Summary of the Book of Systems - 10
Media is important for advocacy and the state. Having a distinct media policy that presents Islam in a strong and influential way affects people's acceptance of Islam. There is news that must be linked to the Imam to decide what should be concealed and what should be broadcast, especially military matters and news of negotiations and debates. Other daily news overlaps with the point of view on life, so state supervision is necessary, but in a way that differs from the first type of news. The first type of news has a special department whose work is direct monitoring and is not broadcast until it is presented to the media apparatus. The second type has a special department that monitors it indirectly, and the media does not need permission to present it.
The media does not need a license, but rather needs "knowledge and information." The media apparatus is informed of the media outlet that it has established and is responsible for every media material it publishes. A law is issued showing the broad outlines of the state's media policy in accordance with Sharia rulings.
The National Assembly consists of people who represent Muslims in opinion and holding rulers accountable, and it is permissible to allocate a council that acts on behalf of the nation in consultation and accountability because, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions used to allocate men from the Muhajireen and Ansar to whom they would refer to take their opinion if something happened to them, and it is permissible to have non-Muslim members in this council in order to complain about the injustice of the rulers or the misapplication of Islam.
Consultation is a right for Muslims, and peace and blessings be upon him used to refer to Muslims to consult them. He consulted them on the day of Uhud whether the fighting should be inside or outside the city, as well as on the day of Badr about the location of the battle. Omar bin Al-Khattab did the same regarding the issue of the land of Iraq, whether it should be distributed as spoils or left in the hands of its people who pay its taxes. Just as consultation is a right for Muslims, they must hold rulers accountable if they fall short, neglect, or violate the rulings of Islam. Peace be upon him said: "There will be princes, so you will recognize and disapprove. Whoever recognizes is innocent, and whoever disapproves is safe, but whoever approves and follows..." They said: "Shall we not fight them?" He said: "No, as long as they pray." The Companions after him denounced the action of the Caliph, and they were denounced for it, such as the issue of dowry with Omar bin Al-Khattab.
Members of the National Assembly are elected and not appointed, because they are agents for the people in opinion and the agent is chosen by his principal, and members of the National Assembly represent people individually and in groups. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, chose members of the Council on two bases: the first is that they are leaders of their group, and the second is that they are representatives of the Muhajireen and Ansar. The basis on which members of the National Assembly are chosen is representation of the people, so the choice of leaders was intentional, as well as representation of the groups, so the choice of the Muhajireen and Ansar was intentional. As for the fact that peace be upon him is the one who chose them, that is because the spot was narrow, which is the city, and the Muslims were known to him, as evidenced by the fact that in the Second Pledge of Aqaba the Muslims were not known, so peace be upon him left the matter of electing their leaders to them, and said: "Bring out to me from among you twelve leaders who will be over their people." Therefore, the existence of the National Assembly is representation of individuals, and this can only be achieved through elections.
A provincial council is elected for each province to provide information to the governor about the province and its needs in order to assist the governor and to show satisfaction and complaints about his rule. To facilitate matters, people directly elect provincial councils, then the successful candidates in the provincial councils elect members of the National Assembly from among them, and they are replaced by the candidates with the most votes who failed in the elections for the council of that province, and if two or more are equal, they draw lots. People of the Dhimma elect their representatives in the provincial councils, and their representatives elect their representatives in the National Assembly.
As for membership in the National Assembly, anyone who holds citizenship has the right to membership in the National Assembly and to vote if he is an adult and sane, whether he is a man or a woman, because the National Assembly is not part of the government, just as peace be upon him in the Second Pledge of Aqaba ordered everyone to elect who represents them and did not exclude women, neither in the election nor in being a leader. Also, a woman can delegate her opinion and others can delegate her, so agency does not require masculinity, and Omar bin Al-Khattab used to call men and women to the mosque if something happened to him.
Likewise, non-Muslims can be represented in the National Assembly to express their opinion on the misapplication of Islamic rulings against them, and the injustice inflicted on them by the ruler. Non-Muslims do not have the right to express their opinion on Sharia rulings, because their beliefs contradict Islamic beliefs, and they do not have the right to elect the Caliph or limit the candidates for the caliphate, because they do not have the right to rule, but they have the same rights as Muslims in the rest of the matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly is appointed for a specific period, because Omar, may God be pleased with him, used to refer to people at the end of his rule other than those to whom he used to refer at the beginning of his rule, so he did not adhere to referring to the people to whom Abu Bakr used to refer, and we adopt that this period be five years.
