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).
This verse suggests that justice is one of the main values which needs to be realized in every aspect of life, even in governance. But in the context of Islamic democracy, justice means that every individual is treated equally before the law and have an equal right to participate in governance.
In addition, general welfare (maslahah) is also an important principle in Islam, like the Prophet Muhammad once said:
"The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people". (HR: Ahmad, ath-Thabrani, ad-Daruqutni).
This hadith highlights that the common welfare of the people should be the main objective of every government policy and action. In other words, every decision and policy taken by the government should be in line with the benefits of the people. Moreover, democracy in Islam also supports the concept of trust and responsibility (Amanah). So in Islam, leaders are often seen as figures who are being relied upon to be held in trust by the community, meaning that they must carry out their duties in a way that is honest, fair and responsible. As stated in the Qur'an:
"Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners and when you judge between people, judge with fairness. What a noble commandment from Allah to you! Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing." (QS. An-Nisa: 58).
But In this sense, each leader must be responsible for his policies and actions not only before the people, but also before God, so that democratic principles such as transparency and openness become essential in Islamic democracy.
C. Pros and Cons of Islamic Democracy in the Modern World
The pros and cons of Islamic democracy often arise from various implementations of its principles. On the one hand, pro- Islamic democracy believers claim that the idea helps to implement the values of justice and public welfare that are in line with Islamic teachings, they believe that by the merge of modern democratic principles with traditional Islamic values, a just, inclusive, and accountable system of government can be established.
Nevertheless, there are countries that have done well in combining democratic principles with Islamic values in their systems of governance. Indonesia, for instance, with its majority Muslim population, they successfully adopted a democratic system which ensures broad political participation while still adheres to Islamic values in society. In the same way, Malaysia also has successfully merged democracy with Islamic guidelines through a comprehensive system of governance leading to the prosperity of the people.
There have also been criticisms and challenges to Islamic democracy. Some argue that the rigid application of Islamic law could be a burden on freedom of the individual as well as minorities rights. In some countries for example, restrictive interpretations of sharia have led to controversies over women's rights and religious freedom. Moreover, tensions between religious and political authorities may complicate the democracy process. Needless to say, this issue has often been the subject of controversy. For example, in Saudi Arabia and Iran, the strict application of Islamic law has often resulted in restrictions on the rights of individuals, especially the rights of women and minorities.
However, many believe that with a flexible and inclusive approach, Islamic democracy can be an effective and just model of governance for countries with a majority Muslim population. Proponents of Islamic democracy argue that principles such as shura, justice and general welfare can be adapted to meet the needs of modern societies, without compromising basic Islamic values. As such, Islamic democracy is not a rigid and closed concept, but a dynamic and adaptive model of governance, capable of responding to social and political changes in modern societies.
D. Conclusion
Moving to conclusion and what we can conclude here is that, Islamic democracy is a concept which integrates the principles of democracy with the teachings and values of Islam through the principles of shura, justice, and general welfare, Islamic democracy seeks to create a just and inclusive government. Although there are challenges in its implementation, Islamic history and teachings show that these principles can go hand in hand.
The pros and cons of Islamic democracy mainly arise from the interpretation and implementation of Islamic law, but with the right approach, the concept has great potential to create effective and just governance in Muslim-majority countries. Islamic democracy inherently offers a unique model of governance, as it not only holds modern democratic values but also respects and preserves Islamic traditions and its teachings. Indeed, by focusing on the principles of deliberation, justice, and general welfare, Islamic democracy can create an environment where every individual has equal rights and opportunities to participate in the political process. This not only encourages broad public participation but also ensures that decisions and policies taken by the government are always in favor of the interests and welfare of society as a whole.
