Islam is not a political ideology

In modern times, two subject matters have become taboo to talk about in social gatherings — religion and politics. What's seen to be worse is when the two are combined. Even if religion is allowed to be the subject of discussion, people's understanding and description of religion vary markedly. People can see religion as an irrational system invented by humans to control the masses or as a philosophy or a set of rational principles or as mere mysticism.

The difficulty increases in the case of Islam, for some Muslims, political leaders and media consider and present it as a purely political, sociological and economic ideology rather than as a religion. In reality, Islam primarily focuses on the immutable aspects of life and existence, while political, social, and economic ideologies concern only certain variable, social aspects of our worldly existence.

Therefore, when comparing religion or Islam with democracy, one must remember that democracy is a political system that is being continually developed and revised. Moreover, its application varies according to the circumstances and places where it is practised even in Western countries where democracy is generally accepted as well-established. Since religion has established immutable principles related to faith, worship and morality, only Islam's worldly aspects can be compared with democracy.