Mashalla Jazkherallah kher very well said I strongly agree with the sheikh we should boycott the election brothers and sisters meaning that by us individuals not voting is great enough

Jazakamullahu Khairan Sheikh.

Voting is Shirk and we should stay away from it as far as possible.

salaam

Shakyh, barakAllahu feek for all the benefit I’ve personally gained from you as well as for all the benefit you’ve been to many others.

I have some concerns about your views on the election.

While most will agree that either candidate won’t have the Muslim nation’s best interests at heart, wouldn’t it be fair to point out that its the corporate interest groups and special interest lobbies that exert enormous influence on the direction of US foreign policy? Wouldn’t it be fair, then, to point our fingers not at any one candidate, but at those entrenched interests who, through money and influence, control Washington? The real problem lies in those groups who exert an enormous amount of influence on policy, much more than is their right.

Furthermore, what would you say to the thousands of Muslims all across America who work for a living? What would you say to the ones who are just trying to get by, those who are pushed to the brink of poverty by onerous tax burdens and ever escalating education costs? Are you suggesting that they take no action to ameliorate their situation? They cannot afford to send their kids to school, cannot afford to continue paying rent for their already diminutive living quarters, those who are exhausted by working two jobs just to make rent and put food in their children’s mouths, what would you suggest they do?

I don’t know of any honest Muslim who would suggest that we vote instead of make dua and rely on Allah. I don’t understand how one can suggest, assuming candidate X will follow through on plans to improve the living conditions of all working Americans, that we don’t elect him/her to power when one result of that is better living conditions and the freedom to pursue our individual goals.

I think a disturbing presupposition of your argument is that all Muslims live in the sort of comfort that allows them to not care about the election one way or the other. It neglects to take into account the very real, worldly needs of Muslims-Black, white, Indo-Pak, Arab, etc- who will suffer with the election of one candidate, and flourish with the selection of the other. What would you say they do? And even if they do nothing and abstain from voting, their situation will only change under the Will of Allah. Yet if and when it does, that change will happen through the sabab of the very politicians you’re asking us to boycott!

And moreover, if Muslims are concerned about the erosion of the boundaries between Muslims and non-Muslims, then they need to question their living quarters. America, the entire globe, actually, is becoming ever more integrated. It’s almost impossible to maintain intangible boundaries between religious communities and yet enjoy a sustainable way of life. This is a social development, a clear departure from the rigidly stratified communities of the past, that we have to come to terms with. Even this blog depends in some way shape or form on the work of non-Muslims.

In any case, I would like for you, ya Shaykh, to provide more practical advice for those of your fellow brothers and sisters whose quality of life depends on the policies of the next president. I’d also like for you to reconcile the view that you shouldn’t vote but yet there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the benefits that the next president, who you didn’t vote for, may provide. If my quality of life improves and I can actually feed my kids with good food, for example, its qadrullahi, of course, but He actuated that by removing so and so from power and installing so and so as the new policy maker.

And yes, I also feel morally conflicted by considering voting for someone who has ties with those who perpetrate the worst of crimes all across the world. But again, the problem is not with so and so candidate but with the current political process. Currying favor with these criminals is a grim procedure every serious candidate has to do if he/she wants to be considered for the job. These criminals, through money and power, have elevated themselves to a position of influence. If they ever were to fall from power, the candidates would have no reason to pander to them.

Brother Anwar,

The Imam at my mosque today talked about how important it is to vote next week. I became so angry when he told us this that I nearly interrupted to remind him of what some of the candidates have said about Islam in the last few months. You have confirmed my belief brother…

Assalamu ‘Alaykom dear Imam,

in your lecture about Shu’ayb (AS) you mentioned the Hadith about- “Trust in Allah, but tie your camle first..”

My Question is, if the democratic system is opposed to the Shari’a system. and therefor participation in it is not allowed, what are the other means we have to tie our camel?

Assalamoalykum, indeed you spoke the truth brother Anwar.
What IS in the benefit of ummah is to try to be Musa to counter the Pharoah of our time.People whose fate and NOT choice brought them in the west can be liken to the Musa living in the palace of Firown. InshaAllah it is just a matter of time when a baby Musa will come of age!

Asalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatuhu Ya Sheikh Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki and my dear Muslim brothers and sisters.

Jazakallahu khairan wa barakallahu feekum Ya Sheikh Anwar. May Allah Azza wa Jall Protect you from the evils of the misguided western leaders and their puppets in the Muslim world.

No doubt that western democracy and system of governance are the backbone of the evils that are happening in the world. And we have the parrots and the RAND mozlemz supporting their ideologies such as lobbying, (which is nothing but state sponser bribery), torture of muslims, and attacks of biological and chemical weapons in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Palestine, etc.

How can a Muslim vote and support these ideologies of the kuffar, and help put a leader who is not a Muslim, as a fact who is going worldwide trying to show that he is not a muslim nor have nothing to do with Islam.

How can a Muslim be a supporter of oppression, aggression and injustice. And the biggrest of injustice of all is commiting shirk as all democratic societies of the world have done, leading them the United states of America. May Allah destory them and increase them in nothing but destruction.

Help support the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Palestine, in Somalia, and everywhere they are. vote for Jihadfeesabililah, inshallah you won’t regret it!

Help and support the Shariah ya Muslim. hep and support the the oppressed Muslims wherever they are.

boycott democratic elections, and call for Islam and the shariah.

US and its puppets around the world are fighting with all their means to stop the spread of Islam and the growth of the Muslims and the implementation of the Shariah. They are working day and night to acheive their goals while some muslims in the western world are still slumbering in their darkness.

Wake up ya Muslim! wake up! Jihadfeesabililah, inshAllah ’til the battle is won!

I have to disagree with you as its important for us to vote not just for the President of the United States of America but to vote on other issues such a vote for yes on Prop 8 to affirm that marriage is between a man and woman. And to vote for different proposition that will determine if taxes are to be raised for state projects.

So you mean to tell me just standing idle and doing nothing is better than participating. What is worse do nothing and gain nothing? Or do something and gain some voice!

Allahu wa Allam.

Jazak Allah Khair.

wow… I’m surprised at this posting. I have it hard to believe that it’s coming from Sheikh Anwar. I respect the opinion but I think the argument put forth in this post is disappointing.

ALLAHU AKBAR!!

May Allah preserve you Sheikh.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhu

Dear Imam Anwar,

Just want to say Jazak’Allah Khair for opening my eyes and clarifying this issue.

