Liberal Democracies: Most Compatible System With Quran

Salaamun alaykum, dear readers!

When we examine the Quran, we come to the realization that liberal democracies are in fact the form of government that is most in line with Quranic values.

Here are the reasons why:

Freedom of Religion

The Quran’s demand for absolute freedom of religion entails complete separation between mosque and state, since Islam is a religion that one is not allowed to enforce. All purely religious matters are handled privately.

This also means that things like alcohol, gambling, pork, fornication, and others sins that are not committed against other people must be allowed in the law of the land because in this way, humans do not interfere when God tests Muslims with the temptation to sin.

[2:256] There is no compulsion in the religion. The rightness has certainly been clarified from the misleading, so whoever disbelieves in the false gods and believes in God, then certainly he has retained the binding handhold for which there shall be no breaking; God is Hearing, Knowledgeable.

[18:29] And say, “It is the truth from your Lord.” So whoever willed, then let them believe, and whoever willed, then let them disbelieve.…

Islam Mandates Fairness and Anti-Extremism: Being a Moderate, or “Middle” Community

Islam mandates that the Muslim community is supposed to be a “middle community”. That means fairness, moderation and non-extremism is mandated on all affairs, and that includes politics and government.

Thus, non-extremism and moderation over all affairs (including political affairs), and honest testimony, is mandatory for Muslims, and is essential to a functioning democracy. Tribalism, nepotism, and other forms of corruption are forbidden.

[2:143] And like that, We made you a middle community, for you may be witnesses over the people, and the messenger may be a witness over you.

[5:8] O you who have believed, be maintainers of justice for God as witnesses, and do not let the hatred of a people cause you to not be just. Be just, it is closer to reverence. And revere God; indeed, God is Aware of what you do.

[4:135] O you who believed, be maintainers of justice for God as witnesses, even if it is against yourselves, or the parents and the relatives. Whether he is rich or poor, God is more worthy of both of them. So do not follow the personal desire, lest you be unjust. And if you deviate or turn away, then indeed God is Aware of what you do.

So let’s examine the institition of the caliphate, which is essentially a monarchy. All power rests at the hands of a single person who serves as caliph. In other empires, the title is king or emperor. Some conservatives want to return to the caliphate, because they believe that it is most closely aligned with Islamic ideals than any other form of government.

But as part of being a “middle community”, the Quran mandates fairness and moderation in all affairs of life. Therefore, the Islamic standard for how we should assess a system of government is: how fair it is to the people being governed.

What is more fair, a caliph unelected by the people, who is above the law and holds all power, and can do whatever they want with their citizens because there is no legal protection of basic rights?

Or is it more fair to give supreme power to a legal document that can only be changed via an amendment process (such as a constitution), so that every person is equally bound by the same law and given the same codified rights? This is the system that liberal democracies are supposed to have, by definition.

What is more fair, power concentrated at the hands of one person, such as a caliphate? Or is it more fair to divide power into three independent branches that can check and balance one another, lest one branch tries to abuse its power?

What is more fair, one person remains leader for life even against the wishes of the public, or a system that allows the public to have free and fair elections and change their leader regularly?

In theory, the system where every person is under one uniform law, power is decentralized, and there are regular free and fair elections (a constitutional liberal democracy), is more fair to the people and less easy to abuse than a caliphate where all power rests in the hands of one person who can legally do whatever he wants.

As a result, due to the principle of fairness, a constitutional liberal democracy is more closely aligned with Quranic ideals than a caliphate, empire, or monarchy.

Oppression Forbidden

Oppression is forbidden, and one must stand up to perceived injustices and tyranny, and be “maintainers of justice”, and do the right thing, even if it goes against one’s personal desires. That means a Muslim must side against any injustice and violations of human rights happening in the world and do what they can to support justice and fairness, even if it’s to condemn it from the heart.

Likewise, liberal democracies tend to be centered on the question of what is fair and just for all people of different backgrounds and beliefs, whether they are in the majority or minority.

Different limits on the governing powers in liberal democracies are put in place to guard against abuse of power and oppression by some people against others, such as checks and balances, and regular elections.

Moreover, human rights are often enshrined into the constitutions of liberal democracies, thus providing less room for oppressing minorities. All of this is in line with what God wants in the Quran.

