What is the difference between Khilafah AND Democratic ‘Muslim’ Countries?

In the name of Allah and peace and blessings be upon His messenger Muhammad and his family and all of his companions. All praise is for Allah who says, 
“Rule and judge by whatever Allah revealed and do not follow their desires” [5:49] 

Allah pointed out in this ayah the ruling system in Islam. There are 3 types of authority in any state: 

Sultah Tanfiziyyah - Executive authority, 
This is the authority of a ruler, minister or decision maker. the one that will make policies, orders and implement the laws. 
In an Islamic state that is the Khalifah or those governors appointed by him. Those in authority must be Muslim, male, sane, mature, capable, etc. 
In democratic governments that is the Prime Minster/President and all ministers. Those in authority could be kafir, women, etc. 

Sultah Qadaa’iyyah - Judicial authority, 
This is the authority of the judges and courts who will remove disputes between the people by judging between them by the law. 
In an Islamic State, these judges are appointed by the Khalifah. They must be Muslims. 
In a democratic government, these judges could be kafir also.

Note: Both of these must operate by and within the law and cannot change them.

Sultah Tashree’iyyah - Legislative authority. 

This is the authority of the legislator who will decide the laws that govern how the above authorities operate. 

In Islam, this type of authority is only for Allah as is clear in the above ayah, no human has any right to decide or legislate laws and whoever claims the right of legislation has made himself a lord instead of Allah – that is Shirk. In an Islamic state the rulers and judges must rule and judge by whatever Allah revealed and they do not follow the desires of the people. 

In a democratic state, the foundation of democracy is that the right of legislation belongs to the people, for the people and by the people. i.e. it is all of the people who appoint MP in the house of commons and ‘lords’ in the house of lords who will decide the laws through debate, discussion and polling the rational opinions and desires of the people. In other words they rule and judge by whatever the people desire and they do not follow what Allah revealed. This is Shirk in Allah and taking the MPs as lords besides Allah. 

As for contributing to the country today, the best thing we can do to contribute to and better our countries is to remove these rulers, regimes and man-made laws and dismantle democracy from its root. Our countries need revolutions like the one in Syria to overthrow the tyrant regimes and establish Islam instead. We can contribute with our hands, tongues and hearts.

• Fighting for the sake of Allah with the hand could be fighting, and could be changing the munkar by the hand in even the smallest forms e.g. removing posters/flyers promoting democracy or elections.
• With the tongue is to speak the word of truth in front of these tyrant rulers.
• With the heart is to love the Tawheed for the sake of Allah and to hate these Taghoot regimes and their shirk for the sake of Allah and to make du’a for their defeat.

This is in summary the difference between Khilafah and the current democratic governments in the world today. 

And Allah knows best! 
By Ustadh Abu Baraa' (hafidhUllah)