| Sl.# |
Topic / area |
Islamic state |
Secular state |
| 1 |
State |
First Islamic State was established in Medina and it expanded over the continents under the single central rule of Caliphate. [Now-a-days, a new term has been invented “Muslims Country” which basically means a Muslim majority secular nation. We should not confuse a Muslim country with an Islamic state.] |
States are divided into geographical boundaries on the basis of language, race, culture and religion. |
| 2 |
Governance |
The Caliph is considered a representative of Allah – the supreme authority where Qur’an is the constitution and Sunnah is the by-laws. Power is normally handed over to the next best leadership either by selection, nomination of even election. Freedom and justice is upheld for all citizens at any cost ensuring economic support from the government for the poor and destitute. |
Have what is called a democracy or socialism or communism, etc with either a President or a Prime Minister as a top leader backed by a political party or the armed forces. Transfer of power after a term (normally five years) takes place through an election process that may or may not be rigged. Although a democratic system claims to be a process of people’s power by representation, but in reality people hardly have any control in it. This matter becomes apparent when a time for impeachment comes. Usually have a written constitution that gets thrown out of the window at a time of crisis. Besides, majority of the citizens of a state with a constitution is unaware of it and what contains in it; thus remains totally unaware of their so called civil rights. |
| 3 |
Society |
Predominantly Muslims regardless of ethnicity, race and culture who mostly engage in worship of Allah and center their lifestyle on Islamic principles and teachings. |
Predominantly people from a same ethnicity, race, culture and religious background. The citizens may have a religious connection but normally upholds secularism above their religions. |
| 4 |
Family life |
Men are the primary bread earners of a family where women stay at home taking care of other family members and protecting the wealth and properties including rearing children. Free mixing of male and female is not allowed in Islamic society, as a result women folks are ordered by Allah to wear hijab with an option to wear nikab when they are to present themselves in front of males other than the ones allowed. Marriage is seen as a way of building social relationships with a legal binding and act of responsibility. Children are known primarily on the basis of the progeny of the father. This arrangement prevents and / or discourages illegal birth of a child in the society out of wedlock. |
Both men and women are encouraged to work and therefore free mixing of sexes are allowed and encouraged. As a result the society is promiscuous and people tend not to marry and prefer common law under which a couple could live together as a husband and wife without any legal binding and responsibilities to each other having and rearing children without any legal bindings. Children are known by the progeny of the mother but not necessarily of the father as it is not always possible to assert who the real father is in a promiscuous relationship nor does it really matter in a society like this. For instance, Barak Obama is said to be the love child meaning an illegal child born out of wedlock is a President of the USA and people have accepted him that way. |
| 5 |
Economics |
Toil and trading is encouraged in the Qur’an as a way of life when it comes to making a living. Prophet (S) himself was a trader in his young life looking after the business of Khadija (R) who became his wife later. Many of the companions of the Prophet (S) were traders. Others toiled in regular jobs helping each other for a pre-negotiated pay. A national treasury used to collect compulsory zakat (poor due @ 2 ½ %) from the rich Muslims and disburse to the needy in an organized manner following the Islamic principles. Non-Muslims paid zizya (tax) for an equivalent amount or higher as determined by the state to the treasury that went to other developmental activities. Muslims also encouraged paying sadaqah (charities) on a regular basis through out the year voluntarily. |
Encourages employment for higher tax earnings; also encourages growth and development of businesses for job creation through bank loans with interests. Tax areas include income, sales or VAT, property, which could run up to an exuberant 50% or higher! In addition, corporations also pay taxes on the same amount that goes to the employees who are taxed again on the same taxed amount! A secular system is extremely expensive to run and maintain where the government employees enjoy job securities and tax free income on people’s money! Some rich philanthropists engage in some charity work often on some return motives or under some strict conditions. |
| 6 |
Way of life |
Muslims live a simple life sharing their personal resources with their neighbors harmonizing the society as a whole to achieve equilibrium. They go to bed early in order to wake up the next day in the early morning to offer fajr (morning) prayer in jammat (congregation) to begin the day. This results in proper use of daylight. They work 7 days a week taking a breaks for prayers in jamaat especially on Friday for Jumma congregation prayer closing all their businesses and engagements during the prayer times. Therefore, the concept of ‘weekend’ is absent. Muslims see this Earth as a transit to a permanent life after death where all good actions done in life will be rewarded by Allah. Therefore, they do not care much for this world and prefers a simple lifestyle to stay focused on prayers and worships. |
