Political Nepotism in Islam Perspective

Nepotism was called "nepotismo" which derives from an Italian word for favoritism by bishops or popes to their nephews. Nepotism in politics is when political elites confer privileges to their relatives thereby placing them in positions of authority irrespective of merit or competence. Political nepotism also has an array of negative impacts on the society such as; undermining performance and competition, complicating issues of transparency and accountability, encouraging corruption and eroding public trust in politics itself. It undermines fairness and honesty as well as meritocracy leading to inefficiency and corruption in the system. Political nepotism also creates conflicts of interest where family interests take precedence over those that benefit the public at large.

Nepotism violates the principle of justice where a person grants an advantage of position to someone based on family or relative relations, withouth considering the qualifications that should be the main consideration for obtaining the position. nepotism can lead to social injustice that can manifest through separation between people who have access to opportunities based on family relationships and those who do not. This can be detrimental to society as well and undermine trust in the public governance system. There will be inequality of opportunity for other individuals who are not related to political officials or elites, which can hinder social mobility. The practice of nepotism in politics occurs when some elites privilege their relatives to obtain position in government or political leadership, giving them positions of authority or advantage without considering their qualifications or achievements. Political nepotism has negative impacts that include: undermining performance and competition, complicating transparency and accountability issues, encouraging corruption as well as collusion, and eroding public trust in politics itself. Nepotism also creates conflicts of interest as people tend to prioritize family interests over public interests. 

Political nepotism has been around for a long time and is still prevalent today, as we saw during the Soeharto regime and also in Brazil, where Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rescinded the appointment of police chief Alexandre Ramagem because he was criticized by the court for allegedly committing nepotism because Alexandre was his best friend. Lastly, political nepotism also occurred in Sri Lanka, by the Rajapaksa family. When people in power use their position to give advantage to their family members, it can lead to unethical behavior and misuse of resources for personal gain and it also can lead into corruption behaviour.

Although in some countries nepotism may seem normal, if we look from an Islamic perspective, nepotism is not allowed because it is an unfair act and also harms others. Nepotism can also lead to inability or incompetence in managing the government. In Law Number 28 of 1999 concerning State Administration that is Clean and Free from Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism, there are provisions regarding criminal sanctions for individuals who commit acts of nepotism. then, if individuals are proven to have committed acts of nepotism, they can be subject to criminal sanctions in the form of imprisonment and fines in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Law. Of course, the creation of this sanction aims to provide a deterrent effect and prevent the recurrence of acts of nepotism that harm the interests of society, nation and state.

As mentioned in Surah An nisa verse 135:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُوْنُوْا قَوَّامِيْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاۤءَ لِلّٰهِ وَلَوْ عَلٰٓى اَنْفُسِكُمْ اَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْاَقْرَبِيْنَ ۚ اِنْ يَّكُنْ غَنِيًّا اَوْ فَقِيْرًا فَاللّٰهُ اَوْلٰى بِهِمَاۗ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوٰٓى اَنْ تَعْدِلُوْا ۚ وَاِنْ تَلْوٗٓا اَوْ تُعْرِضُوْا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرًا
Meanings : "O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate from justice. If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then know that Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.".

This verse instructs Muslims not to allow unfair practices to take place in the surrounding environment. As Muslims, we must do our best to stop unfair practices. Once a better and fairer practice is established, Muslims are obliged to protect it so that it can be continued by the next generation. Islam encourages people to choose credible leaders or officials based on their quality, integrity, and competence, not because of their relatives. Thus, the practice of nepotism creates social injustice and undermines public trust in the government or institutions involved. Thus, in the view of Islam, nepotism can be considered as an unethical, unfair act, and contrary to the principles of justice that have been taught in the teachings of Islam. Justice is the main characteristic of Islamic principles where every Muslim has the same rights and obligations. Based on the fact that human beings are equal to one another,  fair law enforcement in Islam has a strong basis. Regardless of their background, status, or wealth, they are entitled to rights and to be fair to others. In Islam, the concept of justice is not only limited to legal issues, but also covers all aspects of life, including social, economic and political fields. The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW emphasize the importance of upholding justice and honesty in all matters, especially in political affairs of government. Islamic law provides guidelines to ensure justice in society and uphold individual rights.
By upholding the principles of justice and equality, Islamic law aims to create a just and harmonious society where the rights of all individuals are protected and respected. Just enforcement of the law in Islam serves as a strong foundation for maintaining social order, resolving disputes, and promoting peace and stability in society.

That is why leaders and authorities must avoid nepotism and ensure that when they make decisions or take action, they do so in the public interest and in accordance with justice. This means that if we can strengthen the concepts of honesty and fairness in politics, society may be able to develop a system that is just open. By embracing Islamic teachings that emphasize justice as a fundamental value in politics can guide leaders to create a system that is not only fair and open, but also just for all citizens., based on Islamic teachings that place justice at the core of politics.

Sharifa Annisa_20230510069_L_AIK 2_Politic Nepotism in Islam Perspective