Salams, if we as muslims beleive in the shahada 'La Ilaha il Allah Muhammad ur Rasoolula', then there should be no argument that we accept everyhting that Allah SWT tells us we can/cannot do. Every action we undertake, every thought process we have, we refer back to islam because we beleive that Allah SWT has legislated and made this deen applicable to every time, day and situation we face. Allah SWT says in the Quran “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and chosen for you Islam as your way of life (Deen).” [TMQ: Ma’idah: 3]
So when it comes to the issue of voting in the upcoming elections here in Britain, we must first and foremost go back to Islam and see what Allah SWT has to say on this matter.
Voting is something which is permitted in Islam, for example when we look in islamic history it is clear to see that voting for someone to rule, legislate over them such as the time of Khilafah Rashida is encouraged.
But when we are living in a secular democracy where sovreignty and law making belongs to man not Allah SWT it is clear that this is haram. Allah SWT says in the quran:
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ
“The rule rests with Allah alone” [Translated Meaning Quran Surah Yusuf 12:40] and
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
Whosoever rules by other than what Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.” [Translated Meaning Quran Surah Maidah 5:44]
I am not saying that muslims shouldn't participate in politics, we must ask ourselves what is politics? It is looking after the affairs of the people, we as muslims do this everyday e.g. when someone dies and we organise a funeral we are looking after the affairs of the people. But when when speaking about politics concerning legislation and certain viewpoints we must first look at what they stand for/represent
Muslims are being told to vote for parties with policies such as the legalisation of bloodshed and occupation of Muslim lands (as we saw with Iraq and Afghanistan); the creation of oppressive anti-terror laws; the permission of riba and economic exploitation, gambling, alcohol; and who all support. A vote for these parties would be an endorsement of policies that clearly contradict Islam.
But obviously there are many issues as people have highlighted that we face here in britain which we need a solution to such as
• The propaganda and media attacks on Islam and its values
• Concerns for our children’s welfare, especially when raising them in a society plagued by drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity and family breakdown.
• The killing of Muslims in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere – and occupation of these lands
• Anti-terror laws that unjustly target Muslims
So the solution, again we refer back to Islam, how did the Prophet SAW deal with the injustices that the ummah were facing? Did He SAW go thorugh the quraysh and work tyhrough their system to implement change?No he did not, the prophet SAW fought to implement Islam in it's entirety, (for those who may not be aware Islam has rulings on all aspects such as social, economic, foreign policy etc). He SAW was even offered ppower and money in order to give up his call but yet He SAW did not. So the question is if we do not make a change working through the system how do we do it?
Our community’s strength lies in being united in solving these problems. Unity of this community would mean strength economically and politically. By contrast secular party politics creates fitna, division and weakness. So, calling the community to join the Labour party, Conservative party or Liberal Democrats (or any others) would divide our community along party lines, creating bitterness and discord.
Our community’s strength lies in self reliance. The record of this community, over decades, speaks for itself: Hundreds of masajid, madrasahs and Islamic schools have largely been built by the community’s money and effort without help from the state.
Our community must voice our opposition – in a strong and united manner – to the policies which lead to the killing of Muslims in Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and elsewhere and the occupation of these lands; and support the global work for an Islamic Khilafah state that will liberate these lands and end the killing and oppression. We cannot rely on the secular parties who endorsed these colonial and murderous policies in the Middle East, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Allah SWT says 'But no, by your Lord, they can have no Iman, until they make you the judge in all disputes between them.' [TMQ: An-Nisa: 65]
Our community must, as a fundamental priority, ensure that we secure our values and hold onto our Deen strongly in the face of all the negativity about Islam in the media and society in general.
We can only counter the lies and misconceptions about Islam and carry the correct message of Islam to the wider society if we keep Islam at the top of our agenda and focus our energies in this direction, rather than trying to side with politicians, who simply court Muslims for their own selfish desire to achieve power.
The recent attacks by Jim Fitzpatrick MP and journalist Andrew Gilligan on the Islamic Forum Europe proved, if proof was needed, that the secular system and secular parties want Muslims to abandon policies based on Islam and adopt the secular values of the parties. The hopeless track record of the current Muslim MPs is clear proof of how they must abandon our communities and Islamic values to remain within those parties. The path of voting for, and participating in, these secular parties will no doubt bring harm rather than any good to our community.
Muslims need to hold fast to Islamic values and follow a political path based upon Islam and unity of the Muslim community – enjoining the good and forbidding the munkar – and resist the false promises of influence in this kufr system at the price of losing our deen. It is Islam alone that gives this community dignity and honour and if we lose that, no amount of political activity could ever deliver meaningful results.
O ye who believe! Be conscious of Allah as you aught to be conscious of Him, and die not except in a state of Islam. And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to you: that ye may be guided. Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: for them is a dreadful Penalty) (Surah al-Imran 3: 102-105).