People living under a secular system aspire for good and luxurious lifestyle on Earth as they hardly believe in a life after death. They see this world as the only life to live, so they try to live it to the fullest even if it means by hook or by crook. Care for morality and ethics is a rare in a secular society while lust and greed is random. They stay up late after sunset watching TV or other engagements and wakes up much later after sun rise to rush to work for a normal eight hour a day shift. Some work other shifts depending on the nature of their job. This rat race makes them tired; as a result they take two days (Saturday and Sunday) off from work calling it a weekend to rest and to enjoy recouping for another week race. Religious minded people often pay a weekly visit to their respective houses of worship (Jews on Saturdays, and Christians on Sunday) but the number is considerably low. |
| 7 |
Military |
An Islamic state did not maintain standing armed forces as the nation made peace treaties with its neighboring nations to reduce the chances of wars and invasions. However, if a treaty was broken, the entire nation prepared for an all out war to tackle the threats, often conquering the enemies to bring peace and justice. |
Maintains standing armed forces with a huge price tag on national budget. Threats, invasions and counter invasions are common between the secular states mainly on political and economical grounds. Secret espionages are also common between the secular nations to seek out and steal each others resources and information that often results in armed confrontations. |
| 8 |
Judiciary |
Justice is done on the basis of Islamic laws called the Sahriah, which is basically a guideline from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Normally the head of state or the heads of the regional government takes part in the judiciary process to ensure justice. Cases are handled on case by case basis judging the evidences and proofs. Most of the punishments are pre-declared in Islam as a result citizens do not engage in any criminal activities knowing well what would be the punishment if caught. Some of those punishments are declared by Allah Himself in the Qur’an and some have been implemented by the Prophet (S) following the commandments of the Qur’an. There is no cost in judgment of cases and the cases were resolved almost as soon as they occurred. |
There are professional lawyers, barristers and judges at different levels of courts where the cases are handled by them. The head of state or the top executive authorities do not get involved in the judicial process; but appoints a Chief Justice of his or her liking not necessarily on the basis of merit. Justice is done on the basis of evidences and proofs as well as in reference to prior judgments of similar cases. As a result, they have volumes of growing law books with records of all landmark cases. They use their own judgment to judge a case depending on evidences and support on hand to close a case as they do not have any divine criterion to help them to judge a matter. Often judgments are done in secrets if and when there is an ill political motive. The judicial process is expensive and difficult often leading to harassment for a long time to close a case. Victimizing and suffering of innocent is not uncommon in such a system. |
| 9 |
Medical & Health services |
No direct documented record is found on how the medical issues of the citizens were handled. What we find however that Prophet (S) himself used to care for the ill and the sick and used to pay visits to them and offer prayers and suggestions on how to recover. It is assumed that the costs of medical services were taken up by the state through the baitul maal or treasury. In modern day we find that most Arab countries do have a concept of free medical services in place where the state absorbs all costs in serving the ill and the sick. Relatively, living simple lives ensures a good health and happy life. We do not find any record of serious illness affecting the Muslim population anywhere and anytime in the history as we find for West when Plague was an epidemic. There are many references to some food and minerals that are beneficial to health, while at the same time there are some prohibitions as well. For instance, Muslims are not allowed to eat pork or anything of it and not allowed to drink any form of intoxicants or alcohol drinks. Abstaining from both definitely carries health benefits that are scientifically verified. |
Some secular governments have adopted either free or partially free medical service for their citizens. However, they do have an insurance policy in place in order to recover the costs of providing the services. For instance, Canada offers basic medical services for free where the citizens either pay a basic insurance premium (depending on their level of income). If the citizen is unable to pay then the province makes the payment on his or her behalf. Ontario government pays full premium for all its residents. Despite this arrangement, not all medical treatments are free; there are some treatments (say dental and vision) where the citizens are not fully covered. Normally, medical treatment at Western countries is very expensive for complex treatments. Many citizens of those countries comes to Asian countries to receive treatment to save costs, which is considerably lower compared to the cost at their own homes. |
