The defining characteristic of a democracy is that it is a rule by law, not by the ppl while da despots n da oligarchs rule by suspecion n armd police

Are we going to allow the oligarchs to rule us? and are we going to use them so called sheikhs to pass fatwas and stop us from making a change?
lets look at the need to make a change perhaps the halal way?

shaykh haytham al haddad clarifies that if muslims were to advocate and help establish a system in which people are free to legislate against islam, then this would certainly be an act of kuffr, for Allah says 'legislation is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but him (12:41)

and whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the kafirun (5:44)

BUT partcipation or voting in the electoral process not tantamount to legislate against islam.Dr azzam tamimi says 'those who treat the questions of democracy or power sharing as matters of aqidah (faith) usually HAVE NO SPECIALISED OR ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE IN THE HUMANITIES, AND ARE INDOCTRINATED WITH SOME SHALLOW ISLMAIC LITERATURE. they tend to define things with extereme simplicity'. FOR INSTANCE THEY UNDERSTAND ISLAMIC GVT TO MEAN 'GOD'S RULE AND 'DEMOCRACY PEOPLES RULE'

NOT ONLY ARE ISSUES OF POLITICS TOO COMPLEX TO BE SIMPLIFIED IN THIS MANNER, BUT THE CONCEPTION OF GOD'S RULE IS TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD

SAHIB MUSTAQIM BLEHER (formerly of the islamic party of britain) ASSERTS THAT THE BELIEF THAT POLTIICS AMOUNTS TO KUFR IS IN ITSELF A WRONG ASSUMPTION, BECAUSE IT ASSUMES THAT PARLIAMENT IS THE ACTUAL POWER BASE OF MODERN SOCIETY. IN REALITY ' PARLIAMENT IS ONLY A STAGE MANAGED DEBATING CHAMBER RATIFYING WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED ELSEWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

our situation in britain today is quite different. the dominant political system has been derived by the majority over decades. i nthis system we are faced with two choices SINCE WE LIVE HERE AND IS ONE OF THE GRASSROOT COUNTRIES WHICH MOULD OUR ISLAMIC STATES! either to vote for one of anumber of candidates/parties or not to vote at all. in such circumstances it is necessary for the Muslim ummah to work to SAFEGUARD ITSELF FROM HARM AND TO SECURE ITS INTERESTS, KNOWN AS MASLAHA (PUBLIC INTEREST) WHICH DATES BACK TO MALIKI SCHOOL OF THOUGH, LATER DEVELOPED BY IMAM SHAFI'I

The great Andalusian scholar Imam Al Shatibi (d:790/1388) developed the maslaha even further into the doctrine of maqasid al shari'a (objectives of the shari'ah) which the ulama turn to when dealing with the extendibility of Islamic law to changing circumstances.it provides a general framework for muslims, to tackle their respective problems in changing conditions, which is in conformity with the Qur'an i.e. Allah does not wish hardship on his servants (2:173, 21:107, 5:6, 2:179, 2:233)

Al Qardawi reiterates that all that which the Qur'an and the traditions of the prophet pbuh is, per se, in oaccordance with human interest at large.

in matter of elections and voting we must look at what is in the best interest of the whole ummah (maslaha) and what is lesser of two evils


shaykh Salman al Audah, a reform critic of saudi state.

'PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS CAN BE A VEHICLE TO 'REDUCING SUFFERING' OF MUSLIMS.'

PARTCIPATING , WILL REDUCE EVIL AND BE A FORUM FOR COUNTERING BAD POLICIES AND EXPOSING THEIR DEFICIENCES, AS WELL AS BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT PROPOSALS OF A DIFFERENT KIND THAT MAY HELP PEOPLE'

and why do i live here there is no nation where sharia is practised fully, why? because grassroot probs stem from here!

AND

SUPPOSE YOU HAVE TWO CANDIDATES, IT MAY BE THAT BOTH OF THEMARE UNSYMPATHETIC TO MUSLIM CAUSES. HOWEVER, ONE OF THEM MAY BE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO MUSLIM INTERETS THAT THE OTHER. IF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WRE TO COLLECTIVELY ABSTAIN FROM VOTING (PARTCIPATING IN DEMOCRACY) THEN THE CANDIDATE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO MUSLIM INTERESTS MIGHT WIN AND PURSUE POLICIES SUCH AS CLOSING DOWN MOSQUES, ISLAMIC SCHOOLS...IN SUCH SITUATION THE RULE OF SHARI'AH STIPULATES THAT IT IS OBLIGATORY FOR MUSLIMS TO VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS! MERELY SITTING ON THE SIDELINES CRITICISING WHILE DOING NOTHING! ABOUT IT IS CONTRARY TO THE SHARI'AH!!!!!!


AS MUSLIMS WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO WIDER SOCIETY. WORKING FOR EVERYONE'S WELFARE THROUGH CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ELECTORAL POLTICS SERVES OUR ISLAMIC DUTY TO SEEK THE COMMON GOOD, AND ENJOIN GOOD!


at times voting (democracy) partcipation becomes necessary substantiating this point with hadith in which nabi karim swa said, 'IF PEOPLE SEE AN OPPRESSOR AND DONT PREVENT HIM, THEN IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT ALLAH WILL INCLUDE ALL OF THEM IN THE PUNISHMENT' (TIRMIDHI, DAWUD)

THEREFORE IF YOU SEE AN OPEN OPPRESSION AND TRANSGRESSION, AND DESPITE HAVING THE CAPABILITY OF PREVENTING THIS OPPRESSION BY GIVING YOUR VOTE (DEMOCRACY) YOU DONT DO SO! THEN IN THE LIGHT OF THIS HADITH YOU WILL EB SINFUL!

May Allah swt facilitate this Ummah! Ameen!

AND ALLAH SWT HAS WAKE UP!

peace