Muhammad G. Ayub is a well-known Islamist political activist within the Iraqi circle who has established a long history of political struggle over the past three decades. He was attracted by the views of the Imam Muhammad Shirazi in the fields of social and political sciences. This prompted the author to write this book to introduce the reader to these views that have remained relatively unknown amongst Muslim activists and reformists. It covers such aspects on politics as freedom of expression, party-political pluralism and organisation, social justice, peace and non-violence, human rights, consultation system of government, etc.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents iii

Foreword v

Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi vii

Introduction 1

Freedom 2

The Fundamental Principle in Mankind is Freedom 2

From Liberty to Liberation 6

Living Manifestation 10

Freedom and Social Laws 13

Freedom and Oneness-of-Allah 16

Conclusion 18

Party Organisation 20

The Necessity of Organisation 20

Social Development 21

The Freedom of Groups 21

The Social Revolution 28

Non-Violence 35

1- The Islamic Legal evidence 35

2- The Infallible Tradition 36

3- Sound Thought 37

4- Experience 37

Justice 43

1- The Foundation of the Islamic State. 43

2- Equal Opportunity 44

3- Ownership 44

4- Redistribution of Wealth 44

5- Criteria for the Ruler 45

Islamic Unity 47

The Idea 47

Aspects and Fields 47

I. Unity of the Islamic Leadership 48

II. Unity of the Islamic Movement 48

III. Unity of the Islamic Movements 49

IV. Unity of Muslims (Sunni and Shi'a) 50

V. Unity of the Shi'a Entity 52

Methods and Tools 52

The System of Consultation (Shura) 55

Council of Religious Authorities 55

Islamic Legislative 56

Transition of the Authority to Religious Scholars 57

How Do the Religious Scholars Come to Power? 57

Method of Election 58

The Final Picture 59

An Initial Conclusion 60

Evidence of Shura (Collective Leadership) and the Final Picture60

Elections and their Problems 62

Dilemma of the Majority Concept 64

Council of Religious Authority Faces Two Problems 65

Qualifications of the Muslim Ruler 66

Important Remarks 66

General Conclusion 67

A Quick Comparative Look 68