Authority or power to rule according to Islam is a trust “amanat” of the people and not a birth right of any one.

The Holy Quran says: Verily Allah commands you to give over the trusts to those entitled to them and that when you judge between them, you judge with justice.

The nature of this trust is indicated later thus “to establish regular prayer, pay Zakat, enjoin good upon the people and to restrain them from doing wrong.”

These are the objectives of an Islamic state to achieve, which those placed in power or authority must strive.

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This concept of trust automatically brings in the concept .of accountability because a trustee is in law liable to rendering account not only to the people who appoint him but also to God.

The Purpose of the State

What are the fundamental objects for which Islam advocates the establishment of an Islamic state? These objects, as defined and explained in the Quran and the Sunnah, are as follows:

The Quran says:

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“Certainly we sent our Messenger with clear proof, and sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that people may conduct themselves with equity.”

At another place it has been said:

“(Muslims are) those who, if we give them power in the land, establish the system of Satat (worship) and Zakat (Poor dues) and virtue and forbid evil.”32

The Holy Prophet (peace is upon Him) said: Allah brings to an end through the State what He does not eradicate with the Quran.

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In other words, the evils which are not eradicated through the preaching of the Quran need the coercive power of the State to eradicate them.

This means that the main objects of the Islamic state were to enforce and implement with all the resources of its organised power that reformatory programme which Islam has given for the betterment of mankind.

Mere establishment of peace, mere pro­tection of national frontiers, more endeavour to raise the standard of living of the common man, do not form its ultimate goal, nor do they constitute the characteristics which distinguish the Islamic state from the non-Islamic states.

Its distinction lies in the fact it has to encourage and popularise those good practices which Islam desires humanity to adopt and to discourage, eradicate and crush with full force all activities which are detrimental to the Islamic State.