Islam is a system of belief that guides its society as a whole and its legal foundation must be in conformity with the Shari’ah. Since Shari’ah tolerates diversity of values in an international coexistence, pragmatic pluralism can become a basis for the international community in the pursuit of common interests. Unfortunately, international law in today’s society has being reduced to become monistic and state’s exclusive through unilateral state power that is one-dimensional and imperial. Against this conventional Western centric approach to international law, what is demanded of us in the study of international law is the revealing of a common world history. This is a history of past coexistence of civilisations in the East, colonialism and resistance to colonial power, and of coming to term with globalisation. As an opposition to the unitary approach, we should ensure that international law remains tolerant to special cultural and especially regionaland institutional approaches. Therefore, a common understanding of law, values, and ethics has to be taken advantage of by the Muslims to initiate a broad based Islamic cooperation in the development of Siyar (Islamic international law) that will facilitate the accomplishment of the Muslim’s global interests and hence contribute to the general welfare of the world. |