With duas

Dear Shaikh,

I fully respect your opinion. But I am wondering more on a real personal level - if one president is *better* for a family than another in terms of let’s say childcare resources or educational resources allotted, should we not vote? Or if one ‘promises’ [hopefully he keeps it] to look at low income families more or lower our taxes, would voting be considered evil still?

Murtada

[...] Anwar al-’Awlaki recently made an excellent entry on the blog regarding voting for the Kuffaar. The Muslims in America need to pay close attention to it. The [...]

Jazak’Allahu khairen for clarifying the issue sheikh.

I find it strange that some Muslims (like some who have posted above) seem to think it is okay to vote for kufaar who are killing muslims and thus have Muslim blood on their own hands.

Heres a good vid of Sheikh Feiz saying it is haram to vote in such elections:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PTGp53YEcz0

[...] Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki [...]

Jazakallahu khairan.

I am a revert to Islam and I just listened to your lecture “Battle of the Hearts and Minds,” and Mashallah it has become engraved in my heart to help my brothers in Islam see that it is shirk or at least most likely shirk to vote. Before, I had convinced myself that it was “doubtful,” but now I am as sure as one who knows that everything is eventually up to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala can be that it IS haraam. I did some research and found out I missed out on getting to see you at the Dar Al-Hijra Masjid as I was not a Muslim while you were there, but al-hamdulilah you use the internet.

I am new to Islam, and my knowledge, while it might be more than the average 18 year old in Fairfax County, VA, it is still very small. All of my life I have been very thoroughly into politics, even until a month or so ago I was a staunch “so and so” supporter and was completely intent upon voting. I had even heard that it was fard to vote, and I naturally agreed because I was only 2 months into my life as a Muslim and liked anything that was convenient. However, one day I was reading Qur’an from Al-Araf through Al-Touba, and I came across an ayat (sorry I have forgotten which one) that made me question voting. Then after I was openly “doubtful” on voting, a brother Muhammad, who performed jihad by delivering a controversial hukhbat on voting today mashallah, discussed it with me and some brothers from my university after a sporting event with the DC Muslim football organization. Brother Muhammad made very good points that solidified disenchantment with voting. I now understand that democracy is a kufr system where you essentially tell a bunch of kufr, “hey! I know that you do not understand the decree of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, but I am going to endorse you as the legislator and ruler over Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.”

Voting is silly honestly. After being a Muslim for three months I do not go around telling Shaikhs that I endorse them to give fatwaa’s and to tell me how to live. So, why should I be able to tell a kufr that I endorse him to go even beyond mere interpretation of Qur’an and Hadith, but that I endorse him to override Qur’an and Hadith. Such a statement from what I understand puts you in a state of kufr, but to those reading like I said I have only been a Muslim for three months so do not trust me, just read the story.

As to the lesser of two evils thing, not even the best of scholars could tell you which of the two candidates is truthful and which would follow sharia more. Voting works like this:
you are given two choices of haraam, and everyone says you have to pick one of them. You pick one you get a sin. You pick the other you get a sin. What do you do? The choice here is to make the decision not to choose either evil and to abstain from sin. Sometimes our choices are not just between good and bad. Sometimes they are between bad and not bad. If Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala forbids something then it is forbidden. You do not do it. Haraam is haraam is haraam. If a brother comes to you with an addiction to cocaine you do not say, “oh here is heroin it is not as bad for you, so you should take it.” You say, “do not do drugs. Let me get you some help so you can quit.” Let us quit democracy. Allahu Alim.

replying to “wow”: Then you must not be familiar at all with Sheikh Anwar and his work. Have you listened to The Battle for the Hearts and Minds, or Allah is Preparing us for Victory?? JazakAllah Khayr ya Sheikh….for continuing to promote the good and forbid the evil.

Asalamu Alaikum:

An observation from some of the critics:

RAND created Mozlemz calling for their right to vote for a kafir candidate in a kuffar system of government TO CONTINUE THEIR OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD. What a pity!

Our advice: follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Peace be upon him, and do not be a part of kufr and your own destruction in this world and the next.

your options are jihadfeesabililah in any circumstance.

If you feel voting is haram, then maybe you should go live in an Islamic country.

i think anwar is more knowledgable then all of us here so if he says its no good to vote then dont.i dont think your going to be punished for not voting and there is a chance you will be for voting, wallahu alam. may allah reward you anwar i hope your ok from the torrential rains and floods in yemen.

Establishment of Khilafa should be on the minds of every muslim as their goal, not how do I take care of myself and maintain myself where I reside today.
Should be more like what do I gotta do in order to further the cause and bring the rule of Allah on earth.
If you never thought about that you got some issues with the deen you need to work out

Assalamualaikum Sheikh Anwar,
Jazkallah for the posting very well said. Ya shiekh every time I see your new blogs it increases my Iman ALHAMDULILLAH and your posts approves in what I believe. I live in US and it is so disappointing to see this people at the masjid asking people to vote and putting flyers for kaafirs.
INSHALLAH I am planning to make hijrah by March-april of 09 may ALLAH make it easy for me.
My only question to the people who are disappointed or amazed at this post is ” You read Quran and Hadith and how in the world can you even think of appointing/voting a kafir as a ruler over you to give power to make man made laws to govern over you and in that case you are never free you lost your freedom”.

Salam to everyone,

Jazakallah Shiekh Anwar for your timely article. I understand voting is haram. But we know that unlawful acts become lawful when one is forced to do so. Now, if I am given a choice between smoking cigarettes and taking drugs. I would not take any of them under normal situation. But if I am forced to take one of them, I will smoke cigarettes since it is lesser of the two harms.

Now, I understand we are not forced by the government to vote. However, we know one of the two candidates will come into power. So we are forced to suffer for few future years under the regime of one of the two Shayateen. The question is then, should we not select the lesser of the two shayateen since we will be ruled by one of them anyways? We don’t have choice in this matter as far as being ruled under one of them. Whether you vote or you abstain, one of them will come into power. In other words, whether you make a choice between smoking cigaretes or drugs, or you remain silent and abstain from answering, one of them will be forced on you to take. So does this not fall under “being forced”?

I will be glad if any knowledgeable brother replies to me. Please answer my specific argument. I totally understand democracy is shirk and giving endorsement to a kafir under normal situation is haram.

Personally, I don’t really care and I am probably not going to vote since I don’t believe the vote of Muslims will make any significant differences. However, I want to understand this issue from an Usool-ul-Fiqh perspective.

