Abdul Malik Omar
Abstract
Shūrā is a vital custom left behind by the Prophetﷺ. In Islamic Governance, this consultative governance approach is gaining ascendency and has led to notable victories for the Islamic polity. However, given the context of the modern world, the Shūrā concept currently needs re-articulating to adapt to the digital age. This thought paper presents the term Digital Shūrā as contributing to the significance and development of the ‘Islamic Governance’ model. It suggests incorporating political participation with technology in governing the Muslim state. Given the increasing individual engagement on the internet and the rising expectations in the 21st century, technology should serve as a means to positively contribute to the polity, following the Maqāṣid of the Sharī’ah. It is recommended that governments should also engage youth in the digital domain to nurture and enhance their levels of participation. Also, governments must incorporate Shūrā into the digital realm to empower people to participate politically on the open-access anonymous platform and cultivate critical thinkers in the process on a national scale.
Keywords: Shūrā, Digital Shūrā, Islamic Governance, Maqāṣid of the Sharī’ah, Technology, Digital ‘Uamā’, Social Media, Policy
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