Muslims remain largely unaware of the importance and value of the Qur'anic principle of al-Shura (mutual consultation) and the significant role it can play in the advancement and reform of Muslim society. In this work, the author attempts to introduce and examine key meanings and practices of al-Shura, trace its historical evolution, and explore ways in which the principle can be introduced, institutionalized and applied in Muslim societies. There is no doubt that al-Shura has been sidelined throughout the Muslim world and the reasons for this are both historically and politically complex. According to the author, although much has been written on the subject, in reality it has been at best ineffectively applied and at worst heedlessly ignored. Even today it is a hotly contested issue. As al-Shura is increasingly associated with democratic participation in a decision-making process, debate has ignited with critics challenging the notion of equating the principle with western notions of democracy, with others claiming that the principle allows for a meaning that breaks the grip of centralized power. These and other issues are investigated with careful scholarship. Al-Raysuni concludes that al-Shūra should be adopted as a way of life for all Muslims to protect their interests and as a vital tool for reconstruction and reform. In doing so he addresses the subject from some intriguing new angles, giving insight into areas hitherto little, if at all, examined. The tide of popular protest against dictatorship that is currently sweeping Arab countries is evidence at once of the failure of participatory and consultative governance and an opportunity in the meantime for them to reclaim their all but lost heritage that is so germane to their own culture and Islam. Al-Raysuni's timely contribution unfolds the place of al-Shura in the scripture, juristic and historical precedent as well as the manner of its revival in contemporary Muslim polities. His focus on pragmatic issues and the lines of convergence between al-Shura and democracy he has highlighted, make this a particularly interesting reader on the subject. In the Beginning there was Consultation'. Thus begins Ahmad al-Raysuni's remarkable new book Al- Shūra, a passionate plea for reviving and incorporating the principle of consultation in all walks of life. His message is that the principle is divine in origin, and its application was coeval with man's very creation. The author thus regards the principle as inherent in the creation process itself, and not merely a doctrinal matter. Further, he sees no objection to enhancing the principle by borrowing from (and further enriching) modern democratic theory and practice. 'Democracy,' he argues, 'needs us as much as we need it.' The book offers a comprehensive and compelling treatment and rethinking of this central Islamic principle.
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Raysuni is a Moroccan Islamic scholar and jurist. He served as president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) until his retirement in 2022. He was the former head of the Movement of Unity and Reform (MUR), an organization closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Moroccan Justice and Development Party. Raysuni, is one of main figures in the Moroccan Sufi Islamic reform and revivalist movement started by Allal al-Fassi. Raysuni retired from the IUMS in 2022 after stating that Mauritania's existence was "a mistake". Raysuni was born on 1953, in the village of Ouled Soltane, near Ksar el-Kebir. He finished his primary and secondary education in the Ksar el-Kebir, where he obtained a Baccalaureate in modern literature. Raysuni earned his bachelor's degree in Sharia from the University of al-Qarawiyyin in 1978. He completed his postgraduate studies at Mohammed V University, where he obtained a master's degree in 1989 and a doctorate in 1992. He was the first secretary-general of the Moroccan Association of Alumni in Greater Islamic Studies from 1992 to 1996. Raysuni founded the Islamic Future Association (LAI) in 1994. The LAI later merged with the Reform and Renewal Movement, led by Abdelilah Benkirane, creating the Movement of Unity and Reform (MUR) in 1996. He presided the MUR until his resignment in 2003. Raysuni was the editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Attajadid from 2000 until 2004. Raysuni is a founding member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), he was a member of the union's executive board before being elected vice-president in 2013. He later became president of the IUMS from 2018 until his retirement in 2022. Raysuni is a senior expert at the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, and a visiting professor the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies. He is a former professor of Islamic jurisprudence and Sharia at Mohammed V University. On August 28, 2022, Raysuni announced his retirement and resigned from presidency at the International Union of Muslim Scholars, he stated that his retirement was to "exercise my freedom of expression, without conditions, compromises or pressure, standing firmly to my positions and opinions". Raysuni is married and has five children.
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