Assalam O Alaikum Shaikh

and Jazak Allah Khair for once again clearly differentiating between such an important issue of HAQQ AND BAATIL. Unfortunatley we are living in times where Fitna e Dajjal seems to be apparent (in the form of deception), today what is true we firmly believe its false and vice versa.

For us the claim of Allah Akbar is only in Mosque or on a SAjjadah. But in our job/offices/Economy/financial dealings Dollar is AKBAR. In social life may be family,friends relative etc are AKBAR. In our political system the Bushes , musharffs , mubaraks , kings , (and the list goes on) are AKBAR.

All who support democracy should understand for whatever silly reasons like TAXEs etc , that in this system of TAGHOOT (biggest kufr) everyone has one vote , all treated equally either a great pious scholar or someone who is selling her body to make living. There is no difference in both of them and decision will on head count (votes). Is this Islam ??

In Islam head count has no value but what matter is the imaan and Taqwa of every individual and that;s where the crieteria forthe decision makers.

Its not an accident that we came out from the womb of a muslim mother (for all born muslims) , Allah SWT made this decision for us and 1st voice we heard after coming in to this world was ALLAH O AKBAR (the azaan in our ears). We are muslim for a reason, we are follower’s of Muhammad SAW for a reason and our prime responsibility is to restore Allah SWT’s Authority on top of ALL . That is Allah o Akbar in every aspect our life either INDIVIDUAL or COLLECTIVE and if we think Democracy is the solution to our probelms then we must not forget OUR ONLY ROLE MODEL Mohammad SAW rejected all of the offers from the Democracy of QURAISH. Becasue HAQ (truth) never compromise with Baatil (falsehood).

One day we will be meeting Allah SWT and what if …we asked did you belive in ISLAM as system of life ? did you belive QURAN was your giude ? did you believe that way of Muhammad SAW was the correct way to HIDAAYAH ?? are we prepared ???

For a momin there is no option but the way of Quran & Sunnah and there is no way a momim can compromise with a system which stands againts Allah SWT. If we can’t change anything then at least please please do NOT support ANYONE , INDIVIDUAL,ORGANISATION , PARTY , LEADER OR COUNTRY who says SOVEREIGNTY IS FOR THE PEOPLE / BY THE PEOPLE AND OF THE PEOPLE …….

If this is not SHIRK then what ???

Wassalam

as salaamu alaykum Imam Anwar …

May Allah (swt) bless you for touching into this issue and making the Muslims aware of the consequences of their actions, such that they will indeed be voting in a new pharoah, whether it is obama or mccain. To even think that some Muslims actually consider obama to be their knight in shining armor. AUDHUBILLAH.

Sorry for the following advertisement:

City Uni (& Queen Mary Uni) Islamic Society are hosting Charity Week 2008 from 3rd - 14th November.

We are aiming to raise £120,000 for health centres in Gujarat, Pakistan and Somalia.

These will provide dialysis, labor, blood banks, x-ray facilities; with free medicine & free diagnosis in places like Somalia.

InshaAllah be generous my brothers and sisters and donate fisabhililLah.

The charity we are raising on behalf of is UMMAH WELFARE TRUST, they give 100% of your donations to the poor and take no admin fee. (they cover admin fee from other sources of income, i.e. book shops, gift aid etc.)

You can donate directly to Ummah Welfare Trust, but please mention that the money is for:

“Charity Week, Medical Aid Project”

Otherwise find us at tube stations in London, on 11th, 12th and 13th November 2008 inshaAllah.

Pray that we reach our target, as we will only do so with the Help of Allah (swt).

May Allah (swt) bless you all.

Ummah Welfare Trust:

http://www.uwt.org/events/Charity-Week-2008.asp

City Uni Islamic Society:

http://cityisoc.com/713-charity-week-2008-medical-aid-project-3rd-nov-to-14th-nov/

Ummah Welfare Trust bank details:

Account No. 90682756
Sort Code. 20-10-71

Pple who are pro - voting, open your eyes and smell the coffee!!!! How many elections do you have to experience in your lifetime to realize that NO LIMTIT of participation brings a difference or benefit to the Muslim Community! Your infant desires and “interest” which are self motivated as oppose to shar’ia interest are plain to see. FOR ALLAH’S SAKE YOU PEOPLE ARE MAKING THIS CANDIDATE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW YOU LIVE IN THIS WORLD!!!! does not alarm bells ring in your head or heart?!!?

Why do you succumb to the pressure and justify your opinion by pathetically bringing out your begging bowl for more islamic schools, islamic mosques, etc…. Become Independent and rely upon your actions to fulfil your needs as a Muslim Community!

I am proud to be American…….

That just sounds naff! You are an alien community, where you will never be accepted wholly of what your identity demands, you will be pushed in more ways then one to accpet their dominant culture and salute it every day with the national anthem playing in the background.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Brother Anwar does not seem like the type of person who does no research before he posts his Islamic opinion on something.

I want everyone to think about the candidates we have for president here in the west. What do you constantly here them saying? They are constantly telling people “I guarantee” the safety, “I guarantee” no more taxes “I guarantee” I will stop Al Qaida etc etc etc.

Are these politicians really that far from the way Pharoan was? They talk as if they have ANY power whatsoever and they do not have even one grain of Allah suhhana taallah in there hearts or minds!

When you hear McCain speak is he not one of the cockiest/assured people you have ever seen speak? And odds are at his age he will be meeting Allah within the next few years. What has Muhammed said about the people who show no fear to Allah, what has he said about those that are prideful, what has he said about nationalistic people? What has he said about the Kafir!

Maybe some of you have missed how racist and hateful some of Mccains rally’s truly are. Did you not see the lady stand up and say she would not vote for Obama BECAUSE he was arab…

McCains reply to her was “no he is not arab…he is a decent man” hmmmm….so arabs are not decent people?

Or how about Obama who has come and denied being a muslim likes it’s a horrible disease.

What did Musa alay salam do when he got to egypt? Did he try to vote Pharoan out because his policy’t against the children of israel was harsh? He did no such thing! He warned Pharoan how many times and Allah sent Pharoan how many signs until finally Musa exhausted Pharoan and took the children of israel. Pharaoan was forced to eat a large helping of humble pie and then Allah drowned him while still in a disbelieving state!

If you were to compare both nations (america vs. old egypt) I think it would be easy to see that america is MANY times more corrupt than even Pharoans old empire! BUT YET YOU WANT TO VOTE AND SUPPORT IT????

Brothers and sisters wake up and stop worrying about your money and children! Worry about the hellfire instead and you will start to understand the mistakes you are making.

