Free Election
\r\nA government is to be established on the free consent of the masses and this is the foundation of the Islamic constitution. This was meant to ensure that no individual by his struggle be able to secure power for himself, and that the masses should entrust power to the best among the candidates after mutual consultation. Allegiance should not be secured based on rulership but be a consequence of assuming power. There should be no manoeuvring to secure allegiance [or oath of fealty] on the individual's behalf. Everyone should be free to exercise their right to pay allegiance or to refuse it. Unless the oath of allegiance is secured, no one should seize power; and when confidence is lost in his rule, no longer should the individual be in a position to rule.
\r\nEach of the righteous successors to the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to power according to this prescribed article. In the case of Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) his position of claim to succession became dubious. This is the reason why he was not included among the righteous successors of the Prophet, despite of his being a companion of the Prophet. And, eventually it was the drastic event of Yazid's nomination as Muawiyah's successor that overturned the validity of these articles. This resulted in the beginning of a chain of hereditary monarchy – and ever since, the Muslims have not been able to revert back to the principle of electing a caliph. Now individuals had assumed rule not by virtue of free and consultative deliberations of the masses but by their dint of power. Allegiance was secured through power instead of securing power through allegiance. The masses were not free in giving or holding back their oaths of allegiance. Securing allegiance was no longer a prerequisite of acquiring power. In the first place, people had no option to refuse allegiance to the ruling individual. And even if people refused to give allegiance, the person ruling did not part with it (rule).When Imam Malik during the reign of Mansor Abbasi committed the offense of asking the caliph to abstain from coercive method of securing allegiance, he was flogged and his arms were amputated.
\r\nCompiled From:
\r\n \"Martyrdom of Imam Hussain" - Abul Ala Mawdudi