where he channels what the orders the khaleefah issues of and he reports back to the khaleefah what has been submitted to him. This structure stands as an assistant to the Khaleefah, though it is an assistant in execution, not in ruling. So the Khaleefah has the right to appoint someone who will carry out the actions with him; and he can appoint more than one person in that post. If he appointed more than one person, he would assign each one to head a specific division. The executing assistant ‘wazeer tanfeedh’ is directly linked to the head of State. His relationship is only with the head of State, because he executes what he wants from him, and reports to him what comes (to him). So he is like the assistant, which is from the structures directly linked to the Khaleefah, though it is not from the ruling structures. Accordingly, the house of Khilafah consists of three sections: firstly, the Khaleefah, who is the head of State; secondly, the assistants or what is called ‘wazeers of tafweedh’; and thirdly the structure of execution, or what is called ‘wazeer tanfeedh.’.

74. The Majlis al-Ummah is composed of people who represent the Muslims in accounting the rulers and representing them in opinion so that the Khaleefah can refer to them. It is allowed for non- Muslims to be part of the majlis al-Ummah in order to voice their complaints about any oppression of the rulers, or about the misapplication of the rules of Islam upon them. They do not have a right to be consulted (in Shura), to select the candidates for the Khilafah, to elect the Khaleefah, to give him bay’ah, or to discuss the laws and their legislation. These members are elected directly by the people. Anyone who carries the citizenship is mature and sane, has the right to be a member of the Majlis, whether man or women, Muslim or kaafir. The Muslim members are entitled to select the candidates for the Khilafah and their opinion in this matter is binding.

75. The Muslims have the right to establish political parties to account the rulers and to arrive at power via the Ummah, on condition that these parties are established on the basis of the Islamic ‘Aqeedah and the rules that they adopt are from the Sharee’ah rules. The party does not need any license; any party based on other than Islam is banned, such as communist, nationalistic or patriotic parties.

76. All citizens have the right to issue any newspaper or journal, whether political or otherwise, and issue any book without the need for a license. Anyone who prints, propagates or publishes anything that contradicts the basis on which the state is established, i.e. the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, will be punished.