The blog before this was about hijra for the sake of Allah…do you not see what brother Anwar is trying to tell you?

Es Selamu alejkum we rahemtullahi we berekatuhu

Im sick and tired of those people who despite all the masakre that is going on around them to their brothers and sisters, still do think only about them selves and there familys! You want to vote for a disbelieving system of live, fine, vote, but beware after that from duas of those famlies who are suffering because your vote you putted for the ideas and goals of the Kufar , beware of those duas who are about to beanswered from the Allmighty on this world and the hereafter, beware you who are concidering yourself as a muslim, as a believer in Allah, but are steping on His Law, YES YOU ARE !!!!! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS SPITTING ON SHERIJAH, SO BEWARE OF YOUR ACTIONS!!!!
Why don’t you go out to Afgan, Palestine, Iraq, Chechenija, and smell the blood and the sadness, sattle yourself down beside them and vote for the Kufar, why don’t you do that??!!! I do not think so that you would vote than for the Kufar, but yes you can vote if you know that your live and the live of your family is safe, out of the rain of bullets and rockets, out of the screams of raped mothers and sisters, the screams and the cry of children who lost their mothers even if thous would stay alive, out of the smell of blood from man and boys who are trying there bast in fighting those FOR WHO YOU WOTED!!!!!!!!
Not one of them can make me cry, not bush, not mccain, not putin, not karadzic or milosevic, not sharon, not one of them can make me cry, BUT YOU CAN, YOU MUSLIMS, YOUR ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS!!! I ask you, where is your heart, where is it, where is your love for Allah, where is you fear from Him, where is it??!!!! Where is you love for the Prophet salAllahu alejhi we sellem, where is it??!!!!!!!!! SubhanAllah, you are hurting me, your sister in faith, while I do not go trugh anything through what are going our brothers and sisters, so how much do you think you are hurting them with your actions????!!!! Wallahi, do not expect anything good, not on this word and not on the hereafter if you are not about to change your attitude towards Kufr and towards the Truth!!!

I PRAY TO ALLAMIGHTY THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND THESE WORD’S OF MINE

Es Selamu alejkujm we rahmetullahi we berekatuhu

WOE to the one who said WOW to our beloved Shaikh who is helping young brothers and sister in the west.

STOP listening to thoses shaikhs in Dar Al-Hijra Masjid They are telling people you can vote, we support the WEST, telling the youth you can listen to music ext. just go there and pray and leave like most people. salam

allahu akbar!, you couldn’t have said it any better sheikh. may Allah open the eyes of ‎those muslims who are blinded by their hawa(desire) FOR THIS WORLD AND NOT ‎FOR THE HEREAFTER. Instead of thinking about the greater consequences of these ‎kufur policies i.e the destruction of their muslim brothers and sisters around the ‎world, they are only concerned with their bellies, houses, money etc, consenting to the ‎western ideology of ‘me’, ‘myself’ and ‘I’‎

Asalamu Alaikum
It is increasingly disheartening that people commenting above have misinterpreted what the article is saying. arguing against voting does not mean your endorsing doing nothing. there are many ways to implement change through islamic organizations. the main problem we have is that we are heavily involved in a non-muslim society and thus our values have changed to those of the non-muslims. arguments the people above are mentioning are to do with worldly matters. taxes raised for state projects?….prop 8?….these are matters brought about due to the corruption of non-muslim lands. so what if big corporations influence heavily on foreign policy…. it doesn’t change the fact that the candidate will still support the bombing of innocent muslims.
open your eyes…and the best advice for all the concerns people keep raising….MOVE from your non-muslim home to a muslim land

Why would you want to be your trust in the American system??? Thats absolutely ridicolous.. we need to rely on allah swt and the salaheen..
American politics is just an infomerical using different spokesman to sell the SAME PRODUCT… which will no doubt be anti-islamic.. (like Jerusalem will be the ‘undivided’ capital of Israel.. or to send troops to invade inside Pakistan.. a ‘responsible’ pull out of Iraq a.k.a depends on what happens on the ground and how much money they can afford to spend (which is the same with both candidates).
Honestly imagine the Muslimeen in Israel voting between a few different zionist candidates and participiting in the system in order for because of their self serving pathetic interests??? What would you say to them? Well if your living in America your situation is not much different… to put things in perspective (especially because the politics here are run by Israel anyway…)

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

The majority of muslims don’t live in “islamic” countries. we’re advised not to vote by a scholar living in YEMEN, i.e. NOT A WESTERN ENVIRONMENT. how on earth does shaykh Al-Awlaki, with all due respect, expect all the western muslims to exclude themselves from their societies and then still live like we have the Haqq? In other words, what I’m saying is, there is a sickening, mutating idea and pride that some immigrant Muslims have that they are proudly on the Haqq and to hell with the indigenous kufaar. “I have no concern for them [the kufaar], they’re people of Jahanum”. Well then, why do you want to spread Islam if you only involve yourself in the multi-religious society when IT SUITS YOU.

PARTISANSHIP and INTERNET TAQLEED are killing the ability to have constructive dialogue within our communities. Or are we going to see our non-muslim neignours as “cows that anyone can take and sell in the market” as hamza al-misri aptly stated.

Many of the non-muslims have the same concerns as we Muslims do. Is it really part of our Din of Islam that we exclude ourselves from our Western societies and ONLY involve ourselves when it’s to out advantage???

That sounds a lot like SELECTIVE RIGHTOUSNESS.

Salam Alykum,
It’s sad to hear that most Muslims on this post and in my community think that democracy actually works! Before I became Muslim I was against voting and when election season would come around co-workers (mainly veterans) would ask who was I going to vote for; my response was that “I do not vote and I do not believe in democracy”, this statement would enrage these people and would tell me the same as one did in a posting above “then leave the country” it is sad to hear this being echoed from non Muslims to Muslims and for me hearing this from Jahelia to consciousness. Let me share a few words with those Muslims who are for democracy, I was born and raised in this country and I do not only feel that this system does not work but I know that this system does not work and Allah SWT has confirmed that for us in his kittab. Now if you listen close enough to the non Muslims in this country they would tell you that this system is corrupt and faulty and for those who understand Democracy/Facism, it is not the president who makes all the moves, rather it is a body of people with an agenda; widely known as freemasons/knight templars/Jews. As Jordan Maxwell said “Nothing happens in politics without it being planned” So dear Muslim brothers and sisters especially those who emigrated from Muslim lands don’t make the same mistake as my family and others I know from Latin America, who emigrated here with the intensions of returning back with riches to help their family when in reality they are held here as modern day slaves. Don’t get sucked into this dunya, be aware and take part in this psychological guerilla warfare.
Salam Alaykum

Muslims are killed by American bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Are we as Muslims allowed to collectively punish the Americans?

