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** The Art of Governance in Islam By: M.S. Tajar, M.A. Political Science, Ph.D. The Historical Background: Ever since the two human beings joined together as a couple ( most probably a male and a female, because thats what the natural animals do, unlike what some guys and gals are doing now in California and elsewhere ) the nucleus of a family started, and that was also the smallest and the basic form of Governance. Even among the wild animals, whether its the families of the chimpanzees, lions, wolves, or the zebras, the same system of governance is automatically and naturally established, when an alpha male, (and sometimes a female) takes over, and the rest of the pack will follow his natural leadership and the protection and the provisions that he provides for the entire family. This used to be the natural family structure among the earliest races and peoples, too. Thats why in most of the ancient languages (Hebrew, Arabic, etc.) the term for husband was (and still is) Ba-al meaning god, (or god of the household). Even among the Persians, the most developed and progressive of all the ancient civilizations (see: Prof. Arthur Pope in The Persian Civilization p.20) the head of the family was called khuda (The early pronunciation of god in English, Got in German and other Irano- European languages). In ancient Persia, even the head of the village/ tribe or other smaller communities, were called khuda (god or kad- khuda = village god), or Deh-Khuda, Dakhu, Diaku, etc. (The origin of the Latin word Dicon and Deacon, etc.) The Persian Emperor ( the first empire in the world, according to Prof. Arthur Pope/ Ibid) was also called god at the beginning; But later on, as the people developed intellectually and culturally, some wise men or the prophets, like Mahabad ( the first Persian prophet, whose sacred book was called Dasatir ( see The Persian Names by Maneka Ghandi/ India 1994 p.1) brought the attention of the early Aryans ( The Iranians/ Ae-re-ans) to the True God of Heaven and Earth, then the Persian Emperor had to be contented with the title of The son of God and until a few decades ago, they were still known as the Dil-lul lah or The Shadow of Allah ( See: The title of the Persian kings of the Qaajar Dynasty and the Safavids and the earlier ones, during 18th century and beyond). The Pharaohs of Egypt What is very interesting and unfortunately many of the history books dont tell us is that: The concept of being GOD and later Demi- God and then Son of God ( the tradition of the Ancient Persians, the first Empire builders in the world), went beyond the borders of their empire, and it influenced other cultures, like the Egyptians ( and we shall see the Chinese later) who also adopted the same title i.e. the son of God, which actually is the meaning of the title Pharaoh (from the Pahlavi words phar meaning son/ glory / divine light- see The Persian Namesp.121 and Ra, the Amon Ra/ the Egyptian god/ see Webster) from the historic Mithra/ Mitra the earliest sun god of the Aryans of Persia ( see: The Holy Quran Translation, by the famous Pakistani scholar of the 20th century, Prof. Abul Ala Maududi p.435).

