Democracy, a word that just by hearing it immediately makes us imagine the hustle and bustle around the scope of government. But on the other hand, Democracy portrays a free system of rulership, but at the same time something that is too free tends to be excessive and often leads to bad things. And here is where the role of Religion is called for, which is to limit us by teaching us to distinguish between which one is better and which one is worse.
So, what we refer to as Democracy in Islam or Islamic democracy is a concept which combines the principles of democracy along with the teachings and values of Islam, where the government is expected to act in accordance with Islamic laws and values taught in the Qur'an and Sunnah in its obligations to the people. It is a fundamental idea of Islamic democracy by which public participation, justice, and the social welfare of the people should be the main focus of governance. Furthermore, the concept of Islamic democracy also highlights the importance of deliberation (shura) as a decision-making mechanism, which means that consultation and discussion should be an important part of the governing process.
This idea not only aims to create a thorough and participatory government, but also to ensure that policies and decisions undertaken are in accordance with Islamic teachings while contributing to the general prosperity. Therefore, Islamic democracy sought to synthesize modern democratic principles with traditional Islamic values in order to create a system of governance that is fair, accountable and based on Islamic ethics and morality.
A. What is Democracy in Islam?
Democracy in Islam outlines the practice of democratic principles that are in line with Islamic teachings, especially deliberation or Shura. Shura itself is a process of dialog or discussion between leaders and the people in decision-making. It is an important component in Islam, as taught in the Qur'an and implemented by Prophet Muhammad SAW and the khalifahs after him. The purpose of deliberation is to reach a fair and wise decision by taking into account the respective opinions and interests of all parties involved as well as emphasizing the importance of justice (adil). Indeed, in Islam, every individual should be treated equally before the law and have equal rights to participate in governance as social justice is one of the key values that should be realized in every government policy and action. The focus of Islamic democracy is also on public welfare (maslahah) which emphasizes that every government policy and decision should always be in favor of the interests and welfare of the entire community. In other words, the main objective of Islamic democracy is to ensure that the government runs fairly, transparently, and responsibly, and always prioritizes the welfare of the people.
B. Details and Evidence (Dalil) of Democracy in Islam
Democracy in Islam is derived from various teachings and principles referenced in the Qur'an and Hadith. It is mentioned in the Qur'an as a method of decision-making, and one of the main foundations of Islamic democracy is shura.
 "And those who accept the call of their Lord and establish prayer, and whose affairs (are) decided by deliberation between themselves, and from what we have provided them, they spend." (Asy-Syura: 38).
 The verse above highlights the role of deliberation in managing public affairs as well as in decision-making.
Besides that, the principle of justice is also highly emphasized in Islam, as mentioned in the Qur'an.
 "Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful." (QS. An-Nahl: 90).
