caliphate as a political system: historical myth or future reality? by tahir m. qazi, md
TRANSCRIPT
CALIPHATE AS A POLITICAL SYSTEM:
HISTORICAL MYTH OR FUTURE REALITY?
By
Tahir M. Qazi, MD
History
CultureTheology
Historic NostalgiaDisenfranchiseme
ntIdentity Politics
CALIPH & CALIPHATE
Surah Nur V55:
“Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them ….”
Translation by Abdullah Yusufali
CALIPH & CALIPHATE
“The Caliph (Arabic: خليفة ḫalīfah/khalīfah) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic
community ruled by the Shari'ah.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliph
(Accessed on August 12, 2014)
CALIPH & CALIPHATE
Religion of History
Religions of Theology
CALIPH & CALIPHATE
“…. This makes it clear what the caliphate means. (To exercise) natural royal authority means to cause the masses to act as required by purpose and desire. (To exercise) political (royal authority) means to cause the masses to act as required by intellectual (rational) insight into the means of furthering their worldly interests and avoiding anything that is harmful (in that respect). (And to exercise) the caliphate means to cause the masses to act as required by religious insight into their interests in the other world as well as in this world.”
The Meaning of Caliphate and Imamate
The Muqaddima – Ibn-e-Khaldun
CALIPHATE FOR WHAT?
Will Caliphate be Able to Solve Identity Crises?
Will One Caliphate Work Across the Globe?
Will One Caliphate Bridge Sectarian Divide?
What is the Malaise in Muslim Societies?
NATURE OF MALAISE IN MUSLIM COUNTIES
1. Material Poverty
2. Intellectual Stagnation
3. Political Weakness
COMPARISON OF SOCIAL REALITY
Muslim Population 1.6 B
GDP 5.3 Trillion US Dollar
22 Countries Least or Low Income
EU Population 500 Million
GDP 16.58 Trillion US Dollars
RESULT OF CALIPHATE-GOVERNANCE
London: 2.7x Higher
Amsterdam: 90% Higher
Paris: 60% Higher
The Eve of WW1
Istanbul offered Highest Wages to Unskilled Workers
Seveket Pamuk. Estimating GDP Ottoman EmpireEuropean Historical Economics Society 2007
QUESTIONS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
• Peace of Westphalia 1648
• Social Contract
• How to Limit Ruler to the Mundane only?
• Sovereignty – God or People?
SPIRITUALIZATION OF POLITICS
• Coercive powers & rulers’ need for legitimacy
• Caliphate-model blends spirituality with State-Craft
• This blend obviates the need for additional legitimacy
Long View of History
Sacred Secular
Future of Caliphate
Khilafat-o-Malukiyat, the duties of the ruler:
“To command people to be obedient to God’s edicts and prevent sinful behavior” and “To administer “Hudood imposed by God”
Maulana MaududiKhilafat-o-Malukiyat p289
Edara Tarjamn-ul-Koran
QAZI’S MAXIM:
World is composed of facts that steer history.
Two major determinants of social and political stability - demography and geography.
Muslim Population
In 2010
1.6 Billion
In 2030
2.2 Billion(35%)
Most of population growth from poor countries.
Does Caliphate Model has a solution to the geographically
distant & culturally divers Muslims?
What about a “Secular Caliph?
Alexander Hamilton:
“whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing
good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are
forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident
and force”