Islam is generally equated with “theocracy” but here again Islamic theocracy is exclusively different from the European concept of theocracy.
In the latter case, a priestly class, overriding the interests of the rest of the population, exercises unchecked domination and enforces laws of its own making in the name of God. This “theocracy” imposes its own divinity and godhood upon the common people.
Its loud claims notwithstanding, this system of government is diabolical rather than divine. Contrary to this, the theory propounded by Islam is not ruled by any particular religious clan but by the whole community of Muslim.
The entire Muslim population runs the affairs of the State in accordance with Book of God and the practice of the Holy Prophet. Maulana Maududi calls this system of government as Theo-Democracy.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
In this system, Muslims are granted a limited popular sovereignty under the suzerainty of God. The Executive Head is elected by the general will of the Muslims who have also the right to depose him.
All administrative matters and all questions, about which no explicit injunctions are available in the Sharia, are also settled by the consensus of opinion among the Muslims.
Any Muslim competent to give a sound opinion on matters of Islamic law is entitled to interpret the law of God when such an interpretation becomes necessary.
Viewed in this context, the Islamic polity is democratic in its approach. But at the same time, it is “theocracy” in the sense that where an explicit command of God or that of His Prophet already exists, no individual or institution can form an independent judgement, not even the entire Muslim Ummah has any right to make any alteration in it.