Below is a response on Voting from Mufti Ebrahim Desai

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

Voting is an integral part in a democratic dispensation and it determines who will be elected and who will be in power. As Muslims, if we desist from voting, we will have no option but to be under the rules of people elected in power. We are living in a non-Muslim country and we will have to abide by their existing system.

As opposed to that, we could be part of the system to minimize harm on our selves and vote for such members that will advance our views and help the course of Islam. We should use the voting system to our advantage to the best of our ability. Voting does not mean that we accept and promote all the evils of the country. If we go by that rationale, then our living in a non-Muslim country will also mean to support the evils of the country as we pay taxes to the Government which in turn uses the money to promote its values. By that rational, we should not be living in a non-Muslim country. In fact, if we oppose the evils of the Government, use the system available to us to combat the evils and prepare suitable candidates for positions and campaign to have them elected.

Many senior Ulama and Muftis have considered the issue of Muslims voting in a non-Muslim country and issue a decree to vote. Voting for an individual falls in the category of Tawkeel (representation).

Q: Is it permissible to take part in the forthcoming SA democratic elections, by voting or standing as a candidate, etc.?
A: It is permissible to take part with the following conditions; a) there is no obtstacle in accomplishing the laws of Islam, b) one is able to serve the Muslims, and, c) one is able to save the Muslims from oppression. (Fataawa Mahmoodiya vol.13 pg. 425)

(Al-Mahmood No. 4 , May 1999)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Wassalam

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah

Pure Islam published a short article on voting, Islam & democracy. Many might disagree with the sentiments below and go ahead and vote anyway, please make sure your Niyah (intentions) is correct & islamic.

Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah

Indeed All praise belongs to Allah SWT who has created us and to whom we shall return for judgment. May the choicest of peace and blessing be upon Muhammad S.A.W. his family, his companions and all those who follow them until the last day.

A BRIEF ADVICE AND REMINDER FOR THOSE CONSIDERING VOTING, CALLING TO VOTE OR OTHER THAN THAT – WITHIN A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

With South African General Elections coming up in 2009, Muslims are being asked to participate in the electoral process commencing with voter registration over the coming weekend. This reminder and advice is addressed to every single Muslim who intends participating in the elections especially those who sincerely believe that that they are assisting Islam and Muslims

“Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?” (an Nisaa’ 4:144)

Before going ahead with registration think about this:

1) For Muslims, the Shari’ah has been a complete system of governance for over 1400 years until the khilafah was destroyed in the 1920′s

2) Muslims submit to Allah in all spheres of life

3) The most recently developed man-made system of democracy is an un-Islamic western system

4) It gives the Divine authority and right of legislation to man. The system is therefore a system of shirk (association of partners with Allah in His Names and Attributes)

5) It is not just the opposite of Islam but is now being presented as an alternative to the Shari’ah of Allah Azzawajal

6) Voting is a show of support for the system

7) Voting can lead to a false sense of security by Muslims starting to believe that democracy is equal to or better than the Shari’ah

This false sense of security and mixed belief can possibly lead to disbelief in Islam

Now ask yourself the following sincerely:

9) Do I want to aid a system that is opposed to the system that Allah CHOSE for me after He honoured me with Islam?

10) Will I demonstrate the same enthusiasm and willingness to call for or show support for the establishment of the Shari’ah?

11) Do my actions of supporting an un-Islamic system conform to the Sunnah of Muhammad (saw) and the methodology of the Sahaabah (ra), those who I claim to follow?

12) Do I want to call other Muslims to a haraam system and share in their sin?

13) Which of the reasons that are being presented to encourage me to participate are valid in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah?

14) Am I being forced to vote?

15) What further benefit can I attain for the Muslims via my vote that we don’t already have? More masjids? More madrassahs? More halaal butchers?

16) How many laws have been passed in this place in the name of democracy that are in total opposition to what Allah has legislated for His Creation?

Dear Muslim brother and sister,

Please don’t fall for this highly deceptive trap of Iblees. Stay away from the system of the Shaytaan and work instead for the system of Allah.

You can make a difference – give da’wah to the non-Muslims and support them in their Islam all the way. That’s the real way not the shortcut being proposed by the democrats.

This is a summary. More detailed information is available upon your request insha allah

info@pureislam.co.za

May Allah guide us to see the truth as truth and to accept it

May Allah guide us to see the falsehood as falsehood and to refrain from it