Islamcracy: a misnomer?

Draft of Islamic Constitution:

Article (2): 1^st – Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:

(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.

(b) No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy.

What are the rules of Islam and what are the principles of democracy? Can these two theological/political philosophies truly coexist? Is secularism doomed to be placed on a Liberal pyre?

Let’s take an empirical approach to this situation. List below are a few quotes from the Koran. Granted that this is a small selection, the point is still clear; these “rules” would need to be unquestionably followed. For as the constitution states, these are “undisputed” and therefore complete and perfect:

• “The unbelievers are like beasts which, call out to them as one may, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they understand nothing.” (2:176)

• “Slay them wherever you find them. Drive them out of the places from which they drove you. Idolatry is worse than carnage. ... (I)f they attack you put them to the sword. Thus shall the unbelievers be rewarded: but if they desist, God is forgiving and merciful. Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God’s religion reigns supreme. But if they desist, fight none except the evildoers” (2:190-93)

• “Those to whom We (God) have given the Book, and who read it as it ought to read, truly believe in it; those that deny it shall assuredly be lost” (2:122)

• “(We) shall let them live awhile, and then shall drag them to the scourge of the Fire. Evil shall be their fate” (2:216)

• “Say to the unbelievers: ‘You shall be overthrown and driven into Hell- an evil resting place!” (3:12)

This is a short repository of quotes. (There are many more in the same vain) Most of the above “undisputed law” is quite unrelenting. This approach to government is one of absolutes. All or nothing and judgment is passed from imams or mullahs, not legislators or judges. Take any scenario of public or private crime. The punishment must come from the Koran, for it is undisputed, it can not be wrong, it is perfect in everyway.

In fact, it can not be erroneous to any degree. For, if it was to become fallible then Islam itself would end. In this circumstance, religion becomes the ultimate doublethink and would create a schism within the minds of the people. This breach would grow and eventually collapse upon itself. In effect, the merger of Islam and democracy, as one in the same, will lead to the end of one and the blossoming of the other. Unfortunately, democracy is lead by the people. Thus in this situation these individuals reflect a dogmatic and blinding faith to Islam, which will be the ruin of democracy, federalism, and Liberal freedom.