WHY do YOU think America wnet into Afghanistan?

I’m not saying it’s right, but in war, if you attack someone, you can’t complain if he attacks you in retaliation and then cry for the world’s sympathy and concern.

Also, why are the Islamic sholars who want dialogue with the kufaar [maybe, just maybe so that we can revert the kufaar...isn't that the idea?] demonised and attacked?

Muslims expect that the kufaar must embrace Islam yet we as Muslims are so eager to talk about Jihad we forget about WHERE WE ARE and WHERE WE HAVE TO GO.

Even in secular thinking it’s understandable to fight the oppressor, but the irony is that we are neglecting dawah to the parents and the children of the kufaar soldiers.

Finally: May ALLAH purify our intentions, because it would be really sad if the people who speak the most about jihad are the ones who do so for the sake of “love of the group i’m in” and intolerance to other people’s genuine struggles and concerns living amongst the kufaar.

PARTISANSHIP and INTERNET TAQLEED are destroying our youth’s minds, not the Noble concept of Jihad.

Brother Ibraheim- Yesterday OCT 31st the Sheikh spoke about how we should vote. I wonder if it’s the same Sheikh? Anyways I’m not voting because I see many people and Ulema’s have different opinions on this issue. Yesterday, the Sheikh at the Masjid I go to quoted Hadith’s and verses in The Qur’an regarding what we benefit from voting as covenants and to use our best judgment. Anwar al Awlaki, I love your lectures and I benefit alot from it Mash’Allah but this latest article, I can’t agree or disagree with it because it’s matter of your opinion UNLESS you provide us proof to back your article up with verses from the Qur’an and Hadiths. I always ask for proofs no matter who they are. I was little surprised by that.

Jazak’Allah Khair

Why Voting leads to Kufr: [1] Introduction

http://revolution.muslimpad.com/2008/10/13/why-voting-leads-to-kufr-1-an-introduction-to-why-voting-leads-to-kufr/

Few things I want to address.

-People uses the word shirk mistakenly thinking that if we vote in a non Islamic system or sharia. How is that shirk? Shirk means that you’re worshiping or associating false gods with Allah The Most Merciful.

-Obama wants to end the war. So that means no more hurting Muslims.McCain is the opposite. He wants to continue the war. SO tell me, if McCain wins, would we then feel guilty by not doing anything at all? Let Obama promote his beliefs and his democracy wherever it maybe but if our Imaan is strong enough to know that democracy is wrong, then it should have no effect on us whatsoever. Like these “bible thumpers” who goes door to door discussing there beliefs with us, we simply turn them away because our Imaan is set. Alhamdu’Allah.
I do not support democracy. Allah The All Knower knows our intentions and I do believe that Muslims who vote, will vote for the sake of the Ummah hoping that the new president will not harm the Muslims.If the new president did not fulfill his promise, then leave it up to Allah Subhan Wa’ Tala. Again I am not voting but I might consider to vote unless someone proves to us that voting is wrong.

Asaalam Alaikum

asalamu aleykum warahmatullah wabaraka
jazakallah sheikh for the reminder,allhamdulillah i never vote a kufar and iam not gonna vote now.you right either candidate aren’t gonna rule the sharia but a lot muslims don’t see that way, infact these candidate are challenging each other who is ready to fight islam and support israel and subhanallah muslims communities are encouraging us to vote these kuffars.

ALLAH SWT said sura maidah 51.
O who you believe Take not the jews/ christians as Auliya,friends,protectors,helpers, they are but Auliya’ of each other.and if any amongst you takes them as Auliya then surely he is one of them. Allah guides not those people who are the wrong doers and unjust.
may ALLAH swt guide all of us to the straight path.

Salam Alaikoum,

For those who think that voting is halal:
“When the election will be over, and the winner will bomb another muslim country,legalise homosexuality,and make halal haram ,EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL GET A PART OF THE SIN”.You have given him the right to do what he is doing.
You will come in the last day wondering ,where do all those sins come from,and muslims who were killed because of your vote will come and demand for justice.You will give them your good deeds;and if your good deeds are not sufficiant,they will start giving you their bad deeds.and if ALLAH doesn’t forgive you,you will be thrown in hellfire.
IS THAT A RISK TO TAKE ? OR IS IT BETTER TO NOT VOTE AND MAKE DOUAA FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ?
As for the lesser of two evils ,only ALLAH Azzawajal know the unseen,and even the Kuffar know that politicians are liars.They will do anything to get elected.
Anyone who has read the hadiths about the end of times know that there will be a great war between the muslims and the kuffars.And any war begins in the minds before going to the battlefield.DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WILL BE NICE WITH YOU OR WITH YOUR DESCENDANTS WHEN THESE EVENTS WILL OCCUR ?
When Sheikh Anwar was talking about hijrah ,he was talking about your deen and the deen of your children who in the future could be forced to commit apostasy knwowingly or unknowingly.

May ALLAH makes us die with eemaan

Salaam,

The article was brilliant as expected.

Anyone that argues 4 democratic voting such as the self-righteous morons above me have a lot to learn about tashree’ and the realities of world that we’re in.

Just admit it, folks. You do not want to live and struggle.

Assalamu Alaikum my beloved Sheikh. I agree with you 100%, actually 110%. We should make Hijrah to the lands of Jihad and fight for the sake of Allah, not fight to see who will be the next American president to try and destroy Islam.

They (the disbelievers, the Jews and the Christians) want to extinguish Allah’s Light (with which Muhammad SAW has been sent - Islamic Monotheism) with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kafirun (disbelievers) hate (it). Al-Quran 9:32

i don’t believe the sheikh went too deep
on the topic religiously.
..
.
.
voting is an act of shirk,
because Allah alone is the legislator
not men. so by voting for these guys
to play god and make haram or halal on what
they want by following their on desires, you’re setting another ilaah
besides Allah.
.
.
.tawheed al-hakimiyyah
.
your iman can not be complete unless you declare tafkeer on taghoot. second pillar of the shahada. (la ilaaha).
.
.
.
how can we commit shirk in order to
choose the lesser of the evil?. can i still your money to stop you from buying alcohol?
.
.
.shirk can come like dark aunt in a dark night. very tricky, we need to be carefull of shirk.

