Political thought is the highest thought of human intellect. Serving humanity is the key objective of its ideology. It is that which had determined the fates of the nations. Rise and fall of any nation depend on the substance of thought rendered as an ideology by its people. Political thought is the only substance due to which nations and empires come into being, set the high standards of living, thrive and became greater in reality or relative in their contemporaries. Consequently, when this thought decline, nations start to decline, some gradually, others rapidly and some falls eventually. This truth is patent on the annals of human history with a gamut of records available.
Islamic political thought is an idea which has received Prophetic Inspiration. Islam is meant to establish a just government and has certain rules. It provides the principles of politics and clarifies the objectives of government without touching the particulars. The faith of Islam is not confined to the celestial happiness of man. Relating religion only to spiritual aspects is a materialistic approach.
Since last few decades, the development of Islamic political thought has reached the global stage of world politics. New theories arose claiming to be Islamic in nature but actually failed to run the affairs of their society. Khilafa, Islamic state, Boko Haram and many others confused approaches ruined and deteriorated the image of Islam throughout the globe. It has been assumed now that Quranic commandments do not provide human thought with the idea of social development and political progress.
But in this age, there is a leader who succeeded to establish true ideology of Islam based on set principles derived from Quran. His thought laid the foundation of Prophetic mission aimed at serving humanity at large scale.
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri's God-Gifted intellect is the lamp of an age. History had never witnessed such a leader who on one hand is endeavoring for the establishment of free, fair and just system of governance of his own people and on other hand is concerned for the betterment of humanity as a whole. He is a leader who has communicated across the differences. His thought derived from Quran and Prophetic Sunnah is more qualified to rule. According to him, no nation can rise until they have in their political ideology a concrete substance of thought for serving humanity at large. If we examine his political struggle including his war against terror, we come to conclude that his political thought is based on 12 Concrete Principles derived from the Quran. He defines Islamic political law not only as a code to be implemented but a system that must be set into the flow. The principles are as follow:
Principle1: کُونُواْ قَوَّٰمِینَ بِالْقِسْطِ
Struggle for Justice: Islamic justice is something very higher than any other formal human law. Establishment of a just society is a key concern and crucial part in Islamic political thought. For sure, Justice is Allah's attribute and to stand firm for justice is to be a witness to Allah. According to Shaykh-ul-Islam a legal struggle for the Constitutional Revolution is an actual struggle for justice. He says that if in an oppressed state, the nation is not urged to strive for justice, it is bound to wither away.
Principle 2: وَلَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِی الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَٰحِهَا
Social Reform and Peace Building: No society can survive where corruption, tyranny and barbarism prevails. The community cannot live where the sense of social well-being does not exist. Quran states a clear-cut principle of peaceful living. Shaykh-ul Islam mentions that the current wave of political terrorism requires a deeper understanding of the roots of Islam. His exemplary and wide range efforts for peacebuilding throughout the globe has served humanity at very large scale.
Principle 3: إِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّیٰ یُغَیِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ
Struggle for Change: This principle is definite to understand. Struggle for change is crucial to live in age. Mostly, nations and empires fell because they ceased to struggle against corrupt, decadent or oppressive leadership. Dr Tahir-ul Qadri urged and taught masses a need of legal political struggle for change which has now begun to bear fruits. His political thought is based on revolutionary concepts and law of movement.
Principle 4: وَیَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَیَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنکَرِ
Encouraging Masses towards Good: The root idea of Islamic political thought is the establishment of a prosperous and conflict-free society. Inviting people to good or beneficial and forbidding the wrong is the trait of an ideal community. Moving people collectively towards a common goal is the objective of political thought. For this cause of goodness, Dr Qadri has motivated masses and has made them aware of their responsibility for being a citizen of the state in general and being a human in particular.
