Leadership Accountability in Islam: Islamic Standards for Holding the Executive Accountable for Official Misconduct

Abstract

This paper seeks to refute a common belief that the ruler in Islam is unchecked and that he serves for life regardless of any official misconduct he may commit by providing a religious basis for the concept of political accountability through the investigation of the concept of presidential impeachment in Islam. In doing so, the article first sheds significant light on the Caliphate system of governance, the rights and duties of the Caliph, his legal status, and the inauguration process. Further, the article introduces the conflicting views regarding the issue of removing the ruler in the context of Islamic jurisprudence, examines the role of the Islamic scholars in redressing the ruler and correcting the official misconduct, and sheds light on the Islamic alternatives of impeachment and the extent to which they differ from what is known in modern constitutional doctrines.