"If Arab regimes are in dire need of reform, why should we postpone it? Why wait until others ask us?" Qaradawi maintained

By Hamam Abdelmaboud, IOL Staff

CAIRO, June 6 (IslamOnline.net) – Democracy is compatible with the spirit and teachings of Islam which opposes autocracy and tyranny, prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi averred.

He repudiated claims propagated by some that democracy is incompatible with Islam or that it is an act of kufr (disbelief).

"If democracy is synonymous with the rule of people, it is thus running counter to the rule of one man not the rule of God," Qaradawi told worshippers in a Doha mosque on Friday, June 4.

"Islam does not accept the rule of despots."

He also criticized the distorted form of democracy applied in some countries where the ruler would get 99.99% in elections.

"What kind of democracy is this?" asked Qaradawi.

He added that Islam is not against the election system adopted by western democracies.

"Islam does not prevent taking from others what could be of benefit to us. Islam wants the ruler to be liked and chosen by his people."

The veteran scholar recalled that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had carried out a majority vote on one of the issues related to the Battle of Uhud.

"Voting is a deeply-rooted Islamic system."

Qaradawi reaffirmed in an earlier fatwa that shura [consultation] has always been good for the Muslim society, and autocracy has always been evil since the beginning of mankind history.

He said that Islam should take the "good", and abandon the "bad" from western countries, giving the example of legalizing same-sex marriage in some European countries.

He criticized Arab and Islamic republics where "sons inherit the presidency from their fathers," dismissing this as "Bid`ah [innovation in religion]."

"This is not democracy. We want a true democracy based on transparency and openness where people are free [to choose]."

Qaradawi asserted that "freedom should be the first demand for Arab and Muslim peoples, before calling for the application of Shari'ah."

"Religious Duty"

The veteran scholar told the attentive worshippers that reform has become a "religious duty" and a necessity dictated by reality, calling on Arab and Islamic countries to take the process in their own hands.

"If Arab regimes are in dire need of reform, why should we postpone it? Why wait until others ask us?"

"We want our countries to be liberated from the shackles of despots," Qaradawi said.

"We want the peoples to able to say yes or no, … to breathe".

Officials and scholars participating in an Istanbul-hosted conference on Islam and democracy maintained the two were compatible.

"Shari'ah includes rights and foundations well-established enough to build a democratic society," said Imam Al-Dar Qutni, an Indonesian lawmaker.