AIF Speaker Series - Why Islam and Democracy?

AIF was blessed to have Dr. Abdullahi An-Na'im join us as part of the AIF Speaker Series.

I learned a lot from the brief two hours we spent in discussion.

Democracy, according to Webster's Dictionary is "a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections."

Islam, Dr. An-Na'im stated, is "radically democratic" because religious authority lies with the individual, not with a higher entity. A muslim defines what it means to be muslim for him or herself. "Every Muslim," he said, "is responsible for every choice or failure to choose." We have an inescapable responsibility to ourselves and one another.

There was discussion about the terms "State" "Religion" "Politics" and the "Church." When Dr. An-Na'im said there is no "Church" in Islam- he did not mean the term 'church,' he meant, there is no high authority- because of Islam's inherent individualism.

Contrary to common perception, in the history of Islam there was no unification of religion and the State- the Caliph was a political leader but not a religious authority. The governing bodies and princes did work collaboratively with the scholars but did not seek to co-opt their positions. Politics, he said, are always influenced by faith. Our morals and values will be reflected in the laws of the land due to democratic rule of the people.

When I was studying the Italian women's movement a few years ago, one of the slogans, "The Personal is Political" carried the momentum. I thought about that during this discussion. Our personal choices, which are influenced by our faith, are political, in that we do what we feel is best for ourselves and our communities.

Learn more about Islam and Democracy at http://www.law.emory.edu/aannaim/.

~~~~~~

Melissa
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com