Other Islamic Advocates
When the proposal for a complete Islamic constitution was rejected by the Permanent Constitution Committee, a group of distinguished citizens representing an elite familiar with both Western and some Islamic thought formed what they called the “National Commission for the Complete Islamic Constitution.” They issued a memorandum on “The Complete Islamic Constitution for the Republic of Sudan,” which begins with the following statement:
"As a result, the northern parties declared their acceptance of the Islamic constitution despite their differences. This internal discord within the Permanent Constitution Committee prompted a group of your brothers in the tripartite capital to deliberate on the best way to achieve a complete Islamic constitution."
"A commission was formed under the name of the National Commission for the Complete Islamic Constitution. After many meetings, the commission decided to establish a council to consult, research, and reach out to party leaders to garner support for the complete Islamic constitution, as they were convinced that building the state upon it would ensure the happiness of all citizens, Muslims and non-Muslims alike."
"The commission contacted party leaders and prominent figures, receiving welcoming and supportive responses. Some leaders even encouraged the commission to draft a memorandum outlining the distinct features that would set the Islamic constitution apart from other constitutions."
"Consequently, the commission tasked seven of its members with drafting the memorandum. Once the committee completed its work, the memorandum was presented to the broader commission for discussion and approval. The document before you represents the finalized version."
"The following are the names of the commission members and the drafting committee:"
• Mr. Al-Dardiri Mohamed Othman (Chairman)
• Dr. Kamel Al-Baqir (Secretary)
• Mr. Ahmed Al-Baili (Rapporteur)
• Mr. Abdel-Majid Ali Abu Quseisa
• Mr. Awadallah Saleh
• Mr. Mandour Al-Mahdi
• Mr. Badawi Mustafa
• Mr. Majzoub Madthar Al-Hijaz
• Mr. Mohamed Al-Arabi
• Mr. Abshir Ahmed Hamida
• Mr. Daoud Al-Khalifa Abdullah
• Mr. Youssef Ishaq Hamad Al-Neil
• Mr. Ali Talaballah
• Mr. Mohamed Hashim Al-Hadiya
• Mr. Awad Hamid Jabir Al-Dar
• Mr. Youssef Al-Khalifa Abu Bakr
• Mr. Omar Abdullah Sabir
Drafting Committee:
• Mr. Al-Dardiri Mohamed Othman
• Dr. Kamel Al-Baqir
• Mr. Majzoub Madthar Al-Hijaz
• Mr. Awadallah Saleh
• Mr. Badawi Mustafa
• Mr. Mandour Al-Mahdi
• Mr. Ahmed Al-Baili
The memorandum concludes: "We hope that all political parties, regardless of differences, will unite behind these principles. We also call upon members of the Constituent Assembly to fulfill the nation’s demands by establishing a complete Islamic constitution that brings happiness to all citizens."
"We urge every individual, regardless of their political or sectarian affiliation, to work tirelessly and with determination to build our state upon the foundation of Islam. Those who do so will surely triumph."
Here, we have provided a list of the esteemed members of this commission so you can become familiar with them, as they are among the most distinguished figures in this country in terms of academic achievement and official positions in the state.
What did they say about these principles, which they invite parties and groups to support "with solidarity, perseverance, and firmness to build our state on the foundation of Islam" - "as they were convinced that building the state upon it would ensure the happiness of all citizens, Muslims and non-Muslims."?
On page 5 of the memorandum, they state: "When we call for the establishment of an Islamic constitution and the realization of the principles of Islamic Sharia, we are essentially calling for the establishment of a modern state in every sense of the term. Democracy, in all its political, economic, and social forms, was understood by Islam long before modern states conceived of it. In Islam, governance is based on land, people, and government, as is the case in modern state theory."
This is what they said on page 5. But consider what they say on page 11: "Democracy has become a slogan bearing various and often contradictory meanings, reflecting the ideological divide between the communist East and the capitalist West. Communist states describe their systems as democratic, as do Western capitalist states, despite the ideological and philosophical differences between East and West. As for Muslims, Allah describes them thus: ‘And thus We have made you a moderate nation, that you will be witnesses over the people.’ (2:143)."
They continue: "Likewise, the term 'socialism' bears so many contradictory meanings that its use often becomes a tool for distorting the principles of justice and inciting class warfare. Since Islam encompasses all principles of justice, consultation (Shura), and sound human values, we see no need for the inclusion of 'socialism' or 'democracy' as terms in the constitution. It is sufficient to describe the constitution as Islamic."
"Unless, of course, we accuse Islam of deficiency, incompleteness, and lack of comprehensiveness - a thought that would never cross the mind of any Muslim."
