Democratic Decision Making in Islam: Evidence from the Practices of the Early Islamic Khulafa

Abstract

Majority opinion and political participation are vital in democratic decision making processes. In Islam too, these two factors are deemed to be central in decision making process. Analysis of the practices of the early caliphs demonstrates that political participation in the early Islamic state was obviously evident. However, the form of participation was qualitative and not quantitative; thus, it was not an exact prototype to the present day democratic system. Decisions were qualitatively participatory regarding issues at the central level but quantitative aspect was given foremost consideration in general regarding issues of the decentralized areas. The practices of the early Islamic caliphs prescribe four different methods of participation in political decision making. What is even more is that the process clearly advanced from limited to greater participation of the people, which is to say that democratic decision making was inherent in the Islamic political system.