6.3 The Structure of the Ruling System of Islam
In Islam, the Ruling System (and its other systems for that matter) is not designed by man, but rather by the Creator of all things, Allah (swt). Therefore, as Muslims we must abide by this ruling system.
The ruling system Islam has given is one of unity. This is because the divine evidence has brought nothing else and forbidden us to adopt anything else. This ruling system of unity puts the power of ruling in one mans’ hands, i.e., the Khaleefah. No other person is allowed to share power with the Khaleefah. It is narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al- ‘A’as, “Whoever gives allegiance to an Imam giving him the clasp of his hand and the fruit of his heart shall obey him as long as he can. If another comes to dispute with the Imam, strike the head of the other.” (Muslim and Bukhari).
Also, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “If two Khaleefahs are given the allegiance, kill the latter of them.” Muslim and Bukhari.
This proves that Islam prohibits having two rulers for the Muslims. Therefore, it is haram to form nation states with different rulers upon the Muslim lands. Therefore, the Islamic ruling system is one of unity and not of a federate structure.
In Islam, the ruling system is based wholly and solely on the divine text, i.e. the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma‘ of the Sahabah. The lives of the Sahabah should be an area of study, for a Muslim is obliged to take laws from the Ijma‘ of the Sahabah.
Unlike all other forms of ruling systems, Islam does not allow man to legislate rules within this system by utilising his own mind. Legislation is left only to Allah (swt). Man only has to recognise, understand, and implement these laws. We, therefore, disregard anyone who suggests ideas, concepts, and theories alien to the Islamic ruling system such as Democracy, Islamic Socialism, Islamic Republic (as in Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, etc.), and so on. It is totally inappropriate, and tantamount to kufr, to say that Islam did not give us a definite, detailed, clear picture of what the ruling system of Islam is. This would lead one to be implicitly stating that Islam is incomplete. Also, those who claim that the Islamic form of ruling system is not applicable in today’s world are delving in the cauldron of kufr ideas. Islam is a deen applicable for all times and places.