[quote]
Originally posted by mAd_ScIeNtIsT:
*Maulana Maududi's works about the nature of a state founded on the principles of *Tawheed, Risalat, and Khilafat made it clear that the Islamic system is a democratic one.
What distinguishes Islamic democracy from Western democracy is that whilst the latter is based on the concept of popular sovereignty, the former rests on the principle of popular Khilafat.
In Western Secular democracy, the people are sovereign; in Islam sovereignty rests with Allah and the people are his caliphs or representatives. (Khilafat literally meaning "representation".)
In Western Secular democracy, the people make thier own laws, in Islamic democracy they have to follows the laws (Shari'ah) given by Allah through His Prophet (pbuh).
In Western Secular democracy, the government undertakes to fulfill the will of the people; in Islamic democracy the government and the people who form it have one and all to execute the instructions of Allah.
In brief, Western democracy is a kind of absolute authority which exercises its powers in a free an uncontrolled manner, whereas the Islamic democracy is subservient to the Divine Law and exercises its authority in conformity with the injunctions of Allah and within the limits prescribed by him.
[This message has been edited by mAd_ScIeNtIsT (edited April 07, 2002).]**
[/quote]
Prety much right!
"Only for Allah and to gain His pleasure"