[4:135] O you who believed, for God, be maintainers of justice as witnesses, even if it is against yourselves or the parents and the close ones, whether he is rich or poor. But God is more worthy of both of them. So do not follow the desire, for that you be fair. But if you turn aside or avert, then indeed God is Aware of what you do.

[4:75] And what is for you that you do not fight in the way of God, as well as the weakened ones among the men, the women, and the children, the ones who say, “Our Lord, exit us from this town of its wrongdoing people, and make for us an ally from with You, and make for us a helper from with You!”

[42:39-42] as well as the ones who help themselves when infringement befalls them. And the requital of an evil is an evil like it. But whoever has pardoned and reformed, then his reward is upon God. Indeed, He does not like the wrongdoers. And definitely, whoever helped himself after he has been wronged, then there is not any way against those. The way is only against the ones who wrong the people and infringe in the earth without right. For those is a painful punishment.

Discrimination and Bigotry Forbidden, Respect Mandated

Islam advocates for racial equality, and the equality between both sexes.

Women in verses 16:58-59 are specifically declared as valuable assets to the community, and the sexist attitude that they are disappointments and worthless are criticized as an evil way of thinking.

The diversity in our colors and languages are declared to be a sign of God and should be revered as such. As far as God is concerned, it is their character that sets them apart.

Likewise, any system of government (even a democracy) cannot qualify to be a liberal democracy if it does not recognize the equality of all people under the law regardless of race and ethnicity, hence Islam is very compatible with liberal democracy in this regard.

The Quran also has prohibitions on bigotry, impoliteness, false testimony, conspiracy, lying, backbiting/slandering, spreading rumors, forced expulsion from native lands, suspicion of others without conclusive evidence, and more.

Moreover, people are told in the Quran to be tolerant, have empathy, and overlook the minor faults and imperfections of others. Mocking others and name-calling is forbidden. The Quran specifically singled out that women should not do this to other women, implying that people need to be supportive of one another (but especially women for other women).

These things are necessary for a multicultural society to peacefully coexist.

[30:22] And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the differing of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are definitely signs for the knowledgeable.

[16:58-59] And if one of them was given good news of a female, his face became darkened, while he suppresses his grief. He disappears from the people because of the evil of what he had been given news of. Should he keep her in humiliation, or bury her in the dust? Absolutely, wretched is how they judge.

[49:13] O people, We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Indeed, the most noble among you with God is the most reverent of you. Indeed, God is Knowledgeable, Aware.

[4:124] But whoever does of the righteous deeds among male or female, while he is a believer, then those will enter the Garden, and they will not be wronged a naqeer.

[24:22] And the people of wealth and resources among you should not swear not to give to their relatives and the needy and the immigrants in the way of God. They shall pardon and overlook. Would you not like God to forgive you? Indeed God is Forgiver, Merciful.

[45:14] Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not seek the days of God. He will repay people for what they used to earn.

[24:12] If only when you heard it (the rumor), the believing men and the believing women would have thought well of one another and said, “This is a clear falsehood!”

[24:15] When you receive it (the rumor) with your tongues, while you say with your mouths what you had no knowledge of, you consider it to be insignificant when, with God, it is grave.

[2:83] And when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel: “Worship none but God, and treat your parents kindly, as well as the relatives, the orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to the people, and observe the Salat and give the Zakat.” Then you turned away in aversion, except a few of you.

[20:44] “Say gentle words to him (Pharaoh) so that perhaps he will be reminded or show some fear.”

[17:28] If (when having no charity to offer) you must turn away from them because you yourself are seeking mercy from your Lord and hoping for it, then say to them words that comfort them.

[3:159] It was out of mercy from God that you became gentle towards them. Had you (Muhammad) been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. Once you make a decision, put your trust in God. God loves the trusting ones.

[49:11-12] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than them. Nor shall women ridicule other women, for they may be better than them. And do not insult one another or call each other names. How evil it is to acquire a name for wickedness after attaining faith! Those who do not repent are indeed the transgressors. O you who believe, avoid excessive assumption. Indeed, even some assumption is sin. Do not spy nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would certainly hate this. And reverence God. Indeed, God is Redeemer, Merciful.

