Is Islam incompatible with democracy?

Answer 1

Of course Islam is incompatible with democratic thought. The other two major monotheistic faiths – Judaism and Christianity – are also inimical to a democratic system. Any religious system where authority comes from a singular source, and is then vested in individuals, who are appointed by divine fiat, cannot support democracy, because a fundamental tenet of democracy is that governmental structure and laws are not the result of divine inheritance, but they are instead based on the preference of the people. Jesus, Muhammad, and all the prophets of Judaism ran their religious movements on a dictatorial system. No voting ever took place as to what is moral or what isn’t. No follower input was asked concerning who will be the spiritual leader of the movement

That is why religion, of almost any persuasion, must stay separate from government. It’s unfortunate that both Christian nations and the Jewish people have learned this truism, but predominately Muslim countries still mesh religion and politics into a volatile mix.

Answer 2

What you have to realize is that Islam is far more than a religion, its a way of life. If the teachings of Islam are implemented properly there would be no conflict with Islam and democracy (unless it transgresses what is good like pre-marital sex, drugs, alcohol, etc). We should recognize that democracy does not give us the right to do what ever we want, and we should see the limitations in Democracy. Democracy does give us the right to act stupid but how many of us want to be seen as someone stupid?

The unfortunate thing today in the Muslim countries is that we have gone to extremes, the difference being that Islamic countries have gone the other way, from western countries in extremes. Another problem is that culture and traditions that are not Islamic in nature are found throughout the Islamic world. Honor killings, arranged marriage, killing of innocent people are not Islamic and go against the true teachings of this wonderful faith

Answer 3

Absolutely not. Maybe an unshared fundamentalist belief would make it incompatible, but democracy could easily thrive in an islamic society.

BUT, do it hink it will work in the middle east any time soon? No. Its not the islamic part thats the problem, its the fact that A: its being forced on them (which defeats the purpose of democracy and freedom), and B: the fundamentalists (the politically most active people) are against it, so it wont work as of now.

its the fundis fault, not the fact that theyre muslim.

Answer 4

No it's not incompatible because Islam follows the Quran and it says "there is no compulsion in religion" sura 2 verse 56 so islam allows for freedom of religion and since a democracy means freedom of religion then Islam is compatible with democracy.

Answer 5

All hierarchical religions are incompatible with democracy. You don't see any democracy in the Catholic church hierarchy, do you? And not very much in the hierarchy of other religions.

But that doesn't mean that those people can't have a democratic government. It isn't their religion that prevents it. It is their belief that they can take the law into their own hands. It is cultural, not religious.

Answer 6

No. I had to think about this one a bit. Islam is very much about "obey the messenger", but the messenger has been gone for 1400 years, so it is possible at least in principle for Islam to be compatible with democracy. Turkey is probably the best example of a state which is doing a decent job of it.

Answer 7

Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, SAROJINI NAIDU says:

"It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: 'God Alone is Great'... I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother."
(S. Naidu, IDEALS OF ISLAM, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, p. 169)

Answer 8

Given the insight that Islamic conscience must always maintain its autonomy in the face of political authority, any Islamic rationale for obedience to a historical, contingent, state is a matter of voluntary assent, an ijma‘ of the Umma, and not an article of faith. It is only for the sake of existential security and common good that Muslims constitute a polity in a limited sense. Faith is the truth of Islam, polity is its method. For all its ‘transcendental' rationale, governance in Islam is a dispensable communitarian business, not an indispensable affair of faith. No wonder that our tradition understands it the believer's fard kifaya.

Answer 9

Ala Bill Clinton, you must know what the meaning of "is" is.......Islam, as outlined in the Koran, is compatible with democracy. Unfortunately, there are apparently many versions of Islam, that subscribe to various interpretations of the Koran. Not dissimilar to faiths based upon the Bible, however I do not know of any modern Bible based faiths that espouse elimination of other groups of people. At our core in this country, we want everyone to have certain undeniable rights..life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness, for everyone....even Islamics...cross that line and we will defend ourselves......

Answer 10

Maybe to some, it's not compatible the secular world but not for democracy.
Islam actually tells people to pick people based on their merits and it started right after the death of prophet Muhammed's death when people picked his first successor based on his knowledge as the first incharge of Islam.
This is one of the reason why there are arguments between Shia and Sunni Muslims because Shai wanted the successor to be from Muhammed's blood line. If anything, I hate to admit, it's Shia Muslims who are not compatible with democracy.