And you may be asking how the Pharaohs got this Persian Tradition? Well, what many people are not told in their history 101, is that the Pharaohs were actually the Iranian Semitic tribes, from the mouth of the Persian Gulf (somewhere along the border lines of the present day Iraq and Iran) who migrated to Egypt, and they colonized the African Territory of Egypt, along the Nile River (see: Gardesh Gari, Iran Tourism magazine, March 2000/ Quoting the Indian, Professor, Mereti Baba Kolka.) The Chinese Emperors When it comes to the Chinese Empire, that for thousands of years was the natural neighbor of the Persian Empire ( see: The Persian /Iran- Turan wars, in the Epic of Shahnamah of Ferdausi ) the title of the Emperor as far the Iranian History goes, was : Fagh Poor, which is an Arabized pronunciation of the original Persian, Bagh- Pour, meaning The son of God (from two Persian words Bagh/ Baghwan/ as in Bagh-dad= God + Pour which is another Aryan word, meaning son/ child, etc). So , we can see how the ancient world viewed the Emperor as having the Authority from above, to rule over the people, and to provide security and prosperity for his subjects.(Again the same theory of evolution). How the Human Societies Evolved? There are different narrations and somewhat contradicting stories regarding the beginning of the human society ,and with it, the First Government. The Greeks have their own theory about the start of the government, and its progress to a direct democracy, that we could see in one of the most popular books of the ancient world about the Government and that is the book of the Greek Philosopher, Plato titled; The Republic, which is the foundation of all the Western democracies, from the City States of Greece to the Roman Senate, and up to the present-day democratic Parliamentarian/ Presidential forms of Government, in the Western World. Totamism and Animism The most popular theory among the various societies is what we call The story of the tribes when one original family grew into several families, and they became a tribe, so the elder of the tribe became god of the tribe, or as the ancient Persians would call them The Diako/ Dakhu/ Deh Khoda/ Datu / Ratu ( which went up to the South East Asian region where still the head of a tribe is called by this Persian Title: Datu/Ratu; Ref. to Filipino Muslim tribes. Also see The Persian Namesby Maneka Gandhi / India / 1994 p.367). On the other hand, the totam- pole of the tribes, from the Latin American native tribes up to the Asian, South East Asian, South West Asian, Arabian and African tribes, all refer to the founding father of their tribe (The earliest form of Government). Almost all the Arab tribes, including that of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) are named after their founding fathers, i.e. Bani Hashim, Bani Omayya, Bani Abbas, etc.

Even the present beliefs of the Japanese people in Shintuism and the acts of the ancestor worship around the world, especially among the cultural minorities and more conservative societies and tribes, are a form of worship (Namaste/ Namaz) to the founding fathers of those tribes/ governments in their earliest forms. The Persian Legends About Government According to the Shahnamah or the Book of the Kings/ or The King of the Books ( Depending on the translation and different opinions) which is one of the oldest epic poetries in the world, (twice as long as the Odyssey by Homer), the Persians / Aryans had the first form of Government in the world. (And consequently, the first Empire in the world, as well- Ref. World History by Philip Grossier/ New York/ 1978 /p.17). It started by the Pish dadian Dynasty ( Pish = early + dad = Law/ Justice) headed by the Legendary Kings of Persia, like Keumarth ( Kiu mard ) and Tah- mures, Houshang, Jamshid, Freidun and other kings, in the history of the Persian Empire. According to those legends, it was king Houshang who first taught his people ( the Primitive cave men ) how to build Houses ( thats why its believed that the Irano - European/ Aryan word House comes from the name of Houshang the Legendary Aryan ( Iranian ) king. How about the Hutang in China?( Regarding King Houshang and his relation to the first house building project in the world, see Justify, Iraniches Namenbuch, Marburg, 1895 p.126 ). Jamshid (from the two Aryan words of jam = ruler + shid = shinning) meaning The Shinning Ruler, taught the people how to live in a civilized manner. So, he taught his own people many ways of civilization, more specifically the following: 1.He gave them the The First Commandments ( see The Persian Names p.202 ) 2.He divided the society into four distinctive groups/ professions (the present caste system in India is a remnant of the Aryan migrants from Iran, who settled in India and they dominated the native Indian tribes, also known as the Dravidians). 3.He taught his people how to make clothes, shoes and other coverings, for their own protection, during the four seasons of Persia. 4.He taught his people the basics of cooking, farming, bathing (The public bathing also known as the Turkish or the Persian Bath) as well as the mining and the metal works, etc. In short, by teaching those new Arts and Sciences to his People (which according to Ferdausi in Shahnamah, King Jamshid had learned from the DEEVS/ DEVS/ DIVAS = The Aryan Genies/ Gods/ Demi Gods) he was considered as connected to God Almighty. In other words, he was the son of God. So, he had the legitimacy, through his spiritual connection with another world/ Heaven (was he also a Prophet?). The Persians, including the Zoroastrians of Persia/ Parsis today in India, Pakistan, England, USA, Canada, etc. call this authority as Farr/ Phar (The origin of the Pharaoh in Egypt).

