Political Legitimacy Through Bay’ah: A Comparative Study Between the Texts of the Qur'an, Hadith, and Modern Applications

The issue of political legitimacy in the modern Islamic world often contradicts between the demands of tradition and the realities of contemporary statehood. This phenomenon is evident when the concept of bay’ah – the traditional pledge of allegiance – is loosely interpreted and applied, deviating from its original meaning in the texts of the Qur'an and Hadith. This gap, between early doctrine and current practice, is insufficiently addressed by existing studies which tend to view bay’ah either merely as a historical relic or a tool of political rhetoric. This conceptual study, through in-depth library analysis, attempts to unravel this complexity. Initial findings indicate that bay’ah historically formed a direct social contract, not merely an empty symbol. It also reveals a fragmentation in the interpretation by religious authorities in translating the true meaning of bay’ah for modern application. Finally, it is found that the application of bay’ah is often misused to consolidate autocratic power and undermine the principle of musyawarah. The implications of these findings necessitate a responsible reevaluation of the role of bay’ah in forming a governance that is truly legitimate in the eyes of Islamic law (sharia) and the people.

Political Legitimacy, Bay’ah, Al-Qur'an

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