| Answer:
Legally, every person (man or woman) who holds the mandate of the majority has
the right to form the government in an Islamic state.
However, the
qualities Islam positively wants to see in a head of state show that only
certain men -- not every Tom, Dick and Harry -- should ideally be selected for
this great responsibility. According to the Qur’ān, the person who is elected
as the head of state should have a commanding and an awe-inspiring personality
and should be distinguished in integrity, wisdom and intellect. These
qualities have, therefore, been cited by it as the real reason for the
nomination of Tālūt (Saul) for the supreme leadership of the Israelites:
Indeed,
Allah has chosen him to rule over you and has gifted him abundantly with
knowledge and physique. (2:247)
It is
evident from this that such elements are not suitable to head an Islamic State
who lack intellect, wisdom and masculine attributes; who instead of being
venturesome and enterprising are passive and receptive by nature, and who
instead of influencing others are more liable to be influenced.
The reason
for this is that the ruler of an Islamic State is not one who only heads them,
he also leads the believers in Prayers, Hajj and Jihād. Moreover, he is like a
father to his nation, and a model and a guide for them. He is the voice of
their conscience and a representative of their ideology -- someone in whom
their sense of honour is personified. It is vital, therefore, that he be
someone who instead of delicacy has the ability to take the initiative and who
instead of resignation and tenderness possess resolution and tenacity. |