The general description or the translation of this Aryan word is Divine (DEV/ DEEV/ DEVA) Authority. Why is the Government Necessary? Since the early days when the people became numerous, automatically there was a need to organize them in order to avoid chaos (This is true even among the colonies of the termites, ants, lions, elephants, etc.). When the first profession in the world started (and it begins with letter P.) the society needed Protection (Law) to protect another P which this time was Private Property and for that protection, the next profession was needed, that again starts with the letter P which means the Priest or Shaman/ Voodoo Master (From the Persian word Mazda/ Ahura Mazda = The wise God). And for the second Profession (i.e., Priest cum-ruler/ leader) to survive, the society needed the third Profession, that also starts with another letter P which is the Police. And that is the shortest possible explanation of the establishment of the Government, in this world. THE RELIGIOUS CONCEPT OF GOVERNANCE When it comes to the religion, I mean all religions, the overall authority doesnt belong to the People or the Hoi Polloi as the Greeks used to call the masses; There is no such thing in religion as one man one vote ( or one dollar- one vote, as it has become in the US politics, today!). But rather it is the order of the Almighty God, that is implemented by someone from among His People, authorized by God ( through signs and miracles ) to represent Him on this earth. (=or Khalifah. See: The Holy Quran, Chapter 2 Verse ). The Ten Commandments of Moses and his brother Aaron, the Prophet, as well as the Rule of King David, King Solomon and many other judges among the early Israelites, are good examples of how Gods Government was run by Gods own people, among Gods true servants.( see The Scriptures for details). The Islamic Principles of Governance The Islamic Concept of Governance is neither Democracy (one man, one vote / or one dollar, one vote) of the West, nor is it the dictatorship of the East ( where is the East? ). Its a unique system in which the slogan, as in the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been:Neither east, nor West, Islam is the best. In this system, it is not the will of the people (Individualism/ Humanism/ Socialism, etc.) that is supreme (Although that is also considered), but rather it is based on Faith (Iman) (For details, pls. see this authors research, titled: Principles of Islamic Government as well as: The Islamic Government: Caliphate or Imamate at this site: www.scribd Prof. M.S. Tajar). It is fundamentally based on the submission to the ultimate Authority in the Heavens and on the Earth, represented by a man of God or Khalifatul Lah. (And thus the bowing of the Angels to Prophet Adam, as the

Authorized representative or the Khalifatullahon the Earth---see The Holy Qur'an (Chapter II, Verse 30-34). Look at this short, yet profound Quranic Verse, which is the foundation of the concept of Governance in Islam. It goes this way: O You who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Prophet Mohammad) and those who are Authorized amongst you; and if you disputed in anything, then you must refer the issue to Allah, and to the Messenger.This is better... Holy Quran: (4.59) Obeying/ Following/ Electing There is a difference between these three concepts. In obedience, you submit to the authority of someone higher than you! You wont obey someone lower than you, although you may consider his petition or request! In following, again you emulate someone ahead of you or better than you! You wont follow someone behind you or lesser than you! (You may listen to them). But, in electing, you are free to vote anyone to do the job for you! So, he is not necessarily better or higher than you, in fact he may even be much lower than you. And it is not anymore you following the chosen one, but rather it is he or she that has to follow you, the electorate. (A classic example of the shepherd being lead by the sheep or putting the cart before the horse!). And this is the biggest malady of the 21st century democracy which looks more like demo- crazy to me! This has paralyzed the Governance, and the politicians, who have been frozen to almost doing nothing (look at the impasse in the U.S Congress between the Democrats and the Republicans). They just try to please the electorates for their own next election, even if they know very well that the nations are collapsing around them, from, Greece (the origin of the Western democracy) to Italy (the land of the Roman Empire) Spain and Portugal (the two super powers of a century ago) as well as France, Ireland, England and especially the USA, the falling superpower of the 20th century. They all remind me of the theory of the U.S. Professor, Francis Fukuyama. This well known American professor of the Japanese ancestry has written a book, which shows his views of the Western world, today. The title of his book tells it all: The End of Civilization and the Last Man. (Its available on the Internet). These Systems are all Passe The problem with the Western Democracy today, is that it only allows the rich, the chits, the liars and the charlatans to Get elected, but it almost never allows an honest to goodness person to be elected. A sincere and selfless person almost never gets any chance to be elected in a one man, one vote system. The reasons are as follows:

