✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The Ruler Should Decide Through Consultation
➊ Allah Almighty says:
وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ
📖 [Āl ʿImrān: 159]
“And consult them in matters (of importance).”
➋ And He says:
وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ
📖 [Ash-Shūrā: 38]
“Their affairs are conducted by mutual consultation among themselves.”
➌ It is established from various incidents that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would seek consultation from his Companions, such as:
① Before the Battle of Badr
② Regarding the prisoners of Badr
③ Before the Battle of Uhud (whether to go out of Madinah or not)
④ In the incident of Ifk (the false accusation)
⑤ Regarding the return of the women and children captives of Banū Hawāzin
After the Prophet ﷺ, the Khulafāʾ al-Rāshidīn (Rightly Guided Caliphs) also continued this practice of Shūrā (consultation).
📚 References:
Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuh: 8/6201
Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 1/287
Adab ad-Dunyā wa ad-Dīn – al-Māwardī: p. 496
Sīrah Ibn Hishām: 2/253
Aḥkām al-Qur’ān – al-Jaṣṣāṣ: 2/40
Tafsīr al-Ālūsī: 4/107
