In a document that read more as a short constitutional declaration, Al-Azhar defends universal human rights and rejects 'the theocratic state' as un-Islamic and autocratic by nature
In a statement titled “Al-Azhar Document” and read on national television, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, the country’s highest religious authority, outlined his institution’s vision on key political, social and economic issues that have been subject to raging debates across the country for months.
The product of a consensual agreement reached between Al-Azhar officials and numerous prominent intellectuals and religious figures following extensive discussions over the last few weeks, the Document contains 11 main articles and is meant to serve as a foundation for a new social arrangement in post-Mubarak Egypt.
The statement opens with a definitive and unequivocal position on the contentious debate taking place in society between liberal forces and religious currents on the nature of the relationship between religion and the state in a new Egypt.
In a clear rejection of the argument put forward by many Islamic Salafists, the Grand Imam laid out his support for a ‘democratic and constitutional’ state.
“Islam has never, throughout its history, experienced such a thing as a religious or a theocratic state,” El-Tayeb said. He added that theocratic states have always been autocratic and humanity suffered a great deal because of them.
Read more @ Ahram.org
I have no respect for al azhar and wouldn't look to them for a fatwa, these are the same people who were in agreement for the french prime minister to unveil our sisters in france with the hijab ban, and the same people who encouraged the niqab ban in egypt, and many other things, so he can declare away it will fall deaf to peoples ears. How "grand" is this mufti when he who has ample knowledge of the deen is inviting muslims to accept democracy over sharia May Allah forgive him.
He also goes on to say in its entire history islam has never experienced a theocratic state, apparently they have always been "autocratic". So when our prophet
and the 4 rightly guided caliphs(ra) suffered abuse torture and death to establish the shariah, what were they doing running an autocratic state where humanity was suffering as a result? I guess his hadith and seerah books are very unique indeed, if they exist at all.
“O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.” [Ghafir : 39]
If you ignore the rashida caliphate, the religious scholars and the rulers have generally been separated (and their time would be different as there would not have been any separation between people of knowledge and people of power etc).
There is a hadith that the worst of scholars would be at the gate of the rulers, which to me would suggest that there is a requirement for separation between the two, even if the only goal is to not allow the government to pretend that its excesses are Islamic.
The articles also suggests that the scholars of al azhar do not want to be under the thumb of any future government, so that will solve the problems you suggest.
On the issue of france, there is room of pragmatism in Islam.
Islam and democracy are not opposing forces, so there is no conflict there.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Islam is not against democracy in the sense of voting for a leader but it is not for the idea of a country living by it's own rules.
Lets reunite the ummah under one flag LA ILAHA IL ALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH
Why isn't it?
While the source of the laws is qur'an and sunnah, the axtual interpretations come from men.
After that, the actual implementation comes from men.
After that the enforcement comes from men.
Is it shariah if the law exists but is not enforced or acted upon?
(I will ignore the question of "what is shariah" here as that is a separate topic).
There is also the concept of "ijma" (consensus), which has played a major part in islamic jurisprudence and is one of the 4 core systems used to derrive rulings (and comes before qiyaas (individual intellect)).
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
But ultimately it is not man made law. They only choose how to implement the laws. It is not a democracy
Lets reunite the ummah under one flag LA ILAHA IL ALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH