Quora Answer: Why is Hizb ut-Tahrir's Campaign for an Islamic Caliphate Widely Opposed in Muslim Countries?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Why is Hizb ut-Tahrir, which campaigns for the Islamic caliphate system, widely opposed in Islamic countries?”

Hizb ut-Tahrir denies the legitimacy of the nation state, and believes that all the issues of the ummah would be magically solved if we had a caliphate. Accordingly, they preach that the democratic process is a bid’ah adh-dhalalah, a reprehensible innovation; and that to take part in the democratic process is haram.

Firstly, there is no commandment to establish any such thing as a global caliphate.  The Muslims were never a monolithic group, and there is no such thing as a united ummah.  This dream of a caliphate is a delusion.

Secondly, assuming we all agreed to this ridiculous delusion of a global caliphate, who would rule?  Why would we accept anyone?  Muslims have a multitude of sects, schools, and political groups.  Which group would it be?  Even as the Prophet (s.a.w.) lay unburied, the swahabah were already arguing who would lead the Muslims.  The early history of the Muslims was one of civil war; nothing has changed.

Thirdly, by telling Muslims to not get involved in the democratic process, they are attempting to deprive Muslims of a say in the electoral process, and representation.  This is insidious in that it breeds disenfranchisement, and eventual subversion.

Hizb ut-Tahrir are an insidious threat to any nation with a Muslim majority, or minority.  They seek to drive wedge between the Muslims and non-Muslims, and within the Muslim community.  Indonesia, for example, did the correct thing by banning this group, and more Muslim nations should follow suit.