Voting in Islam

[Walid]

As-salam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,

Can you tell us the exact shariah law regarding voting in muslim and in non-muslim lands. I know there are a lot of muslims fielding for all the mainstream parties, all with different agendas, but by voting for them and their policies could contradict the safety of muslims in their homelands, ie Iraq ?

[Imam]

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Rahim

Wa’laykum as-Salaam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakaatuhu,



Muslims are allowed to vote in non-Muslim lands, as there is nothing in the Qur’an–al-Muqaddas, or the Hadith-al-Sharif, which prevents us from doing so…

Where there is a party which threatens the safety of the Muslims in foreign lands, or the agenda of a party which threatens the safety of Muslims in foreign lands, then it is ‘fard’ i.e. obligatory upon the Muslims to become active against, and campaign against such false agendas, and parties, who have the ideology of threatening not only the safety of other Muslims, but also threatening of humanity.

Electing for a certain group, or person to be in power can be traced back in Islam as far as the selection for the rightly-guided caliphs in Islam (may Allah be pleased with them), in which some occasions there was opposition, hadiths of such a nature can be found in al-Bukhari and other books of Hadith. It might be even correct to say that the tradition of voting has come into existence through the religion of Islam. Islam however is against all forms of tyranny against mankind, all forms of terrorism, and suppression, parties or groups who claim to have illegal rights over and above those of other innocent people.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him) was so Merciful, that even the captives that were held by Him (peace be upon Him) were given such equal treatment as the Muslims, that their influence was the result of the non-believers embracing the religion of Islam, to which they then dedicated their lives.

May Allah the Almighty, keep us all away from any form of tyranny, suppression, oppression, and the support of any such parties, whether they vote to a war against any of the holy lands or not, and may Allah the Almighty help us, and educate us with all forms of affairs that go on around us, so that we may select those who may benefit from the religion of Islam, its people, and its holy places.

n.b. it is not haraam to vote, but a vote should be given to that party which understands the need of the Muslims and their religion today, to a party that will defend the rights of other innocent people, their homes, families, their health, education and last but not least, religion. There may be opposition to a party policy by the same party members, in favour of a war, and also for a no war in Iraq, by the same party back-benchers, then there is nothing wrong with voting for that candidate who opposes his own party on a particular issue, as he may also be reflecting upon the voice of the community, which also holds your opinion. But this does not mean that you should not vote. Voting could therefore be a crucial act, which not only holds your voice, opinion, and decision in your area, but also support for your candidate who could make a difference in Parliament, if he wins.

You should vote that candidate who has the best aims, objectives, and ideals, especially in relation to humanitarian issues.


Wallaho a’lamo bithawaab.

M.Waseem Ashrafi