Islamic State
12 November 2003

The PAS Islamic state document doesn't provide any new understanding on the kind of Islamic state it intends to bring about.

The general principles of good governance the document identified are already embodied in most constitutions of modern nation-states, including Malaysia.

What is of concern is the PAS obsession with the codification of punitive laws which they claim to be Islamic law, and therefore divine and infallible and cannot be challenged.

But this claim of infallibility must be challenged as what is labelled as Islamic law is derived from various sources. However, PAS, in claiming God's name to propagate its version of Islamic law, seldom state the sources of its laws - whether it's from the Quran or hadith or juristic opinions, minority or majority opinions, or modern codified laws of other Muslim countries.

For example, the Hudud law of Kelantan and Terengganu contain several provisions that are based merely on juristic opinion, such as the presumption of zina (fornication) if a single woman is pregnant.

The failure of the Islamic state project in many Muslim countries has brought Islam, Islamic law and Muslims into disrepute. The PAS vision of Islam - its position on women, hudud law, apostasy, fundamental liberties, music, and local culture - makes its Islamic state project little different than what is found in those failed Muslim countries.

The great philosopher-historian Ibn Khaldun, in his seminal Muqaddimah written in the 14th century, referred to the early days of Islam as a time when the restraining influence came from within the Muslim themselves who adhered to Qur'anic injunctions out of inner conviction rather than external coercion.

Instead of an obsession with Islamic laws, what is needed today is a focus on inculcating Islamic values within individuals so that they will abide by God's teachings out of true faith, rather than fear and coercion.

Sisters in Islam