The corruption case verdict against Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced on 6th July 2018, is nothing but a hollow victory. Time and again corrupt rulers have been replaced, by coup, elections or dissolution of assemblies, but corruption remained firmly entrenched in Pakistan. Faces changed, but corruption remained because Democracy stayed. Indeed, Democracy is the factory of corruption because it firmly places law making, deciding what is right and wrong, what is Halal and Haraam, in the hands of those elected. That is why when the writing was on the wall regarding the verdict, the corrupt politicians in Pakistan began swarming around the new platform that will bring them to power for yet another term of loot and plunder.

Democracy has ensured corruption in Pakistan for too long and will continue to do so if it is allowed to remain. The Panama Papers revealed that Democracy ensures corruption all over the world, from Russia to South America, not just in Pakistan. For many decades, Democracy ensured that corrupt rulers could hide their ill gotten gains in off shore companies, without detection and investigation, trial and tribunal. It is because of Democracy that all over the world, resource rich countries have oppressed, poor citizens and immensely rich, corrupt rulers have reigned free. Clearly, seeking an end of corruption through Democracy is as futile as seeking cure through the disease itself.

Nothing short of ruling by all that Allah swt has revealed will stamp out corruption decisively. This alone will bring examples of rulers that will truly be worthy of our admiration. Rulers like the Khaleefah Rashid, Abu Bakr (ra), who was stopped on his way to trade to alleviate his poverty, by his ruling assistants. Rulers like the Khaleefah Rashid, Umar al-Khattab (ra), who humbly accepted to be accounted for a single extra piece of cloth. Rulers like the Khaleefah Rashid, Usman “Ghani” (ra), who before ruling had loaded trading caravans that made the ground shake as they moved, but after entering ruling maintained a simple living. And rulers like the Khaleefah Rashid, Ali (ra), who rapidly conceded his judicial case against the Jew over the theft of a single shield, through the lack of witnesses.

Let us not be stung by Democracy yet again. Let us strive with the Shabab of Hizb ut-Tahrir for the end of corruption and oppression, through establishing the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood. Let us strive at a time when the world, from America in the West to China in the East, has tired of Democracy and the corrupt ruling elite it feeds and nurtures. Let us strive at a time when the Muslim World, from Morocco in the West to Indonesia in the East, has awoken to its true purpose in this life, Islam. Let us strive to end the corruption and oppression of Democracy on this earth, seeking earnestly the glad tidings of RasulAllah (saaw), when he (saaw) said:

«ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا جَبْرِيَّةً فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةٌ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ»
“Then there will be an oppressive rule, and things will be as Allah wishes them to be. Then Allah will end it when He wishes. Then there will be a Khilafah according to the method of Prophethood.” Then he (saaw) fell silent.” [Ahmed]