[58:9-10] O you who believe, if you confer secretly, do not confer to commit sin, transgression and disobedience to the messenger. Rather, confer in piety and reverence. And reverence God; the One to whom you will be gathered. Conferring secretly is instigated by the devil so that he may cause grief to those who believe. However, he cannot harm them in any way without God’s permission. In God, the believers should trust.

[58:11] O you who believed, when it is said to you, “Make room” in the assemblies, then make room. God will make room for you. And when you are told, “Arise,” then arise. God raises in rank those among you who have believed and those who were given the knowledge; God is Aware of what you do.

[31:18] “And (said Luqman) do not turn your cheek away from the people, nor walk haughtily in the land. Indeed, God does not like the conceited, boastful ones. And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice. Indeed, the most repulsive sound is the sound of donkeys.”

[2:85] Then you are those who kill one another, and expel a group among you from their homes, backing each other against them with sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, even though their expulsion was forbidden upon you to begin with! Do you believe in some of the Book and disbelieve in some? So what is the penalty for the one among you who does that, except disgrace in the worldly life, and to be returned to the most severe punishment on the Day of Establishment? And God is not unaware of what you do.

What Does It Mean to Judge By What God Brought Down?

I have been told that certain verses point towards the only legitimate society in Islam being an Islamic state where Sharia law is enforced on everyone. One such verse is this:

[5.45] … And whoever does not judge by what God has brought down, then those are the wrongdoers.

As a former Sunni, I am aware of the common belief among some Sunnis (mainly the ones who lean towards Salafism) that it is prohibited for a Muslim to have a position of lawmaking power in a secular country, because such a country is not judging or making laws in accordance with what God has brought down (i.e. the Quran).

However, if logically the Quran states in verse 2:256 that there is no compulsion in the religion of Islam, then it follows that the judgements mentioned in verse 5:45 and others are non-binding (having no legal teeth) due to being unable to compel or force anyone regarding religious matters.

A judgment of mine based on the Quran, for example, is that it is wrong for a Muslim to miss Salat. Does this mean that if I were the President of the United States, I’m then supposed to force all Americans to do Salat or go to jail? Of course not. The judgement that it is wrong to miss Salat is a non-binding judgement.

Quranic System of Government

Now let’s get to something interesting, which is the system of governance that is Quranically (therefore Islamically) supported.

The Social Contract

One notable aspect is that there first must be a social contract involving the consent of the governed, since the Quran instructed that all matters should be decided through consultation amongst ourselves (42:38).

That means a system of government derives legitimacy if it was decided through consultation with the entire population, or through authorized representatives of the population.

A constitution is a contract or agreement between “we the people” and it outlines all the terms and conditions that the public, through their authorized representatives, agreed upon.

In short, written constitutions are the logical endpoint of the consultation amongst the people that is mandatory when deciding a matter such as the system of government (verse 42:38), after the people have come to an agreement.

Constitutions happen to be one of the hallmarks of liberal democracies, because it establishes a universal set of laws that every person (whether king, president, billionaire, or peasant) is subject to.

If the law of the land as decided by the constitution (the physical representation of the public agreement) is sovereign, then no person or authority figure is above it because willful violation of contracts is a sin in Islam (this is known as the principle called “the rule of law”, an idea from John Locke in the Enlightenment Age).

[42:38] As well as the ones who have responded to their Lord and established the Salat—and their matters are by consultation between themselves—and spend from what We have provided them.

[5:1] O you who believed, fulfill the contracts…

Legally Holding People in Power Accountable

The second aspect is that there is ideally, in the social contract, a system to hold the people of power accountable.

Verse 4:59 instructs to obey the “people of the command among us” (the authority figures).

But the Quran says that we should stand up for and help ourselves when infringement befalls us (42:39), and this is whether it is from the government or other people.

So how is it possible to obey the authorities while legally standing up for yourself against them at the same time?

We do so if the civilian population having legal rights like the right of protests, free assembly, petitions, checks and balances in the government, frequent and fair elections, and a court system where you can even legally put on trial the central government or any other local authority for infringing on your rights.

That way, you are standing up for yourself against the government or central authorities without technically disobeying them, because the people are given a legal avenue of expressing their grievances, holding the people in power accountable, and creating change.

[4:59] O you who believed, obey God and obey the messenger, as well as the people of the command among you…

[42:39] As well as the ones who help themselves when infringement befalls them.

