Salamu Alykum Hassan and Mia
Just so we can form and ponder on topics about what might consist of an Islamic State, i'll briefly write down some things that come to mind that the Quran commands the Muslims as a nation to regulate as Laws and explains how they should be carried out.
- Marriage - Corruption/mischief - Monitoring funds
- Inheritance - Welfare - Enjoining in the good
- Divorce - Taxes - Forbidding the evil
- Contracts (business, personal, loans) - Child care - Penalties
- Interest - Theft, continuous theft -Murder
- Prostitution - Pardons, community services, probation - Manslaughter
- Fornication / adultry - Monitoring actions, liberalization - Death
- Lying - Mutual consultations - Freedom
- Corruption/mischief - Monitoring funds
The Quran expects Believers, and/or a People of God, to Judge by what God has given them. Not limited to the list above, the Quran goes into detail about the regulations and procedure of lots of the topics I mentioned.
After assessing some topics in the Quran and related articles on this site I find when there is a judgement, punishment, rules, duties, prescription, or procedure of a general affair then these should be initiated by the nation/government on the citizens and does not differentiate between a persons belief.
Mia you said
If the punishments detailed in the Quran are carried out on non-muslims, wouldn't that constitute forcing your religion onto other people?
It depends. I sometimes think of taxes. Some people feel like paying taxes is not their duty. However western countries who are in a stable state and able to feed their poor and unemployed is arguably because of Taxes. And people must pay. Does that contribute to force or is that part of living and contributing to society although this is a rule of God. I find their are somethings that are crucial to countries health and well being.
Also a country needs to ensure the safety of its citizens. If people commit crimes there may be punishments. If people commit sexual activities in public and walking nude there may be consequences of a thinking country. However God already gave as a favour His Guidance. Now some things that God does not prescribe a punishment it may be just a duty upon Believers. Some western countries don't even let people walk around with open bottles of alcohol. It seems like anything that effects public they say no to. But at the same time they have the freedom of choice.
For example on taxes according to Quran it seems that people will have to abide by the rate of taxes to be paid to the government. These rates would possibly be based on mutual consultation between authority members and possibly the people as well. They may have different ways derived of how people have to pay taxes and the different rates applied to people of different categories( middle class, rich class, business, personal etc). But they should always insure they are following what the Quran is saying, they must enjoin that the people pay their taxes from the Profits they receive. And it should be done in one year. That the taxes collected they should be split up in accordance to how God describes. Taxes will have to be enjoined on believers and non-believers.
Inheritance would possibly apply in the same manner. As long as someone is a citizen of the land, then they would have to adhere to the laws of the land. Divorce, punishments, another matters would be carried out in the same ways.
I find that sometimes the Quran tells that if people repent and do righteous deed, or were not aware of their actions, it instructs the state to forgive or find a better way for them. I find that also these actions would have to be derived and made into a procedure somehow. For example in verse 24:5 I can't help but to ask, how do they repent and do righteous deeds. And then you may take their testimony. This may be community services, probation, prayer etc. It would possibly be applied to young people who commit little crimes and things like that.
I live in Canada and when I ponder about the laws they have here, I get shocked at how close they are to the Quran. I sometimes feel like the law makers some how read the scriptures and understood them, and applied them to the country. Or they may have looked at the laws from successful just countries of the past and applied the laws to their own. Not sure what happened.
And just to comment on zakat or taxes. There is a article brother Joseph wrote on it[1]. After reading the article I can see how a Islamic government can derive a system of taxes.
Since zakat is compulsory on believers for the next life as well, and its a crucial matter. I ask myself how would a believer enjoin in zakat/taxes if not living under a government who enjoins it, or has a right system. If I had to guess I would say paying your taxes no matter where you are is a righteous deed. And could be attributing to the actual zakat.
Some times I hear people living in western countries that they pay their zakat(2.5%) before the end of Ramadan from their savings to poor people or sending to their home countries. While I find nothing wrong and actually a good deed spending on poor and family and everything else. But to not pay the tax in the country your living in and saying you are paying the zakat somewhere else just doesn't fit in right with me.
A believer is expected to pay zakat. And we know zakat and saddaqa is different. This leads me to ask a couple questions while I ponder about the whole topic. How can one pay zakat if not living in a Islamic country despite the fact that their whole system is not even based on the Quranic zakat?
Would paying your taxes in other countries who actually expect their citizens to pay from their profits taxes be considered zakat in the light of the Quran?
Sorry a little tired and I may of got off topic by replying and asking questions at the same time.
Peace and Blessings to all Insha'Allah
[1] Zakat
http://quransmessage.com/articles/zakah%20FM3.htm