Prof Dr HM Quraish Shihab: Islam Requires Democracy

There is an assumption in society, Islam is far from democracy. Therefore, Islam is often blasted with democracy. In fact, the real Islam is not only supports democracy but actually requires democracy. '' Islam obviously not the only support he requires.

If supported, it seemed to come from outside are supported. Actually, Islam actually teaches democracy first, more obvious than on democracy from the West (Greece),'' said Prof Dr HM expert commentary Quraish Shihab.

Following this, the complete interview with the director of the Center for Qur'anic Studies (PSQ) and former Minister of Religious Affairs, former rector of UIN Sharif Hidayatullah Jakarta and former ambassador in Egypt is:

What are your views on democracy in Islam?

There is no book Defining Moments of the work of BJ Habibie. There I wrote concerning democracy in the Islamic perspective. Could have taken a lot from it.

Does Islam actually supports democracy or not?

Islam clearly not the only support he requires. If supported, it seemed to come from outside are supported. Islamic democracy is actually taught it first, more obvious than on democracy from the West (Ancient Greek. There I explained in the book Decisive Moments. Islam not only support, but can make prinsif teaching in community life. What we are familiar with the pillars of the Islamic shura, or paired with democracy.

That is, is not true that people always talk of democracy from the West and Islam there is no democracy?

It is not true of the West. For what? The term democracy is well known in the West from the Greek. But the truth in Islam is called a shura was originally meant removing the honey from the hive. So, people equated democracy with the bees that produce honey. Bees have the privilege, except that he does not eat well. He did not interfere, even if he is stung, the sting of drugs. The result is always good, beneficial.That is sought. Then from the shura was born looking like a good opinion of good honey. No matter where honey was found, that we take. Both of the hearing the opinion or expression.

Well, but why in reality, many people are often the victims of democracy?

This is a misunderstanding. People do not understand when they do not like it.Prophet Muhammad frequently received opinion that at first he did not agree.

Real example of how?

The battle of Uhud, for example. Uhud when the Prophet Muhammad inclined to think we are not out of the city of Medina, but we welcome the enemy in the city of Medina because we know the ins and outs of the city of Medina. But the majority of the friends of the Prophet, especially the young ones with a young spirit still say no.They want to come out to welcome the enemy. Prophet Muhammad, but he does not agree to follow the majority opinion.

Well, it's shura. He will do an activity every important relating to the public, he asked his friends what they think? Time of the Battle of Badr, he chose a location by another friend of this location is not quite right. Then he asked where the location is better? Friend indicated that he chose. It was actually built up of democracy.

This means that Prophet Muhammad was not a dictator, self?

Yes. He is not selfish. It in areas that could be discussed. In Islam there are things that can not be discussed. For example, the question of worship must be accepted as is. That's not the deliberations. We can not reason related to the number of cycles of prayer. We have to take for granted what it is. In our language, 'It is by nature'. But in terms of community, then it is discussed.

Including the determination of the Caliphate, for example? Of the Prophet Muhammad to Abu Bakr, Umar bin Khattab to and beyond?

It's obvious there musyawarahnya. When Abu Bakr was appointed, there is consensus and then he agreed and had been inducted. Umar time there musyawarahnya only limited deliberation, there is a team. Uthman bin Affan time as well. Democratic forms can vary in accordance with the conditions of each society.So there is no standardized. Importantly, it was discussed with certain people or the general public or by a representative that is important to reflect the will of the majority.

Probably why then Islam is not highlighted as an emerging democracy is such that dynasties happen today?

We have to distinguish between Islamic teachings and Islamic history. Not necessarily what is practiced by the rulers and dynasties of Islam is a pure Islamic teachings. We must distinguish between political Islam and Islamic teachings. About hereditary kingdom, there is a saying that is not democracy but it is up to each community. If they approve it, yes it is a form of democracy. In England also the kingdom and was approved by the British public. So, do not automatically kingdom was then said to be incompatible with democracy as automatic nor a republican government, it automatically democracy. It may be that in practice it is not like that.

So the substance of democracy is the shura to choose the best?

We can say with a little difference because the democracy that we say there is a return to the people. In the shura there are values ​​that should not be violated, those values ​​are the values ​​set by God.

If so where the similarities?

Equation, the problems that society will be returned to the community. The will of the people it can be known by asking people to people, either through a representative.We in Indonesia it through representation. Democracy, led by the wisdom of representative deliberation wisdom. Thus, a form of democracy tailored by the society in which democracy will be applied. Shura was adapted to the context in which the shura was applied.

And Islam has a very large role in developing democracy?

Yes, definitely. Therefore, there is praise in the Qur'an about the people who bermusyarawah that their problem is they always finish up with the deliberations.Even the deliberations were ordered in the smallest unit of society-family.Democracy is not just exist on the level of government or state level, but the consensus or democracy is taught in the lowest of the low level that is within the family.

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