Consultation is a basic principle in Muslims' rule

Dr. Ragheb El-Sergani clarified it that Shura (consultation) is a basic principle in Muslims' rule to the extent that some jurists made it obligatory and not complementary matter. In Islam, the ruler is not permitted to isolate himself from public, however; he should consult them in the affairs. 

This is based on the Quranic verse: (So by mercy from Allah, [O Muúammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]), Al-`Emran, 159.

Consultation is an obligatory upon the ruler installed in minor or major reign. Moreover, the Muslim should practice consultation throughout his private activities of life as Allah, Almighty says: (And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend), Ashura, 38. As well, this is well-demonstrated in the dictum of Abu-Hurairah: I have never seen a person more consultant to his companions that the prophet Muhammad is[1].

He called upon all Muslims to adhere top Islam in both words and deeds as Islam is a very precious wherein Allah, Almighty described it in His noble words: (Alif. Lam. Mim. Sad. [This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muúammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress there from - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers), Al-`Araf, 1,2.

In a Friday speech delivered by Dr. Ragheb, he stressed that consultation is biding matter for both the ruler and the subjects as the grand total are equal before the instructions of Allah.

He declared that the difference between consultation and democracy is intrinsic and that the Islamic democracy would never permit something Allah made prohibited for His servants. On the other hand; consultation imposes upon us not to consult over something determined by Allah.

And also pointed out that the secular media is the most serious against Muslims as it circulates among people that democracy is a civilization and urbanization, however; other than democracy is backwardness.

Consultation produces only the good unlike those calling to the necessity of applying consultation even though its results were negative. This was a commentary on the consultation the prophet Muhammad conducted before Uhud battle where it was to choose between whether Muslims to fight outside Medina or inside its boundaries where the prophet favored the latter one in contrary to his companions' opinion.

The refuting of the suspicion that consultation in this point made Muslims victorious in the first part of the battle, however; when they disobeyed the prophet, it became upside down. Thus, the calamity befell Muslims in Uhud battle was a result of disobeying the instructions of the prophet and not for applying consultation.

Consultation is to get people assembled and make mutual consultation through discussion and expressing their views freely using all possible means and finally they would vote for the views. At this point, the less-resonant view should yield to the other.

It is not permissible at all for the minority to turn against the majority as exactly running in Egypt at the present, namely the trials to make modifications in the constitution in contrary to the public views.

[1]- Sahih ibn Hebban: chapter: reconciliation and conclusion of a truce 4872.

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