Salam Wa Allekium,

Show me evidence in the Qur’ran and Sunnah that it’s explicitly HARAM to vote for anything?

If that is the case, why would the Muslims during the time of the prophet muhammad PBUH give baiah to a leader to lead them. Giving allegiance is a form of voting irrespective of the system.

And to some of you calling us Muslims in America RAND muslims. Wake up and read the Qur’ran. Since when does a muslims insult another muslim.

We pray 5 times a day, we recite surah al fatiha 17 times a day, we fast during ramadan, we do hajj, we give zakah , we feed the poor. We call non muslims to islam. Yet you want to insult us.

I’m proud to be a muslim american. And I have listened to your lectures about the battle of hearts and minds. And I agree with it 100% . In order to counter RAND institute, we need to vote for those who will represent us. Justice is not achieved by the voiceless vote but by the one who will struggle for Justice. And our struggle is to make our voices heard.

We will not forsake our religion to appease society as whole but we are and its our HAKK (right) to vote! We have to VOTE! . This is how you get your voice heard!

Now some of you state we need to live in Islamic country to avoid this Democratic system. Name one Islamic Country that is based on TRUE islamic Sharia!!! Just name ONE! That’s all I ask. Exactly there is none… So the fact that there is none speaks volume. The Kufar that are running Saudi Arabia, The kufar that are running Yemen, The Kufar that are running Jordan, The Kuffar that are running all of the so called Islamic countries need to be ashamed of themselves. We have to reside in non muslim land just to live in a justice system.

Sheik Anwar Al-Awlaki was a victim of Injustice from his own home country when the jailed and detained for no reason.

Therefore if we want to make a change, then we must and shall vote for OBAMA! 2008.

Democracy: A Religion
http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/DemocracyReligion.pdf

Doubts Regarding the Ruling of Democracy:
http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/The_Doubts_Regarding_the_Ruling_of_Democracy_In_Islam.pdf

Why voting leads to Kufr:
http://revolution.muslimpad.com/category/why-voting-leads-to-kufr/

Some of the comments made are disappointing. Let’s not force our opinions on others when there is a difference of opinion on the matter. Imam Anwar has given his opinion. I urge you all to listen to the following lecture with an open heart. It only makes sense to make a decision upon reviewing the evidence placed forth by both sides.

Check out Imam Suhaib Webb’s stance on the matter:

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/blog/minority-fiqh/the-case-for-political-apartment-audio-suhaib-webb/

Assalamu alaikum..Jazak Allah Khairan .. I would like to see Shaikh’s response to some of the questions above. I hope Insha Allah he might detail in another blog…

maasalaama

Assalamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,
I was at the mosque and heard the imam promoting voting. I left disgusted. Why? Because a few years back we were told to vote for a president who only brought harm to the ummah and caused harm to those in this country. For anyone to have faith and trust in these presidents is truly sad. We can have only trust in Allah and hope for his mercy. Will there be a president elected that will ever do any good for the ummah, definitely not.Many say vote for the lesser of the two evils. We have come down to who is less evil what a sad situation to be in.Whoever the next president will be , it will be a test for us all because the situation will not get better but worse. For those who think one will do better than the other for us :wake up from your dreams… The unfortunate truth is that many muslims have lost faith and trust in Allah. We just sit back and say who is less evil.We sit,talk,sit and talk -what a great accompolishment on our end. Did the sahaba sit back and wait for things to happen. Obviously not, then greed for the materialistic world took over and ever since has been the downfall of the Great Ummah and the hardened hearts and ignorance has taken over.When are we going to wake up from this drunken state of ignorance and face the truth of the reality of the situation and different occurences that are happening around the world. I pray to Allah to fill our hearts with eemaan guide us on to the straight path. Brothers and Sisters please never got Allah in the formula in our lives and in whatever we do and choose to do…We need to ready ourselves for the Hour and prepare to meet our Lord.

Assalam-o-alaikum Br Anwar,

I fully agree with you about US elections. However in my country Pakistan, we have Jammat-e-islami which takes part in Pakistani elections and they say that they will bring sharia once they are voted into power. Do you think it is right to take part in such an election when an islamic party is contesting and we want it to win. Same argument goes for Hammas in Palestine. I think it will be a good idea if you could give a talk on this subject that covers all aspects of democracy. This is specially important because people consider democracy as a standard and compare islam on this. They say islam/sharia is also democratic for instance.

Jazakallah khair

I read the article and I completely disagree with the argument that he’s making. He is saying that shariah is different from democracy, and therefore Muslims should not vote in the upcoming election and boycott it instead. I understand that democracy is different from Sharia or Islamic law, but this is not an Islamic country. We can’t expect it to be ruled by sharia. And those that do should probably move to an Islamic country where sharia is the law. And it is our right as American citizens to vote and make a difference. We should excercise that right. Or else we cannot sit back and complain about the status quo—including things like the current war in Afghanistan and Iraq (which has destroyed our economy and lead to inflation and people losing their jobs), and a broken healthcare system (which doesn’t always cover the rise in cost of drugs and medication). Obama has a plan to end the war in Iraq and fix the broken healthcare system. How is that not good for us? McCain on the other hand, wants to continue the war in Iraq and give the big oil companies a tax break, and tax health insurance for the first time in history. His plan for the economy would further widen the gap between the rich and poor and make the rich richer. I see more harm in not voting then in voting. I really hope that people aren’t boycotting because of this article.

The CBS program, 60 minutes, report on how the US air strikes is killing civilians. Saddest thing is, their command HQ is in a Gulf - so called “Muslim” country. By guess is Doha, Kuwait or UAE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P9gumVC5B0

If the Imaam and some people do not want to vote and participate in the elections,they should decide whether to stay or migrate from USA or any democratic country.
When you live in any democratic country(India,Pak., Malaysia and USA),It is our right and duty to elect the better Politician for the Muslim ummah.
I totally disagree with such Imaams who are creating confusion in the minds of Ummah and helping the other end for their self interest-wallahu Aalam.
Brother in Islam

To those who are running a HUGE campaign to make Muslims in America vote for Obama (yes, I’m referring to MM):

By Allah, I hope that when Obama comes into power with your direct support and blessings, and unleashes a new front on the War on Islam, and spills the blood of another million Muslims, and destroys the homes of another million, that you are held accountable in front of Allah for your betrayal of this Ummah just so you could have some tax cuts.

Talk about selling one’s deen for a low price.

