Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 43
KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH 43 person or a party. Thus, we have to look at whether Islam enjoins an organization or not, irrespective of how different it may be from others, and whether the Prophet sa implemented that organization or not. Islam Ordains a National and Legal Organization There is no doubt that Islam does not favour kingdoms, for kingship has a specific significance which Islam does not permit. The Prophet sa said, concerning himself, that he was not a king, and he did not use the word king for his Khulaf a ’. However, this does not mean that Islam does not favour any religious national organization. If some form of an organization is proven from the Holy Quran and Islam, then we can say that though Islam opposes kingdoms, it establishes a specific form of organization in its place, and that is a part of the religion of Islam. As it is religious, its establishment is essential for Muslims as far as they have power. Government is, in fact, a name of national boundaries and the implementation of specific rules within it. It is not the name of a particular form. National boundaries and enforcement of specific rules are proven from the Holy Quran, as is clear from the verses which I have just quoted above. Since the elements of a national boundary, a specific law, citizenship, treaties, and foreigners are found, a particular form of government is proven. We do not call it a kingdom because that