1.Those who are very honest they often dont have any personal desires or ambition for power over others, and they dont seek any positions in the first place, unless it becomes a nationalistic or a religious conviction for them to do the great sacrifice, and to accept the responsibility! Thats how the national heroes are made, but then how many national heroes are there in a generation? 2.Those who have money to run for an office, and they want some more, plus the ambition to dominate others, are so selfish and power hungry that they will not spend any single cents, unless and until they are very sure that they are going to get it back, by hook or by crook, ten folds or even a hundred and a thousand or even millions and a billion folds and that is exactly the cancerous nature of this kind of political system corrupt to the bones, soul and body, as well. 3.We all know very well that the average expense in a presidential election (in a Democratic country) runs into several hundred millions of dollars. And in every election there are dozens of parties and politicians who are running for President. But, then we also know that the salary and the official income of a President is not even one percent of the amount that is being spent for his election! Then you ask yourself: Why are they investing so much for such a little income? There can only be two possibilities: 1.They are self sacrificing heroes (Tell that to the Marines!) 2.Or they intend to make a killing on their investmenttake your point! This kind of system could only favor the rich and the powerful, and it would create a ruling class or even a dynasty like the Gandhis of India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan, the Karamanlises of Greece, etc. No wonder the veteran British politician, Sir Winston Churchill once said: Democracy is the worst form of government! The only problem is that we dont have anything better. And Ibne Khaldun (1332-1406 A.D.), the foremost (Arab or Berber?) sociologist, born in Tunisia, defined the government, as: An institution which prevents injustice, other than what she herself commits! (See: Michael Fraley, An Introduction to History of Ibne Khaldun/ 2005). And Dr. Iqbal, the father of thePakistan idea and its national poet, describes the Western system of governance, as such: Be-tars az tarze jomhuri/Gholame Pokh-te Kari Sho!/ Keh az magh-ze doh-sad Khar/kaar-e Yek ensaan na-mi-aayad! This Persian poem of Dr. Iqbal translates: Avoid Western democracy, follow a wise man! Even two hundred donkies (parliament) cannot think, as correct as a man of wisdom! Well, There is a Better Way The best system of Governance is the natural one, in which the people should choose only the best among themselves, (not the worse, as our politicians often are!) after those to be elected are already chosen by God. And they have the qualifications to be the leaders, as per the requirement of God Almighty.

In fact, thats how the earlier governments were run by the King/ Prophet David (A man after Gods own heart, as the Holy Books call him) and his son King / Prophet Solomon (The wisest man, again according to the scriptures). In between also you have those enlightened spiritual and Political leaders like the Prophet Moses (A.S) the Law Giver, Pish dadian, (in the Persian History) and Cyrus the Great of Persia (in the Old Testament and the Zul Qarnain of Islam. See the Holy Quran: Chapter18/86 and 94), The only Messiah, from the gentiles according to the Old Testament. Now, I admit that it was not always like that. And it happened very far in between, but that is exactly what we are looking for; not the governance as usual, but the ideal oneand thats very rare!

References: 1.) Fukuyama, Frank The End of History and the Last Man- 2010/ New York, U.S.A. 2.) Friedman, Thomas, The International Herald Tribune April 23/2012-page 9. 3.) Prof. Mir Ahmad Ali Holy Qur'an/ English Translation National Bookstore, Philippines 2011. 4.) Prof. M.S. TAJAR, Principle of Islamic Government (Masteral Thesis, The University of Manila, 1983).