Personally, since I don’t see voting to be kufr and shirk in itself, I won’t make takfeer of anyone…but I would be scared out of my life in having to choose between Obama and McCain - both of whom have promised to spill more Muslim blood.

SO DON’T VOTE ON TUESDAY and remember your Muslim brothers and sisters who will take the brunt of your vote.

“And it is our right as American citizens to vote and make a difference.”

so which one of your future puppet masters will make the difference in the life of the Muslim?

actually i hope obama wins … so that the obama-hoggers will soon realise how foolish they were in voting him in and how much of a “difference” he made.

VOTE OBAMA ! ! ! naudhubilLah.

WARNING TO RAND MOZLEMZ: VOTING FOR THE NEXT AMERICAN PHARAOH WILL NOT MAKE THE CHANGE!

What will make the change inshAllah, and it has already begun, is the Mujahideen struggle in Afghanistan. The Jihad which is already in force with the young and old of our Muslim brothers and sisters of the lands of Afghanistan, Khurasan, Palestine etc., sacrificing their wealth, and their lives for the Sake of Allah Azza Wa Jall to make Islam the uppermost.

The Pharaohs of USA, UK, the Illegal State of Israel will all be defeated InshAllah, not by the ballot box but by the the Jihadfeesabililah which is already on the way.
We are all witnessing by the grace of Allah Subhanhu Wa Ta’ala, more and more Muslims in the west now thinking about Hijra, about Jihad, about establishing the ISLAMIC STATE, that will bring back Justice and peace to the world, Alhamdulilah.

The fall of these emipires is also on the way as we can see from the financial crises across the world.
The false system that democratic godless societies have created is also at the brink of destruction as we see racism, alcoholism, homosexuality, rape, genocide, xenophobia, molestation, torture, colonialsm, fascism are on the rise in these godless democratic societies.

Let us all go back to Qur’an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Peace be upon him, and engaged ourselves in Jihadfeesabililah to implement back
Shariah, Justice, morality, and peace in this global village.

This is ridiculous esp coming from Anwar Al-awlaqi the so-called Sheikh.

First, is Anwar entitled to give such Fatwas on behalf of the millions of Muslims living in the west??

Second, who’s destroying Islam? Isn’t it muslims themselves? Democracy has nothing to do with it; it’s all Muslims and Fatwas such as these that are destroying Islam all over the world.

And, if Sheikh Anwar think it’s Kufr, then why is he paying too much attention to it?? Why pay too much attention to what happens in America. If you’re in Yemen, just mind your business and leave people alone. Maybe prison caused you to become blind and want to get back at the system that did it for you!

Sub7an Allah, we are in a strange time. Muslims are becoming blind and just throwing words of “Kufr” here and there and there’s no thinking anymore.

Allah, told us to use our minds, so we should use it; not blindly follow such outrageous Fatwas of people who are not qualified to give them in the first place.

Where will you escape from Allah, Anwar, on the day of Judgement?? Where?
Why don’t you spend your “precious” time educating Muslims over there in Yemen who don’t even know how to pray correctly? Advise them about Islamic principles of justice, honesty …etc instead of wasting your time on debatable issues of “Wala Wal Bara” which is not going to benefit Muslims at all.

Take it easy. Think. Even if all Muslims in the US don’t vote, will there be any difference made in the world of Islam, NO.
Even if the US withdrew from all war zones in the Islamic world, will there be no more wars? I bet you Muslims will fight each other the following day just as they were fighting each other before America got there in the first place.

Ok ‘voting on november 4th’ so every single president since the end of World War 2 has pursued the same policy whether democratic or republican…. Supporting the Zionist israeli policy of ethnic cleansing, occupation, and further expansion… and supporting several brutal secular dictorships in the Middle East… Now this is and will always be the policy of America… its been that way since the end of world war 2 maybe sometimes a certain candidate will give a few handouts here and there to divide muslims or change the rhetoric for a moment but obviously regardless of what happens these two pillars of American foreign are the ultimate end intention and goal of the American regime….. Different candidates are just different spokesmans selling the same bogus product (not only to muslimeen but to the american public) and by voting you are deciding to buy this foul product under false pretensions. And this is what one can see in practical life as well as reading it in kitaab allah…. like for example your kafr hero perhaps murtet ‘Obama’ has called for Jerusalem to be the ‘undivided’ capital of Israel.. and to send troops that are due to leave Iraq to invade inside afghanistan/Pakistan.. and a ‘responsible’ pull out of Iraq a.k.a depends on what happens on the ground and how much money they can afford to spend (which is the same with both candidates). But whatever policy either candidate decides on without a doubt the system and the regime in power’s ultimate aim is to pursue the two policy which i outlined above… without a doubt.. the system is arleady set and fixed my friend

Shiek,

can you shed any light on a recent event. Just a few days ago a 13 year old was raped and then stoned to death by the islamic courts.

If the Jihadist are trully on the right path, then why would they commit such an act.

It makes me question my faith.

its really ajeeb that a sane Muslim would want to vote for obama when he is ashamed of his muslim roots, ashamed of having a muslim middle name, ashamed to have muslims behind him when talking and instead of saying there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim or having the name Hussain, he tried his best to distance himself from Islam and Muslims. Even a kaafir such as Ralph Nader realizes this yet some stupid american muslims do not:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rDFXMWmKTQI

oh and whoever posted the suhaibwebb link, the talk he gave is disgusting, how on earth can he claim that 95% of Islamic Fatawaa are not from Quran and Sunnah??!! and then use this to say voting for kufaar is okay??

there is a common trait in all the comments above where people think we should vote and that is all of their comments have been very very rude and lack any adab and sincerity. look at the way 7amood addresses the sheikh, its really quite appauling and to be honest shows the mentality of many american muslims. 7amood it is the duty of a muslim to enjoin the good and forbid the evil. The same was said 8 yrs ago when some righteous sheikhs gave advice to muslims not to vote for bush however many american muslims ignored this advice, voted for bush and now have the blood of millions of muslims on their hand.

If you are going to argue that what is Western is un-Islamic yet live, work, and participate in its systems (voting is only one aspect of participation) then your argument is a bit hypocritical. Why don’t you just go to live in a place that claims to uphold Shariah? What keeps you here in the West, and why do you complain about it AND receive its benefits at the same time?

