Shura ~ Ideal Procedure for Consensus Building
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
147 |
| Khutbah Date: |
04/29/05 |
لا ندم من استشارThe one who engages in mutual consultation will not regret. [Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]Definition of ShuraThe lexical meaning of the verb
ashaara is to get the honey out of its sources or to point to something. So it is as if the one who engages in
shura is helping in getting the best out of something / pointing to the right choice in an issue. Shura is an important Islamic pillar in social interaction; “
those who answered the call of their Lord, and establish regular prayer, and whose affairs are conducted by mutual consultation, and who spend out of what We bestow on them for sustenance”
[Qur’an - Surah Al-Shura 42:38] The principle of
shura is mentioned three places in the Qur’an;
- First, وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِ “And consult them in the conduct of affairs. ” [Qur’an 3:159]
- Second, وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ “who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation. ” [Q 42:38]
- Third, فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالاً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا “If they wean the child by mutual consent and consultation. ” [Q 2:233]
In the first two verses, the words
amr and
shura are used together, which explain the deep significance of this principle. The word
amr in Arabic is used to convey several meanings which include every important instruction, order / action, conveying a command, ordinance, or decree, or implying power and authority; as well as to express the special attributes of Allah, as mentioned in the Qur’an
[7:54, 11:123, 3:154, 13:31, 17:85] .
Shura in all aspects of lifeSayyid Qutb said that the verse
and whose affairs are conducted by Shura [Q42:32] was revealed in Makkah,
(i.e. before the establishment of the Muslim state).
This means that shura is not confined to state affairs but extends to include all aspects of the life of the Muslim community. The verse of
Surah Shura [Q 42:38] thus means that in every matter which is of some significance, whether relating to government, any decree or ordinance, or significant matter; good Muslims always consult each other and discuss things among themselves before any final decision is made. The Islamic way of life requires that the principle of consultation be used in every collective affair, big or small. If it is a domestic affair, the
husband and the wife should act by mutual consolation, and when the children have grown up, they should be consulted. Consultation is thus an important pillar of the Islamic way of life, and to conduct the affairs of collective life without consultation is an expressed violation of the law prescribed by Allah.
Prophetic ExampleIt was the general practice of the Prophet (pbuh) always to consult those around him on all public matters and specifically at most crucial times. The
seerah of the Prophet is full of examples.
- When the Prophet was faced with the problem of whether to go towards the Quraish trade caravan or to the battlefield of Badr (to fight the Quraish army), he held a conference in Madinah and took counsel with them.
- At the selection of the campsite at Badr, he accepted the advice of one of his Companions.
- At the Battle of Uhud, he held a conference on whether to fight the enemy from within or outside the city. Though he himself was inclined to fight from within the city, when he found that the majority was in favor of fighting the enemy from outside the city, he accepted their advice and marched to the battlefield of Uhud.
- At the Battle of Ahzab (Battle of the Trench), he consulted them and the final decision was made accepting the view of Salman the Persian to fight the enemy from behind the defense of deep, broad trenches.
Allah states,
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لاَنفَضُّواْ مِنْ حَوْلِكَفَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الأَمْرِIt is part of the Mercy of Allah (o Muhammad) that you deal gently with people, were you severe in speech or harsh hearted they would have broken away from you: So overlook their faults and ask Allah’s Forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs. Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah [Al-Quran 3:159]. A companion said: “
I have not seen anyone who consults his followers more than the Prophet did. ”
Wisdom behind ConsultationOn this basis, consultation amongst Muslims is an important pillar of the beautiful and elaborate building of the Islamic way of life. To do any collective work without prior mutual consultation is a clear defiance of the regulation laid down by Allah. The great importance given to the process of consultation is based upon three important factors:
- It is unfair, for one individual, to decide alone on a matter that concerns two or more people. In collective affairs all those concerned with the matter must be consulted, and, if the concern spreads across a very large number of people, then their authorized representatives must be consulted for their considered opinion.
- If a person attempts to act in an autocratic or arbitrary manner, he is either attempting to usurp the rights of the others or he is considering himself superior them. From a moral point of view both these attitudes are evil and reprehensible.
- It is a matter of great responsibility to make decisions on issues relating to the rights and interests of others. If ever a mistake is made in any of such a collective decision, then, the burden of the responsibility does not fall on any one single individual alone.
Shura is a vehicle for social collaboration through mutual consultation; it is an act of
'ibaadah /worship. The principles of consultation were laid down as a procedure for building consensus, and has the potential for wide application, is useful in virtually any arena where group decision-making and cooperation is required. In essence, consultation seeks to build consensus in a manner that unites various constituencies instead of dividing them. It encourages diversity of opinion and acts to control the struggle for power that is otherwise so common in traditional decision-making systems. Perhaps, that is why the Prophet (pbuh) said, لا ندم من استشار
the one who engages in mutual consultation will not regret.
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