01-19-2005, 07:08 PM
Quote: Addendum:
I do not understand why Afghanistan was not an Islamic state. My understanding was that Mullah Omar was the leader of an Emirate, and the Sharia was the law of the land. How come Afghanistan did not qualify (by definition) as an Islamic state? Were not the accomplishments of the Taliban the model for others to emulate? Where did I go wrong? My source is a CIA study of the country, but I would like to know what you know.
Any sources and/or select bibliography you may have about Afghanistan under the Taliban's leadership is most gratefully appreciated. Thanks!
Student
When proving something to be Islamic we need to refer back to the Islamic texts rather than rationalising as to why such and such country is not Islamic.
The best of examples for us is Muhammad (saw) so we should refer back to him.
When Muhammad (saw) established the Islamic state in medinah, medinah was not the Islamic state just because Muhammad (saw) entered medinah. If that was the case then Muhammad (saw) would've gone to Medinah after the 1st pledge of Al-Aqabah!
There are a number of conditions which a state should have for it to be Islamic.
One of those is that the authority belongs to the ummah and the ummah has to transfer the authority of ruling to the leader. This is when the 2nd pledge of Al-Aqabah took place where the 70 or so men and 2 women pledged to Rasool (saw). These people were the influential people of Medinah who represented the muslims so they transferred the authority on their behalf. Not forgetting that Musab ibn Umayr taught people of medinah Islam and moulded their thoughts, ideas, concepts etc. and incorporated within the muslims of Medinah the Islamic personality.
This transfer or bayah carried on even after Rasool (saw) as no ruler which came after Rasool (saw) took office without the bayah.
As for the current states, which muslims have given them the bayah i.e. pledge of ruling (consent to rule by Islam on their behalf) just like Rasool (saw) did from the muslims from Medinah?
Hope that answers that question inshallah.