Freedom of Science Requires Freedom of Speech

The Quran discourages narrow-mindedness, and encourages the use of reason (28:60), and engaging in the sciences by traveling the world and observing how God began the creation (29:20).

Understanding the “origins” of God’s creation directly involves all the sciences we know of like physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and more, and thus, the exchange of scientific knowledge must be protected under freedom of speech.

Not only that, but the Quran states that all living and nonliving things naturally worship God and do their Salat, and prostrate, but we do not understand how they do it. That means all physical matter naturally is in ceaseless worship of God by following the laws of physics and nature that God ordained, and by doing so, all matter acquires many emergent properties that we observe and measure.

Thus, in Islam, all scientific knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.) is essentially learning the extremely complex way that everything in existence worships God. This is important because the exchange of scientific knowledge thus becomes a spiritual endeavor for the Muslims, so it must be absolutely protected under freedom of speech.

[28:60] And what you have been given of anything is the enjoyment of the life of the World and its adornment, but what is with God is better and more remaining. So will you not reason?

[29:20] Say, “Travel in the earth and observe how He began the creation.” Then God will produce the production of the Hereafter. Indeed, God is Capable on everything.

[55:6] And the stars and the trees, they prostrate.

[24:41] Do you not see that whoever in the heavens and the earth sublimes God, as well as the birds which line up? Each certainly knows its Salat and its sublimation, and God is Knowledgeable of what they do.

[17:44] The seven heavens and the earth, as well as whoever are in them, sublime God; there is not anything except which sublimes Him with His praise, but instead, you do not understand their sublimation. Indeed, He has been Forbearing, Forgiving.

Accepting Something As True Without Verification is Forbidden

The Quran prohibits following anything (accepting it as true) without proper knowledge of it (17:36).

It also encourages using wisdom and good advice to invite to God’s path when debating with people (16:125).

Engaging in the sciences (as you already saw in verse 29:20), having well-informed disputes, and having access to the knowledge necessary to verify your beliefs requires the free-flow of knowledge and the freedom of speech.

Thus, this is another set of verses in support of the freedom of speech. If people are to engage in good-faith discussions about Islam, or any other religion for example, then they are entitled to accessing the knowledge needed to inform their positions.

[17:36] And do not follow what there was no knowledge of for you. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart, all of those has been that which is questioned of it.

[16:125] Call on towards the way of your Lord with the wisdom and good advice, and dispute them with that which is best…

Fair Trading Practices Mandated

One more way that Islam is compatible with Western values is that God has permitted trade (2:275) by only mutually-approved transactions (4:29), and prohibited theft (5:38), usury (2:275), bribery (2:188) and corrupt trading practices (4:29), thus property rights should be protected in accordance with the law of the land to allow for engaging in free trade with others, while barring unjust practices like insider-trading and usury, and not following through with what one pledged in contracts.

[2:275] The ones who consume usury do not stand except like how the one whom the devil confounds from the touch stands. That is because they said, “Trade is only like usury.” And God has made trade lawful, but prohibited usury.

[2:188] And do not consume your wealth amongst yourselves wrongfully, while you bribe the authorities with it so that you may consume a portion of the people’s money sinfully, while you know.

[4:29] O you who believe, do not consume your wealth between yourselves by the falsehood. But it should be that there is mutual approval of transaction among you. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, God has been Merciful with you.

[5:38] And the male thief, and the female thief, you shall thus cut their hands as a requital, regarding what they have earned, and as an exemplary punishment from God; God is Dignified, Wise.

[5:1] O you who believed, fulfill the contracts…

Wealth Inequality Made Institutionally Difficult

The Quran in many places denounces greed and promotes charity.

The Quranic system of Zakat as explained in this article (which is very different from the Zakat method found in Hadith) would be an effective tool for reducing wealth inequality if every person on this planet practices Zakat in this manner.

The Quranic inheritance system is also counterproductive to hoarding wealth because it mandates distributing shares of inheritance to multiple people at specific ratios (including sons, daughters, parents, spouses, and in some cases siblings).

In fact, it is so effective that one of the problems that come up in discussions of Islamic inheritance is how would there be enough accumulated capital to conduct investments if all the wealthy people kept distributing their capital in this manner over several generations after their death. Thus, many try to create “workarounds” to this to keep capital intact.

