The Islamic Perspective on Freedom and Human Rights

This chapter expounds on the Islamic perspective on freedom and human rights, and draws references from multiple Islamic thinkers on the subject. It asserts that freedom, according to the Islamic worldview, is a trust, a responsibility, an awareness of the truth, a commitment to follow it, and a dying to self for its sake. According to its literal meaning, freedom is permission and choice, or simply following one's instincts. Freedom is thus the power to choose between good and evil—a divinely appointed responsibility. Furthermore, according to the specialists in legal theory, in its ethical and legal meaning freedom means “conformity.” Freedom is to exercise responsibility in a positive way, fulfilling one's duty in in a spirit of obedience by following what is commanded and avoiding what is forbidden.

On the Concept of Freedom in the West

This chapter examines the Western concept of freedom. It links this concept to human rights and expounds on its history in the West. Here, the origin of the various declarations of human rights is associated with the historical rise of the bourgeoisie and, fundamentally, with the struggle that took place between the new class of merchants and industry leaders on the one hand and the kings, feudal lords, and the church on the other. In fact, the chapter argues that to conceive of the free agent as a person without any outside pressure underlines a negative and mechanical definition of individual freedoms. It asserts that the balance of powers—political power, domination, and wealth—are the true determining factors of rights and freedoms in the West. Despite these, the chapter stresses that the development of human rights is indeed significant; it is only that such a legacy fails to shine through from within Western political and economic structures as well as the international arena.

The Concept of Tyranny

This chapter explores the concept of tyranny across three different schools of thought. It first studies the Marxist school, in which tyranny is only one of many faces of political struggle, and every political struggle is at root an economic issue—that is, the class struggle for control over the forces of production. Next, the chapter turns to tyranny as understood in the Western democratic school. According to this school, the human person inclines toward evil as they do toward the good, thus one must take the necessary steps to curb one's inclination toward evil. Finally, tyranny is briefly explored through the Islamic conception of the state.

The Basic Principles of Islamic Governance

This chapter concerns the basic principles of an Islamic political system. Within the context of a growing Western impact on Muslim lands, the chapter offers a blueprint based on the unity of Islam and politics. It shows that the structure of the Islamic state that developed in Medina provided all the elements necessary to any state, like a people (umma), a territory, a political authority, and a legal system. Using precise wording, Medina's constitution or charter (al-sahifa) defined the groups that constituted the state—one by one it listed the Muslims, the Jews, and the pagans—all of them forming together a political umma. The document mentions their rights and duties as citizens of the state. In effect, each person was a member of the Islamic umma in their political dimension. Together they laid the solid foundation of an Islamic civilization in which hundreds of ethnic groups and tribes from different faith traditions gathered in response to a divine call.

Basic Democratic Principles

This chapter discusses basic democratic principles. Here, the issue of political freedoms in the modern era can hardly be separated from democratic systems of government, simply because democracy offers the best system of governance, which when applied enables citizens to practice their basic freedoms, including political ones. In this light, the chapter considers the basic principles which make a political system democratic. It also considers the evolution of a democratic system as well as what this evolution entails and what impulses have driven it. The chapter also seeks ways in which the democratic system might be improved. To conclude, the chapter explores the basic principles of an Islamic political system.

The Basic Principles for Combating Injustice in the Islamic State

This chapter examines the solutions in Islamic thought that can curb state tyranny, for the benefit of freedom, justice, and the human rights of citizens. It shows that Islam has the power to absorb the democratic process and repurpose it so it becomes the rule of the people enlightened by the divine law. It has the power especially to nudge the Islamists in a clearly democratic direction. In the end, however, the chapter argues that freedom and human rights in Islam are not slogans like political lobbying or power equations; they are creeds and religious rituals that are taught to young Muslims. No political party or state enacts them; neither does a particular class or people in order to bolster their privileges. Rather, they are mandatory, sacred laws that that must be put into practice as duties and not simply as rights.

Translator’s Introduction

This introductory chapter provides some historical and political context underlining the volume's writings. It first discusses the importance of Rached Ghannouchi's works and their relevancy during a politically charged period of “Islamophobia.” The chapter then explains the meaning of “political Islam” and sets it apart from other terms, such as “Islamism.” It also discusses the eminent French scholar of political Islam, François Burgat. The chapter explores Burgat's work; his relationship with the author, Rached Ghannouchi; and how his works appear throughout Ghannouchi's writings in this volume. Finally, this chapter reviews some recent scholarly literature which shed further light on political Islam, before providing some additional remarks on the translation of this volume.