Democracy in Islam: comparative study of Muhammad Abid al-Jabiri and Abdolkarim Soroush’s thoughts

Using analytic and interpretative approaches, this research compares al-Jabiri
and Soroush’s thoughts about democracy in Islam. T o assess Islam’ s compatibility
with democracy , this thesis will analyze the issues of authority , sharia, and
freedom according to the two scholars. Al-Jabiri and Soroush agree that the
concept of authority in Islam cannot be interpreted simply as God’s sovereignty,
but it also concerns human rights and sovereignty . A leader put justice as his/her
central concern in practicing policies for citizens. T o pursue this hope, they also
propose that sharia should be reinterpreted in order to be harmonizing in accordance changing circumstances and time. Al-Jabiri has different understanding
with Soroush about the relationship between religion and state. Al- Jabiri sees
that Muslims are free to choose democracy as their political life. He doesn’t
agree the integration of religion and state. In this case, he doesn’t agree the
implementation of sharia in the state. Meanwhile Soroush sees that religion has
an important role in the state, so that he agrees the implementation of sharia
because according to him it supports the political process of the state.