9 Comments on “Representative Democracy & Islam”

1. sputjam says:
   March 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am

   There is no democracy in the religion of islam.

   For muslims, you follow the the mainstream opnion of what the religious scholars agreed upon or you are doomed, considered a herectic and can be punished by death.

   for non-muslims, followers of islamic religion considers you to be sub-humans, and will never allow a non-muslim religionist to be their leader.

2. Lairedion says:
   March 26th, 2008 at 11:42 pm

   Sputjam says it all.

   All efforts trying to find common ground between Islam and representative democracy are a waste of time.

   A True Muslim who follows Islam, advocates for an Islamic caliphate where sharia law must be implemented. According to this article Fatkhuri is not a True Muslim.

3. riyoz says:
   March 27th, 2008 at 11:17 am

   i wonder….which country do you think is more democratic, the US or venezuela ?

4. djoko says:
   March 27th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

   He’s essentially taking the pancasilaist stance as the major Islamic organisations in Indonesia do. The general aims of democracy are the same as the general aims of Islam and democracy does not prevent Muslims from practicing their faith (for those that consider politics and governance to be a part of religious duties, it even allows for the formation of religious parties). This is the reason why the NU and Muhammadiyah for example have no problems with the current state form, as it more or less is in line with Islam.

   What I think though is that many scholars who are writing on the compatibility between Islam and democracy are still somewhat too static in their mode of thinking. Democracy in particular is undergoing great change as we speak. In Western countries for example governments are increasingly drifting away from the emphasis on rights, and starting to talk more about what the responsibilities of citizens are.

   The problem with most Muslim’s understanding of Islam as well as democracy is that they are still caught up in demanding rights while ignoring their responsibilities. We can see this in how Muslims will protest at the drop of a hat over rights issues while doing little themselves to take on the responsibility of ensuring the development of their own countries, or their own communities where they are living in non-Muslim countries. This is where development on the compatibility between Islam and democracy needs to start heading, because as long as scholars keep scrambling to reconcile Islam with what they think democracy is, democracy has already moved on, evolved, and in another 10 years we’ll be playing catch up all over again.

5. Agusto says:
   March 28th, 2008 at 1:17 am

   Sputjam says it all man,

   Democracy and islam don’t mix! Sharia is the king for good muslims. It is all about darull islam or darull a harb.

6. ramster says:
   March 30th, 2008 at 12:36 am

   Oh my God, this debate about democracy will never end until it really ends, the end of time I mean. Sorry folks it is just the way it is. People around the world who are wasting their time with such nonsense are the saddest bunch of people on earth.

   There is no such word as democracy! It’s a dream that never comes. Where ever you go, you will see this issue being debated over and over and over again until they’re tired of talking and go home, get some sleep, and start doing it the next day until someone pulls out a gun and start shooting.

   achievement: Zero
   Casualties: A lot

7. hendra i somantri says:
   June 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm

   Mr. Riyoz,

   I think Venezuela more democratic than US.

   I think Islam is not in contrary with Democracy or Western Civilization system.
   The nature Islam gives unlimited freedom for making/demo-ing “creatos/creation”. Islam is not Government/political system. Islam is not as power for making the rulles but harmonizing the existance in freedom and responsibility ways. Islam teach liberation from “slaving/darkness” and leads them to more liberacy/brightness. It is Muhammad spirit. Islam makes/teaches guidance for human living for getting/embracing the worldwide not locally within an harmony. Terorism is contrary with content of Islam spirit,-Islam teachs peacefull.

8. Sweely says:
   February 15th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

   One day I hope Muslim countries follow the west world in some ways. Not in everything, but in the terms of political opinions. I would want to see a Muslim world ran by democracy. That is my biggest dream.

9. Odinius says:
   February 15th, 2010 at 11:52 pm

   It’s happening already. Malaysia looks like it will become an actual democracy soon, once UMNO gets the boot.

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