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Can A Muslim Ruler Only Be From Quraysh?
On the basis of the following narrative attributed to the Prophet (sws) by Anas ibn Mālik, it is generally believed that a Muslim ruler must belong to the Quraysh, which is the tribe of the Prophet (sws):
اَلْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ قُرَيْش
The rulers shall be from the Quraysh.
If this is correct, then it would mean that there is no difference between Islam and Brahmanism in which only a specific tribe has the prerogative to rule.
It needs to be appreciated that each narrative must be interpreted in the light of the Quran. According to the Quranic verse: (42: 38) أَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ (their system is based on their consultation, (42:38)) in the absence of a consensus, the majority opinion should decide affairs of the Muslims. Thus in the light of this directive, a tradition was established from the time of the Prophet (sws) that the tribe which held the confidence of the majority would be granted the reins of power. Since in the time of the Prophet (sws), this status was occupied by the Quraysh, the Prophet (sws) merely following this Quranic injunction, and fearing that leaders of the minority groups might stake a claim to power, clarified that the rulers shall be from the Quraysh. While citing the reason for this, he is reported to have said:
النَّاسُ تَبَعٌ لِقُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذَا الشَّأْنِ مُسْلِمُهُمْ لِمُسْلِمِهِمْ وَكَافِرُهُمْ لِكَافِرِهِمْ
People in this matter follow the Quraysh. The believers of Arabia are the followers of their believers and the disbelievers of Arabia are the followers of their disbelievers.
In other words, the Prophet (sws) made it very clear that since the majority of the Arabian Muslims professed confidence in the Quraysh, they were solely entitled to take charge as the rulers of Arabia in the light of the Quranic directive أَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ (their system is based on their consultation), and that they would be passed on the political authority not because of any racial precedence or superiority, but only by virtue of this position.
It follows from this that the Quraysh were entitled to rule after the Prophet (sws) as long as they enjoyed the confidence of the majority and once they lost this confidence, they were not entitled to rule.
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Can A Muslim Ruler Only Be From Quraysh?
updated 4 years, 6 months ago
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