Whether Islam and Democracy Compatible

Democracy promotes individual participation in decision-making in an environment that allow for a full and frank discussion of ideas and demands. Muslims in SIS (as reported by Malaysiakini), for example, hold the belief that anyone may discuss in public space any policy and law that affect their life and rights. In the case of syariah law, if it affects the life and rights of non-Muslims, they have the right to political participation in a public debate on the matter.

On the contrary, for Muslims who believe that only special persons who have authority in Islamic law (ulama) may speak about the teachings of Islam, democracy is incompatible with Islam. For these people, no place for non-Muslim to speak about Islam, not only because they have no authority but also they are out-groups and the lowest-class citizens who have no rights for equality and fairness. Even within internal Muslim communities, not all Muslims may speak about Islamic law.

These Muslims believe that Islam is the best religion, for all mankind. Islamic law is divine and just law. So, if the application of Syariah law affects the live of non-Muslims and their legal rights, they needn’t to question and challenge because it is just and good for them. Islamic law is God’s law and better than man-made law. If you challenge syariah law, you challenge God. Therefore, Islamic law cannot be challenged.

Meanwhile, in democracy a law is man-made—by law-makers in parliament. They are men, elected in a popular vote. They are not God. Therefore, what they make can be challenged. There are Muslims who perceive that when God’s law has been interpreted by men and formulated or written down into codes and statutes by those are elected in democratic election, it is no longer Divine law. It is a product of popular authority. Therefore, it can be challenged. For this kind of Muslims, democracy is compatible with Islam.