Introduction

Under the title "Foundations of Sudan’s Constitution," which is the title of this volume, we include three appendices in this section. The first appendix presents the constitution of the Republican Party at its inception in October 1945. The second appendix features the constitution of the Republican Party as of its resurgence in October 1951, after its activities had been suspended during the imprisonment of its leader between 1946 and 1948 and his seclusion in Rufaa between 1948 and 1951, or nearly so.
The third appendix provides the current constitution of the Republican Party. Our purpose in publishing these documents in this manner is to allow readers to observe the development of the Republican idea during this period, to see how its core remained steadfast throughout, and to note the spirit of October reflected in the 1951 constitution.
We have included the constitution of the Republican Party within the "Foundations of Sudan’s Constitution" because the difference between the two constitutions is one of degree. The party currently implements its constitution within its small community - its members. It will apply the broader constitution, "Foundations of Sudan’s Constitution," to the larger community - the Sudanese people - when it holds the authority to do so at that level.

Goals of the Republican Party

• The ultimate goal of the Republican Party is to produce free individuals. A free individual is one who thinks as they wish, speaks as they think, and acts as they speak, with the result of their speech and actions being nothing but goodness and kindness toward living beings and all creation.
• To expand the creation of free individuals, a virtuous society must be established. According to our view, this society is founded on three forms of equality: economic equality, which begins with socialism, where the poor have a right, not charity, and progresses toward communism, where wealth is shared among people without discrimination; political equality, which begins with semi-representative democracy; and social equality, where distinctions based on class, color, ethnicity, and creed are eliminated.
• The constitution of this society is the Islamic constitution - though we stress that the term “Islamic” here reflects the meaning understood by the Republicans, not the traditionalists. This constitution, at its core, reconciles the individual’s need for absolute personal freedom with society’s need for comprehensive social justice. No social or philosophical system has succeeded in achieving this reconciliation. Without it, the three equalities mentioned above cannot coexist, nor can socialism and democracy coexist in a single administrative system.
• However, the Islamic constitution in this sense—the constitution of the Qur'an—can only be realized in society if a virtuous group of individuals comes into existence. Therefore, members of the Republican Party strive to implement the Quranic constitution in their lives as an act of worship, transforming this worship into interactions - with people and with God - marked by honesty and sincerity. Their aim, alongside self-reformation, is to create an ideal Islamic model that inspires others with its moral integrity and intellectual soundness, encouraging emulation and affiliation. The party emphasizes that actions speak louder than words. The invitation through one’s state of being (lisān al-ḥāl) takes precedence over the invitation through speech (lisān al-maqāl). In a sacred hadith, Allah said to His spirit: "O Jesus! Admonish yourself. If you take heed, then admonish others; lest, you should be ashamed of Me."
• To create a model that embodies Islamic virtues, which are the noble virtues of humanity, the Republicans emulate Muhammad and strive to follow his path. The Republican Party has published a booklet titled The Path of Muhammad and invited people to adopt it. The path of Muhammad is different from the law of Muhammad - his path is his Sunnah (tradition), and his Sunnah is superior to his Shari'a (law). The Republicans hold no idealistic notions, as idealism is merely a thought incapable of action. Instead, the Republicans combine knowledge with action. This is the Islamic approach, and its foundation lies in the verse: "To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it" (35:10), and the verse: "O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do" (61:2-3). It is also supported by the saying of the Infallible: "Whoever acts upon what they know, Allah grants them knowledge of what they do not know." Islam combines knowledge and action. It begins with the knowledge of Shari'a, which is necessary for valid worship, followed by worship itself. Worship then reflects in dealings with others. The outcome is purity of heart from the burdens of hatred and resentment, and clarity of mind from the stains of ignorance and falsehoods. From this point, knowledge progresses from Shari'a to Haqqiqa (the truth of human nature), resulting in virtuous dealings with others and the adoption of noble character traits. The Infallible said: “Emulate the character of Allah. My Lord is on a straight path.”
• By creating the Republican model - a truly Muslim individual with a pure heart and a clear mind - and spreading this model among the people, the Republicans will gain the ability to implement the Quranic constitution on Sudanese society. The Sudanese Republic will then serve as a virtuous model for other nations, just as the Republican individual seeks to be an ideal model for other individuals.
The call to Islam today will differ from past methods. In today’s world, there can be no coercion or guardianship. Anyone who seeks to invite others to Islam must begin with themselves, implementing the Quranic constitution in their own life and embodying its ethics until they become a compelling example and a sought-after role model.
Similarly, a state that seeks to call others to Islam must first exemplify the Quranic principles. A virtuous individual inspires others to Islam through their actions before their words, and a virtuous state does the same for other states. Allah says: “There shall be no compulsion in religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong” (2:256).
This implies: Make the right course clear by embodying it in your virtues and ethics before explaining it in your words and deeds.
Humanity as a whole needs Islam, and Muslims themselves are at the forefront of those in need of it. There is no path to this call but the straight path outlined here.
This is a brief summary of the goals of the Republican Party. Further details can be found in the party’s various publications, which can be sought where they are available. To Allah belongs the ultimate path.