On Muslim Democracy: Essays and Dialogues
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/shajarah.v29i1.1839Abstract
Rached Ghannouchi and Andrew F. March, On Muslim Democracy: Essays and Dialogues. Oxford University Press, New York City, 2023. 248 pp. ISBN 9780197666876.
The compatibility of Islam and democracy is an old theme. The concept of Shura or, consultation, for example, is often invoked by many as one of the finest examples of democratic dialogue on how a leader could be elected after the demise of Prophet Muhammad. The Messenger of Islam himself is often seen as a democrat. After all, he often made decisions through deliberate consultations. Then again, how could the Prophet not have made any decisions in any way or form that is democratic when he led eighty out of a total of eighty-seven military expeditions during his role as the Messenger of Islam. Why then the need to explain time and again that Islam is compatible to democracy? Why can't it be taken as an article of faith for the lack of a better word?