DrLukman

28 Political System of Islam (A Micro Analysis)
Based on this Islamic perspective, the state is legally
obliged to eradicate all social and moral ills that may
hinder the attainment of this ideal. As a characteristic of
Islam’s comprehensive approach, both predefined
purposes, the temporal and the hereafter compliment
each other. Peace, justice and worldly spiritual and
material well-being are not an end, although they are
good themselves. Rather, they constitute condition for the
the primary attainment of salvation in the hereafter. Their
prevalence is conductive to the pious life envisioned by
Islam as a precondition for salvation. The realization of
the latter depends on the realization former. 1 The
enforcement of the Shari’ah is the vehicle whereby the
state attempts to realize both purposes.
The parallel between the Greek and Islamic notion of
state seems obvious. This parallel is especially notable
with respect to the ethical objective of the state and the
role envisioned for the state in moulding its citizen;
character. Yet close examination shows that the parallel is
limited.While both the Greek and Islamic theories of the
state emphasize the positive role of the state in the
formation of good character, and see it as being
inextricably related to the ultimate goal of the state, they
differ on the nature of the goal itself. The ethical goal of
the Greek state is a worldly one and is distinctively human.
According to Aristotle: “The good life is indeed the chief
goal of the state both corporately and individually”. 2
To put Aristotle’s thought in its proper context,
however, it should be added immediately that the good
life, or happiness, which he envisions as the goal for
man’s action, is not a passive state of mind. Rather, it is a