ABSTRACT
The ultimate question in any political system is that concerning the issue of who should govern? And how? The purpose of this article is threefold: (1) to discuss the principles of majority rule and minority rights in an Islamic state and to argue that they are fundamental principles of governing in any political Islamic system; (2) to identify the basic rights that are guaranteed to non-Muslims in an Islamic state; and, (3) to show how non-Muslims were treated, in the past, when Muslims were in power. I will illustrate these points by quoting non-Muslim scholars and experts who cannot be accused of bias or prejudice. I will conclude by arguing that concerning the principles of majority rule and minority rights an Islamic model is ideal for governing multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-ideological societies.
