While exercising “Ijtihad”, we must be conversant with the scope and limitations of Western democracy.
In this context, Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi observes that Islam, speaking from the viewpoint of political philosophy, is the very antithesis of secular Western democracy.
The philosophical foundation of Western democracy is based on the sovereignty of the people. As such, absolute powers of legislation rest with the people.
Law making is their exclusive propogative and legislation is invariably subjected to the mood temper of their opinion.
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Islam on the other hand, explicitly repudiates the concept of popular sovereignty of man. It bases its polity on the foundation of the sovereignty of God and the vicegerency (Khilafat) of man. Obviously, Islam has no compatibility with Western democracy.