The Ummah’s Charter by Al-Khilafah Publications

50. Society is a group of people amongst whom permanent relationships arise. One person together with another person constitutes only a group. However, if permanent relationships occur between these individuals they then form a society. If no permanent relationships arise then they remain as a group and will not become a society. What makes a group of people into a society are the permanent relationships. These relationships arise due to their interests. Thus, it is the interest that produces a relationship; without it there would be no relationship. What determines whether such interests are seen as interests or harms is the people’s view towards such an interest. If a person views a matter as an interest, then the relationship arises, if not then the relationship will not arise. So it is the concept that determines what constitutes an interest. Accordingly, it is the concept that produces the relationship. Since concepts are the meanings of thoughts, thoughts are what determine the interest, and accordingly thoughts produce the relationship. The common thoughts of a group of people produce a common viewpoint towards the interest, which in turn produces a relationship. However, common thoughts on their own cannot produce relationships without common emotions. In other words, in order for this relationship to take place between two people, they must view the interest with pleasure, i.e. their emotions must be united in their viewpoint towards the interest, in terms of approval, anger, sadness and pain, in addition to the common thoughts, so that the interest exists and consequently the relationship arises. However, common thoughts and emotions on their own are still not enough; there must also be a common system that treats these interests so that a relationship exists. In other words, they must agree on the manner of treating this interest so that a relationship exists. Thus, for a relationship to take place between people there must be united thoughts, emotions and a system. When these three things do not exist there is no relationship. Therefore, society is composed of people who have common thoughts, common emotions and a single system. Thus, a society comprises of people, thoughts, emotions and systems. It is a group of people who have permanent relations; however these permanent relationships have been produced by common thoughts, emotions and systems. It is according to these three elements that societies are formed; hence societies differ from each other according to the difference in thoughts, emotions and systems.

51. The Islamic society is the society in which the relationships are according to the Islamic thoughts, emotions and systems. In other words, the relationships that arise between the Muslims, and between the Muslims and others are according to the Islamic ‘aqeedah and the Sharee’ah rules. The mere presence of Muslims, without the presence of the Islamic thoughts, emotions and systems in their relationships, does not make the society an Islamic society. Rather the thoughts, emotions and systems that control their relationships must be Islamic thoughts, emotions and systems. The fact that the thoughts, emotions and systems that control the relationships must be Islamic is a fundamental condition for a society to be Islamic. It is not enough for the people to be Muslims; rather the thoughts, emotions and systems must also be Islamic, since society is comprised of thoughts, emotions and systems. Consequently, the society in which Muslims live today, in all regions of the world, is not an Islamic society, though the people are Muslims. This is because not all of the relationships proceed according to Islamic thoughts, emotions and systems. Even the countries that still settle disputes in judiciary according to the ahkaam shar’iyyah are not an Islamic society, because they do not conduct other relationships according to the thoughts and rules of Islam. It is necessary that all the relationships proceed according to the Islamic ‘Aqeedah and the Sharee’ah rules, in order that a society be an Islamic society.

52. The method to change a non-Islamic society in which Muslims live today and create an Islamic society is to change all the relationships at one time, i.e. according to a radical method and not by gradualism. This takes place by abolishing all present relationships and replacing them with Islamic relations all in one go. This will begin with the ruling system and then at the same time move to the rest of the systems. The first action should be to completely destroy the existing ruling structure, replacing it with the Islamic ruling structure. The ruling structure will oblige the people to follow the thoughts and rules of Islam and oblige the Muslims to organise their actions according to the orders and prohibitions of Allah ? The criteria for judging matters will be the Halaal and the Haraam. It proceeds in generating this change through direction and implementing punishments. So it reminds the Muslims of Islam and explains to all the people the thoughts and rules of Islam. At the same time, it punishes those who contravene the Sharee’ah by Hudood, Jinayaat and Ta’zeer (discretionary punishment). But to make the Muslims comply with the thoughts and rules of Islam, it relies on their belief, i.e. on the internal motivation. If this internal incentive does not exist, the state will resort to force and implementing punishment, so as to insure compliance.