| 10 |
Education |
Education in an Islamic state was not only free, but it was heavily stressed for all men and women in the society. Teachers were regarded as honorable citizens and treated with honor and respect. Internationally acclaimed schools and universities flourished in Alexandria, Cordova, Spain, and other locations during the Islamic empire where students from all over the globe used to come to study. |
Primary or secondary education is free in some countries, if not all. But private schools and colleges are also flourish alongside. Higher education is normally very expensive with some exceptions like Germany and some Scandinavian countries where higher education costs are fully subsidized by the state even for non-citizens. |
| 11 |
Bureaucracy |
Bureaucracy is something that has gradually developed as the state grew in population and size. In the beginning during the time of the Prophet (S), the prophet himself was in charge of all affairs. People used to come to him for advice and suggestions. Later, the caliphs did the same and appointed deputies in far off localities to look after the civil affairs. Administrative mechanism developed for better control and service dispatches. Unlike today, citizens used to enjoy much freedom in their day to day activities as long as it complied with Islamic principles. Citizens themselves used to police on one another rectifying each other. If they failed to settle a matter themselves then they used to seek help from the person in authority. It is therefore, assumed that the chain of command was not there as the top person was accessible if and when there was a need. |
Secular governments are usually large in setup and contain a long chain of command. Top officials are not readily accessible by the common citizens; and therefore chances of harassment increases. Citizens are strictly regulated by different laws and regulations as governments attempt to interfere in most activities of a citizen. Government bureaucracy tends to interfere in sources of all incomes to impose taxes in it and even on expenditures to tax on it again! Wealth and possessions of a citizen needs to be reported to the state revenue offices for tax assessment and relief’s as determined by the law. Corruption is more or less a major factor in the bureaucracy in pretty much all kind of secular system. Therefore, harassment of common citizens is common when they seek government services. |
| 12 |
Politics |
Politics is something that is totally absent in Islamic governance. As a result all citizens take interest and part in national issues directly with the top state officials of a region. There are plenty of evidences in the history of Islam and hadiths where we find that common citizens questioning the officials for explanations for many different issues even personal to check and balance corruptions ensuring transparencies in dealings. |
Politics is a part and parcel of secular system. At least one party political party has to be there in order to make a secular system work that automatically leads to a dictatorial governance (take communism for instance). It is almost impossible to have a corruption free governance in a political party based system. Oppression is tied to political based governance where often we find the governments goes against the will of the majority people persecuting them using the armed forces that is sustained by the contributions (taxes) by the people! And the armed forces often sides with the corrupt government as their well being is attached to their existence. Therefore, they hardly feel any remorse in betraying the people and the entire nation. Presently we are witnessing this scenario in some Middle Eastern countries. |
| 13 |
Supreme Authority |
In an Islamic state “Allah” is the supreme authority whose commands (The Qur’an) is considered as the “constitution” of the state and the practices of the Prophet (S) through references in the sunnah / hadiths are considered the by-laws or methodologies of running all affairs. Therefore, “justices” always prevails in an Islamic society under the rule of a god fearing caliph who never dares to go against the Islamic principles believing that one day he would have to face the Lord God Almighty for accountability of all his actions and decisions. It is important to note that females are not allowed to play the role of a caliph or take up any top positions in the government of an Islamic state because their duties and responsibilities lies at home. |
It is always a human being (male or female) who assumes the supreme authority of a secular system not only denouncing any share of power of god, but denying gods existence altogether! Thus resulting in a godless society where man-made laws prevail. All these “laws” are flexible on “trial and error” methods that could be replaced at anytime when no longer functional or applicable. Making of these laws could come from majority demand or on governmental pressures that may or may not favor the citizens. Greed, lust and abuse of power are a common matter in pretty much all types of secular system around the world. |
In an Islamic State can Christians/Jews be judged or rule by their own laws ?
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