Editing Caliphate (section)

=== ''Majlis al-Shura'' ===
{{See also|Majlis-ash-Shura|Shura|Majlis}}
The [[Majlis-ash-Shura|Majlis al-Shura]] (literally "consultative assembly") was a representation of the idea of consultative governance. The importance of this is premised by the following verses of the Qur'an:
* "...who respond to their Lord, establish prayer, conduct their affairs by mutual consultation"({{qref|42|38|pl=y}})
* "...and consult with them in ˹conducting˺ matters. Once you make a decision, put your trust in Allah."({{qref|3|159|pl=y}})

The majlis is also the means to elect a new caliph.<ref name="2muslims.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.2muslims.com/directory/Detailed/225505.shtml |title=Gharm Allah Al-Ghamdy |publisher=2muslims.com |access-date=5 June 2011 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707062249/http://www.2muslims.com/directory/Detailed/225505.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Mawardi has written that members of the majlis should satisfy three conditions: they must be just, have enough knowledge to distinguish a good caliph from a bad one and have sufficient wisdom and judgement to select the best caliph. Al-Mawardi also said that in emergencies when there is no caliphate and no majlis, the people themselves should create a majlis and select a list of candidates for caliph; then the majlis should select a caliph from the list of candidates.<ref name="2muslims.com" />

Some Islamist interpretations of the role of the Majlis al-Shura are the following: In an analysis of the shura chapter of the Qur'an, Islamist author [[Sayyid Qutb]] argues that Islam only requires the ruler to consult with some of the representatives of the ruled and govern within the context of the Sharia. [[Taqiuddin al-Nabhani]], the founder of a transnational political movement devoted to the revival of the caliphate, writes that although the Shura is an important part of "the ruling structure" of the Islamic caliphate, "(it is) not one of its pillars", meaning that its neglect would not make a caliph's rule un-Islamic such as to justify a rebellion. However, the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest Islamic movement in Egypt, has toned down these Islamist views by accepting in principle that in the modern age the Majlis al-Shura is democracy.