Principle 5: مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسَا بِغَیْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٖ فِی الْأَرْضِ فَکَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِیعا
Sanctity of Blood and Respect for Humanity: The honour of a single soul is explicit from this verse. Killing a single being is like killing entire humanity. Muslim world in particular and humanity, in general, is suffering from the temptation of Kharijites today. They first appeared in the days of the Prophet and then flourished during the caliphate of Uthman (R.A). They interpret Islam according to their own interest and material gains. Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is the only scholar who stood forward and restricted their expansion by striking at the roots of their ideology. Political thought demands clear-cut understandings. Shaykh's efforts reveal his thought and concerns towards securing humanity.
Principle 6: تَحْکُمُواْ باِلْعَدْلِ
No to Authoritarian Rule: To judge with justice is the core character of Islamic political thought. Politics is not a kind of technique to rule people authoritatively, exploit them by means of an external force or to subordinate them to certain rulers. Justice in rule is the only key to establish the good relationship between state and society. Shaykh's political thought reflects this principle of Quran.
Principle 7: أَطِیعُواْ اللّٰہَ وَأَطِیعُواْ لرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِی الْأَمْرِ مِنکُمْ
Rule of Law: The ultimate authority rests in Allah. His Messengers derive authority from Him. In the Muslim state sovereignty belongs to Allah. Islam makes no divisions between sacred and secular affairs. This is the central concept of Islamic political thought. Respect for the righteous authority is much expected to maintain order and discipline in society.
Principle 8: فَسْتَبِقُواْ الْخَیْرَٰتِ
Law of Hospitality and Philanthropy by state: Run forward towards one goal, the goal of good that is the welfare of people, with a diversity of races, traditions, and temperaments. This thought is applied individually and nationally. Philanthropist acts are the deeds of love. Practical charity, when preceded with good motive, brings up real change. This law of hospitality is of deep concern in Islamic political thought. Muslim states are responsible to facilitate every single citizen in their matters and dealings.
Principle 9: وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّٰہِ جَمِیعا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْ
Unity: Safety is the product of unity. The mutual support adds the chance of collective security. National unity enhances global position of a nation. Unity of thought and purpose is the factor that regulates political ideology among the masses. This principle serves as an engine to keep the thought in flow and motion. Shaykh's efforts reflect the significance of this principle.
Principle 10: تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَیٰ کَلِمَةٖ سَوَآءِ بَیْنَنَا وَبَیْنَکُمْ
Inter-Faith Harmony and Communal forbearance: Islam is a religion of love. Harmony is a subject that reveals the entire perception of Islam. Shaykh-ul Islam's efforts for interfaith harmony on the national and international level and his Fatwa against terrorism and suicide bombings is an excellent contribution towards the cause of peace. It had also revealed the true Islamic political thought to the entire world.
Principle 11: فَأَصْلِحُواْ بَیْنَ أَخَوَیْکُمْ
Inter-Tribal Harmony and Ethnic Tolerance: Ethnic harmony serves as a glue to bond nations in one unity. If any room is left for external means to enter from this side, nations fall forthwith. Examining the history from theoretical and practical dimensions, historical judgments reveal that it was only ethnic and sectarian divide which served as the commencement of a nation's decline.
Principle 12: لَاتَقْتُلُوٓاْ أَوْلَٰدَکُمْ خَشْیَۃَ إِمْلَٰقٖ
Ensuring Economic Stability: The economic performance of the rulers determines the actual status of the state. The declined empires of history were characterized by cruelty as well as oppressive economic measures. Quran is a book of principles that encompasses all the aspects of life. A moment it urges the government to establish the best economy in the state, at the same time it rises the masses high over material gains and encourages piety and righteousness among them.
Conclusion:
Religion is the most higher source of knowledge. It moves from individual to society. The teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of human life. Social and political institutions depend not just on understanding the law but understanding the purpose law serves. Quran provides a complete understanding of the purpose. Our political philosophy elaborates and illuminates the purpose of the sacred law. This concludes that Islamic political thought is meant to guide man towards perfection. In recent years, the relationship between Islam and politics has attracted considerable attention. Its only Shaykh-ul-Islam who portrayed Islam in its true spirit and form. This era is fortunate in getting a leader of this caliber. With paying a rich tribute, history will mark Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Tahir ul Qadri as "The great personality with unprecedented abilities and contributions."