The Prophet's Model of Consultation: A Democratic Approach

Abstract

This paper aims at exploring the nature of Islamic Consultation, or shura, as practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It explains how Prophet Muhammad was actually remarkably democratic in his governance and how the so called ‘Western’ models of democracy were in fact mimicked by the author of the book after hundreds of years of the Prophet’s rule. Thus, understanding the verses of the Quran and the hadiths that emphasize the role of shura, the work reveals how the Prophet consulted the community in decision-making. It examines certain cases of consultation in the early Islamic state and shows how the Prophet consulted and sought the agreement of the people. Unlike the traditional history books, this research is not only a narration of the historical events but it also draws a line between and among the principles in shura and the principles in the modern democracy. This paper discusses the problems that may be associated with the adaptation of shura in today’s society, its possibilities. As the paper winds up, the author calls for implementation of consultative governance into the modern political systems to increase democracy, inclusiveness and leadership efficiency. Thus, by considering the Prophet’s model of consultation as the earliest form of democratic process, this work provides new knowledge about the Islamic political theory and its potential for the modern political systems. It strengthens democracy and knocks down the idea of Islam being incompatible with the modern democratic world; it also gives a convincing argument for the modern application of shura.

Keywords: Shura, Governance, Prophet’s Model, Democratic World, Political Theory