Islamic Life System: Core Ideals, Objectives, and Method of Establishment

1. Core Ideal: Allah’s Sovereignty (Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah)

Islam is not merely a collection of traditional rituals but a comprehensive and divine system that governs all aspects of human life—personal, social, economic, and political. Its foundation lies in Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah—the belief that only Allah has the absolute authority to legislate laws, exercise power, and rule. No human or human-made system can share in this dominion. This belief forms the basis of Iman (faith).

• Declaration of Faith: The practical and verbal assertion of this ideal is through the statements:

  • “Rabbunallah” – Allah is our only Lord and Sovereign.

  • “Allahu Akbar” – Allah is the Greatest, above all powers.

• Opposing Belief (Jahiliyyah): Any system that accepts human sovereignty in legislative affairs is considered Jahiliyyah, and equated with Shirk (associating partners with Allah), which nullifies worship and can render acts like prayer and fasting invalid in Allah’s sight.

2. The Core Call and Commitment of Islam

Based on the fundamental declaration of Tawheed, Islam calls individuals in three phases:

a) Commitment to Worship Allah Alone (Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah)

Because Allah alone holds sovereign power, all worship, obedience, and submission must be directed to Him only. Submission to human-made systems is not permitted.

• Declaration: “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah” – I bear witness that there is no true deity but Allah.

b) Unconditional Obedience to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The only leader worthy of absolute obedience in implementing Allah’s commands on Earth is the Prophet ﷺ.

• Declaration: “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah” – I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.

These two declarations are the gateway to enter Islam and accept Allah’s command as the guiding principle of life.

3. Objectives of the Islamic Way of Life

Islam aims to achieve two primary goals:

1. Worldly Welfare:

To eliminate oppression, injustice, corruption, and chaos caused by human-made systems, and to establish a just, peaceful society that ensures the basic rights and dignity of all people.

2. Eternal Success in the Hereafter:

To attain Jannah (Paradise) and be saved from Jahannam (Hellfire) by living according to Allah’s commands.

• Ultimate Aim: To seek Allah’s pleasure and build a society where His laws and sovereignty are supreme, and humans fulfill their responsibilities as His representatives (Khalifah) on Earth.

4. The Only Legitimate Method of Establishment: The Prophetic Way

Islamic governance cannot be established through force, emotion, or human-invented methods. The only valid method is the peaceful and gradual approach shown by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It has two major phases:

a) The Makkan Phase (First Step):

1. Dawah to Iman – Calling people to believe in the Sovereignty of Allah and leave Shirk and Jahiliyyah.

2. Character Building – Strengthening believers’ Iman through Qur'an and Sunnah-based training.

3. Patience and Forgiveness – Responding to opposition with patience and non-violence.

4. Organizing under Leadership – Uniting under a capable leader (Ameer) to continue Dawah and training.

b) The Madinan Phase (Second Step):

When a righteous group forms with sufficient strength and public acceptance, and a conducive environment emerges, Allah’s help facilitates the fall of false systems and the rise of Islamic governance (Khilafah).

“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [Khilafah] in the land as He granted it to those before them.”
(Al-Nur: 55)

• This transformation is not man-made or power-driven but a fulfillment of Allah’s divine promise.

5. Rejected and Deviant Methods

Any attempt to establish Islam through methods outside the Prophetic model is a deviation. Some common incorrect approaches include:

1. Participating in Elections Under Human-Made Systems:

Accepting the legitimacy of man-made laws and systems is tantamount to Shirk in Ruboobiyyah. Islam cannot be established through such means.

2. Bombings and Armed Struggle:

Violence and militancy before the establishment of Islamic governance contradict the Prophet’s ﷺ peaceful approach and cause chaos and destruction.

3. Military Coups:

Relying on military power without divine support goes against the prophetic strategy and fails to bring sustainable reform.

Conclusion: Return of the Khilafah on Prophetic Method

A hadith predicts the return of Khilafah on the method of Prophethood after phases of Prophethood, Khilafah, monarchy, and tyrannical rule. Therefore, believers must:

• Avoid all false paths,

• Adopt the path of peace, patience, and character building,

• Strive to implement the system of Allah by following the Prophet’s ﷺ example.

Only through this method can we earn Allah’s pleasure and achieve success in both this world and the Hereafter.

Qur’anic and Hadith References

1. Only accepted system to Allah:

“Indeed, the (true) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
(Surah Aal-e-Imran: 19)

2. Perfection of Islam as a complete way of life:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah: 3)

3. Firm belief in Allah as the Sovereign Lord:

“Indeed, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remain steadfast, the angels will descend upon them…”
(Surah Fussilat: 30; Surah Al-Ahqaf: 13-14)

4. Call to believe in the Lord (Rabb):
   (Surah Aal-e-Imran: 193)

5. Worship and obey only Allah:
   (Surah Al-Baqarah: 21)

6. All Prophets called to worship Allah alone:
   (Surah Al-A’raf: 59)

7. Summary of the Prophet’s ﷺ Dawah:

“Say: ‘La ilaha illallah’ and you will succeed.”
(Musnad Ahmad: 16627)

8. Obey Allah, His Messenger, and leaders among you:
   (Surah An-Nisa: 59)

9. Prophet ﷺ is the best example to follow:
   (Surah Al-Ahzab: 21)

10. Allah promises Khilafah to the righteous:
    (Surah An-Nur: 55)

11. Hadith about the return of Khilafah on the Prophetic method:
    (Musnad Ahmad: 18430; Silsilah As-Saheehah: 5)