Is It Permissible For A Muslim To Vote In Elections In A Non-Muslim Country Since It Is Not A Religious Ceremony Nor Are The Candidates Promoting Any Religion by Shaykh Dr. ʿAbdullah ibn Ṣulfīq aẓ-Ẓafīrī

Pivotal Quote

“No, this does not have any truth to it. In fact, this view is rejected and what we say is that Islām is the source of happiness for humanity. Winning or losing elections is not going to bring about happiness for people in this life or the afterlife, nor is it going to improve their living conditions. Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has taken it upon Himself to be in charge of the living conditions of His servants in both their dīn and dunyā affairs. He has legislated for them to adhere to His Dīn. As He (سبحانه وتعالى) says,

﴾ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا ﴿

 “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islām as your religion.” [Sūrah al-Māʾidah 5: 3]

So if people want happiness and want to live a good life in this life and more importantly in the afterlife, they must adhere to the religion of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). Allāh is the One Who is in control of the affairs of the people, as well as their sustenance and their livelihood. He is the One Who has legislated for them a way of life that includes not only the way they worship Him, but the entire system of how they govern their life.

Question:

Some people are spreading a doubt related to elections saying that elections in democratic countries are not based on any religion. They have no relationship to religion whatsoever and the person who wins the elections does so, not because he practices any particular religion, but because he promises to improve the level of life and living conditions of his constituents. Therefore, some people say there is no problem with participating in elections because they have no relationship to religion whatsoever, rather they are all focused on the benefit brought to citizens, regardless of their religion. What is your opinion about this and does it have any truth to it?

Answer:

No, this does not have any truth to it. In fact, this view is rejected and what we say is that Islām is the source of happiness for humanity. Winning or losing elections is not going to bring about happiness for people in this life or the afterlife, nor is it going to improve their living conditions. Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has taken it upon Himself to be in charge of the living conditions of His servants in both their dīn and dunyā affairs. He has legislated for them to adhere to His Dīn. As He (سبحانه وتعالى) says,

﴾ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا ﴿

 “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islām as your religion.” [Sūrah al-Māʾidah 5: 3]

So if people want happiness and want to live a good life in this life and more importantly in the afterlife, they must adhere to the religion of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). Allāh is the One Who is in control of the affairs of the people, as well as their sustenance and their livelihood. He is the One Who has legislated for them a way of life that includes not only the way they worship Him, but the entire system of how they govern their life.

 It is for this reason that when ʿĪsà (عليه السلام) comes back at the end of time—and he will come back—he will rule the earth. And he is not going to rule with capitalism, he is not going to rule with democracy, he is not going to rule by any man-made system that the Jews or Christians have come up with; he is going to rule with Islām. He is going to rule with the only system that brings about happiness for people in their lives. It is because he is going to rule with Islām that all the affairs of the people on earth are going to be straightened out. They will have no more fear of walking on earth; they are not going to be in danger. They are going to be happy, and that is simply because he is going to rule by the one system that is capable of making people happy—the system legislated by Allāh (سبحان و تعالى), not democracy and not capitalism. If there was any system that is better than Islām, if democracy was better than Islām, then ʿĪsà would come and rule with democracy, but that is not going to happen. He is going to come and rule by the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

 So this is the one system that guarantees people happiness in this life and the afterlife. If people want to live a better life and want their living conditions to improve, then let them adhere to this and not join the democratic parties and just be a ping pong ball that some Jews are going to bounce back and forth across the table.

All the problems that people are facing today are because of them not adhering to this dīn. That goes for the Muslims and the non-Muslims. If people were to really turn back to this dīn, their problems would be solved and they would be happy in this life. That not only goes for their political affairs, it goes for all their affairs. If people were to truly adhere to Islām, their political, economic, social, religious, family, financial—all their problems would improve. But because people distance themselves from the guidance and teachings of Islām and the Messenger Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) they face what they face of misery. Allāh says,

﴾ ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿

“Evil (sins and disobedience of Allāh, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.).” [Sūrah Rūm 30:41]

So if Muslims and non-Muslims want happiness in this life, let them turn back to the source of happiness. Let them return to the way of life that guarantees happiness. Let them turn back to Islām and turn away from the so-called democracy and the other man-made systems that have brought nothing but misery for humankind.

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