Shura in Islam
الشورى الإسلامية
Arslan presents shura as a basic principle of Islamic government in his chapters on the rightly guided caliphs. He recounts how Umar left the choice of a successor to a council of six companions, and how he ordered that a successor be chosen by consultation and that anyone seized power without consultation be killed. Arslan reads shura as resting on the community's will. Jurists have debated how binding it is, so this is the author's reading of the classical reports.
At a glance
- Era
- The Rashidun Caliphate
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Overview
In the chapters on the Rightly Guided Caliphate, Shakib Arslan presents consultation (shura) as one of the foundations of government in Islam. This is his description as he transmits it from the books of biography, and his explanation of the basis of consultation is a matter of dispute among the jurists. 1
The consultation of Umar
He describes how Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) left the matter of the caliphate after him to the consultation of six Companions, with whom the Prophet ﷺ had been pleased when he died. He recommended that Suhayb lead the people in prayer for three days, and that whoever takes up the matter without the consultation of the Muslims be put to death. 1
Arslan's view
He holds that consultation rests on the will of the community, and that the caliph holds authority only from it. 1
A further source is needed: the account of Umar's council is taken from the books of biography as Arslan gives it, and the jurists' view on the binding force of consultation needs a jurisprudential source.
Sources
- Stoddard, Hadir al-ʿalam al-islami (Arabic translation with Arslan's commentary)
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Shura in Islam”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/shura-in-islam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.