the Caliphate and the Office of the Sheikh-ul-Islam were existing in Istanbul, that is, the foundation was ready for a Supreme Council of Islam. Only the expansion and the reinforcement over the World of Islam was needed then.. Whereas, now, such a Council can be formed within the framework of the Islamic Union which should be realized by the United Republics of Islam.

Imam Bediuzzaman stated the necessity of the Consultation in one of his works, as follows:

The key to Muslims’ happiness in Islamic social life is the collective consultation enjoined by the Shari’a (Al Mashwarat-al Shar’iyya). The verse,

Whose rule is consultation among themselves. [Qur’an 42:38]

orders consultation as a fundamental principle. Just as the consultation of the ages and centuries that mankind has practised by means of history, a conjunction of ideas, formed the basis of the progress and sciences of all mankind, so too one reason for the backwardness of Asia, the largest continent, was the failure to practise that true consultation.

The key and discloser of the continent of Asia and its future is collective consultation. That is to say, just as individuals should consult one another, so must nations and continents also practise consultation. For it is the freedom resulting from the Shari’a, which is born of the consultation enjoined by the Shari’a, and the noble-mindedness and compassion of belief that will loosen