Two Views of Politics in Islam

The traditional view understands the role of politics in terms of what the Qur’an teaches. It indicates that prophets were sent to humans to teach them truths about God, ethics, ways to achieve prosperity in this world, and beatitude in the hereafter, and to warn about the consequences of injustice and sinfulness. A prophet who is called to preach in a stateless milieu has to assume a role of political leadership; this mantle fell on Moses, as it did to Muhammad (peace be upon both of them). Islamic tradition teaches that when this happens, the two roles are combined by accident; political leadership is not a necessary element of the prophetic mission. By way of confirmation, note that the Qur’an uses different titles to describe the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but none of them refers to his political function. Verses 33:45-46 say that he was sent as a witness (shahid), a bearer of glad tidings (mubashshir), a warner (nadhir), as someone who calls to God (da‘i ila Allah), and as a shining light (siraj munir). Nowhere does it say he was sent as a political leader or a head of state. That the Prophet Muhammad actually had a political role resulted from the social conditions that prevailed in his time, but this was not a necessary part of his prophetic mission.

Islamists, however, have a very different interpretation. For them, building an Islamic state is the central achievement of the prophetic mission. Conflating the role of the Muslim scholar with that of a political leader, they hold that the spread of Islam cannot be separated from the creation of what they call the Islamic state. (The Islamists Have it Wrong, Abdul Hadi Palazzi, 2001)

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Islamists in Malaysia argue that the Prophet (SAW) was a politician, and therefore, Islam cannot be separated from the quest for political power. In my opinion, calling the Prophet (SAW) a politican is almost an insult. Politicians, by the very nature of politics itself, are about one thing -- acquiring worldly power. If one wants to be a politician, fine, no problem. We are not saying that there is anything wrong with politics. But to call Rasulullah (SAW) a politician is rediculous for the simple reason that throughout his 23 years of Prophethood, Muhammad (SAW) repeatedly turned down offerings of power and rank. He was literally offered to be made king by the Meccans and turned it down for to do so would have meant abandoning his mission of spreading the message of Islam. This example alone shows that he knew that his amanah from Allah was only to be a warner and educator. The leadership position of Medina he received after 13 years was not the product of politicking or running for office. Rather, it was bestowed upon him from Allah; the product of total obedience, courage, perseverence, patience, mercy, steadfastness, forgiveness and dedication to his cause and purpose. A leader is not synonymous with a politician. Many leaders come to leadership positions by means other than through political activities.

Politics is the act of vying for worldly power. My political science professor in college defined it as simply "getting what there is to be gotten." It implies the action of seeking and acquiring power, whether for better or worse. Rasulullah (SAW), however, never sought after anything in this world. His heart lived in the Akhirat. He knew his Lord better than any other and when given the option to stay in the world or return to Allah, he chose the latter.