Ideally, instead of creating “workarounds”, the wealthy just needs to let the system do its thing, as this system would require multiple middle-class people to work together and pool money for investments, rather than just handfuls of wealthy elites making and profiting from investments by themselves.

If there was any single verse condemning wealth inequality, it would be this verse, in which God encourages the people to distribute the spoils of war to those in need to prevent the wealth from just circulating between rich people.

[59:7] What God reverted upon His messenger from the people of the towns is thus for God and His messenger, and for the relative, the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer, so that it may not circulate between the rich among you…

While welfare and entitlements aren’t directly mentioned, providing government support to those in need (if the government is able to do so), and taxpayer-funded services are a kind of collective charity that we do with our tax dollars in a democracy.

System of Conflict Resolution Mandatory

And finally, there are a multitude of Quranic verses promoting conflict resolution, reconciliation, and condemning bloodshed unless in self-defense.

It’s very likely that the greeting “salaamun alaykum” is the one chosen by God in the Quran for the believers to emphasize the importance of maintaining peace and harmony amongst the people.

So what better system of government is conducive to peace and conflict resolution than a liberal democracy where:

People have protected rights to express themselves as they wish and follow whatever religion they choose
People are governed by a body of law (like a constitution) that can be amended by the public as needed
Strong checks and balances between different parts of government
Robust anti-corruption laws
Frequent elections so that the dissatisfied public can replace their elected leaders so that the need for rebellion, bloodshed, or coups are non-existent.

U.S. President Joe Biden unintentionally called the ballot box the “battle box” a couple of times, and he is right about that in a sense; it is far better to resolve intense conflicts at the ballot box every few years rather than have them suppressed and built up to the point where the conflict is taken to an actual battlefield.

[49:10] The believers are only brethren, so make amends between your brethren and revere God, so that you may be granted mercy.

[2:224] And do not make God an excuse for your oaths that you be pious and reverent, but make amends between the people; God is Hearing, Knowledgeable.

[60:8] God does not forbid you, that you be good and just towards them (the non-Muslims), from the ones who neither fight you in the religion, nor exit you from your homes. Indeed, God likes the just ones.

[2:30] And when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I am one who places a ruler in the earth.” They said, “Will You place therein one who will spread corruption therein and shed blood, while we sublime You with Your praise and sanctify You?” He said, “Indeed, I know what you do not know.”

[8:61] But if they (non-Muslims) have leaned towards peace, then lean to it and put trust upon God. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowledgeable.

Condemning Man-Made Environmental Corruption

The Quran strongly forbids corruption of the environment, a sin that human beings are guilty of many times over since the Industrial Revolution and the agricultural revolution.

Note that the “balance” refers both to the Quran’s guidance as the balance, as well as the natural balance of the environment.

But if there was any one verse condemning man-made environmental imbalances, it is verse 30:41, which states that land and sea corruption has appeared due to the people’s own actions, and this was allowed to happen so that people may see some of the consequences of what they did and perhaps then, set things right.

[55:7-9] And the sky, He has lifted it, And He set down the Balance, so that you do not transgress in the Balance. And establish the weight justly, and do not lose the Balance.

[30:41] Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea by what the people’s hands have earned, for He may let them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the liberal democracy is the most compatible system of government with the Quran.

And even more surprisingly, the Quran is just as much a source of religious guidance as it is a handbook for progressive and liberal activism.

With that being said, there are many things that the West is doing or has done which is inherently incompatible with Islam, such as:

The needless killing of civilians in unnecessary foreign wars
Having fragmentary, for-profit healthcare that is not universally covered (at least partial universal coverage, like in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, France, Switzerland, and other countries with the best-rated healthcare systems)
Allowing many bad-for-health chemicals on food that are banned in many other countries
Corrupting the environment
Agricultural practices that mistreat animals, commit deforestation, pollute the water supply with chemical runoff, and disrupt the natural balance in other ways (Surah 55 expressly forbids “transgressing in the balance”).
And more.

The reason is because Islam tells Muslims to be maintainers of justice and to condemn injustices in multiple verses, and that means a society compatible with Islamic values must try to redress inequalities, corruption, and man-made transgressions in the natural balance of the world wherever it exists, and promote fairness wherever possible.