There is nothing in the sunnah or quran that bans us from voting on issues that affect us. As long as your are living in the USA, as a muslim it is obligatory that you make your voice heard. Approving Gay marriage, Wars in the middle east, taxes, all these stuff affect us. Our parents and grandparents idely sat passive and silent in this country. What did it get the muslims? There is a reason why Allah commends us to READ. WE ARE LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY. We are required to abide by the laws in this country as long as it does not take away from us following our religion. These issues taking place affect our people MUSLIM people more than any other people and you want us to stay silent while others make decisions for us about us. I dont think so. Not anymore.
These issues
renewable energy-better environment
gay marriage
taxes
a certain candidate who sings about bombing muslim countries
these issues affect all of us.
Im making my voice heard MY MUSLIM VOICE heard….
the fact of the matter is there isnt one country out there who governs islamically. Im not waiting for a change to come… IM going to be apartof the change. We as muslims have the opportunity to make this country OUR Country better. If you dont like it, go back to living in an oppressed muslim country…..where they jail you for the slightest comment…
The fact is the reason why there is no KHILAFAH…is because the muslims in the middle east dont want it. .They have to power to protest their governments and they dont. There’s no thing called constructive criticism. Muslim countries are known to be number one human rights violations and their people continue to accept it out of fear of being tortured by their governments. Yet, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard here and we dont want to use it.

Asalamu alyakum jzk akhi for bring up this importanted topic…. For the brothers/sister who think taking part of the democratic system is fyne and some people even saying it’s fard to vote I would like to tell them to read ” democracy is a religion” by sheik al maqdisi jzk

TO ABDUL:
Man, clarify what you are talking about.
Where and when? Where did you hear that and from whom? Which JIHADIST did that?

7amood are you a Muslim or not??? What did you mean when you said ” I bet YOU Muslims will start fighting each other.” and if you are a Muslim choose your words carefully next tyme especially when you speaking to you you brothers in Islam, not to mention studens of knowledge.

Abdul: If you were truly a Muslim you wouldn’t be questioning your faith because someone somewhere did something bad. As a Muslim you would know that no soul is responsible for doings of someone else. What is the opoint of raising this completely unrelated issue here? Then you use the term Jihadist, which a Muslim wouldn’t use because the Arabic word Jihad has specific and noble meaning. And to use the term Jihadist in this context is strange.

Coming back to the topic, I don’t think voting is against Islam. I have not seen many ulema making that point. Many ulema even participate in the lections in Mislim countries.

as-Salaam Aleykum
There are many shuyukh who say it is OK to vote. To say they are committing shirk is troubling. With all due respect, the article brings nothing new or constructive to the discussion and has some flaws.

Any matter we make in this dunya must be carefully considered and voting especially.

But asserting a voice (in essence voting) in the capacity allowed (whether it be in a democracy or theocracy) to affect society for what is better is not a greater evil by a long shot. This is simple reasoning. And obviously many of our religious leaders support this.

To argue that better outcomes are not possible within a democratic or any other system that allows values and communities to affect an outcome, is clearly incorrect. Why do people vote in the first place? The answer is to represent their own view which may or may not be guided or righteous. This is not shirk.

Hyperthetically, should an islamic state issue diplomats to other regions then by the above logic that should be labled unIslamic as they too would be ‘participating’ in an unIslamic system.Sending a letter to ask a neighbouring state to come to Islam would be participating cos the desired effect would be for that foreign system to decide in an unIslamic way to change. so… the logic is bewildering. We should remember, one person is only responsible for the change they are CAPABLE of making. the end product is less their responsibility as it is for one who chooses not to participate, IF they participate with an active conscience to influence for what the have evidence to believe is better. in fact, not doing anything could well be ‘loosing one’s religion’ as well if we’re gonna talk like that.

But further to this, voting needs to be followed up by active social and political participation to engage the representatives and pull them towards what we know is right from our religion. This is where the discussion needs to be.

[...] See his entire article in his own words  http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/2008/10/31/voting-for-the-american-president/ [...]

Br Anwar, you may want to stick to audio series… I replied to your article here http://www.muslimcowboys.com

I find this position and message very dissapointing. It looks like the Respected Imam is taking a step back with the community than moving forwards.

I would think that voting is a duty for Muslims in this Country since it does have a Global Impact, and by staying silent is grave action.

Salaam Alaikum respected brothers and sisters in Islam.

I would invite the respected Sheikh and others to look at the extensive research and dissertations done by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy in Washington DC by very learned men of Islam. It is quite possible that this issue cannot be fully understood in its intricacies by anyone who has not lived inside the USA and is able to examine the mechanics of the situation beyond what is filtered by media of one’s respective country.

Recognize that shirk is association in partners with Allah. The American president will never be a partner to Allah in rule or worship. The President, while the head of the USA, does not hold total power. The combination of the President and all the members of Senate and the House of Representatives govern together as a group. It is not the whim of the president that directs the country, he may only suggest and promote a course, it is the congress of the USA who decides if that course is in the best interests of the nation.

There can not be shirk because there is no autonomous power to be given.

I respect you as a knowledgeable man in Islam, but it is clear from your logic that you have much left to learn about how the US Governmental system actually works.

Ma’salaam

Also, if you don’t want to vote in a Western country… nor should you participate in its legal system, as clearly by the articles logic this would equate to ‘loosing one’s religion’.

Hypothetically if someone murders your uncle you should not get him charged unless in an Islamic court, let him wander freely until Shariah courts turn up in the US.

If the court subpoenas you to testify against the murderer, neither should you do that as it is not undertaken in a Shariah compliant method but in a kuffar system of law and thus astray from Islam.

Clearly we wouldn’t let murderers go free and clearly we need to think a little more broadly on this issue. Ideally the Ummah should be united and lobbying the govt in its capacity to adopt righteous policies. In the end, however, the result will still not be on the Muslim’s shoulders if they voted within this limited capacity and with good intentions, based on evidences to seek a righteous outcome iA.

Allah hu Akbar. You are one of the greatest teachers we have today. I love you so much for the sake of Allah. Asalam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

Asalamu Alaikum:

Like it was stated: we do have RAND MOZLEMZ created by the American Empire to destory Islam from within.

Your voting in an un-Islamic system will not have any effect on the Mujahideen but only on yourselves inshallah. Whichever of the two next pharoahs of USA you rand mozlemz vote for will be humiliated just like their predecessors, the Bush and Dicks of USA have been exposed worldwide and humiliated as tyrants, devils and hellbound sinners.
The Mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and other lands of Jihad, are all in wait for your new commander of chief in the battlegrounds.

“[Remember, O believers], when Allah promised you one of the two groups – that it would be yours – and you wished that the unarmed one would be yours. But Allah intended to establish the truth by His words and to eliminate the disbelievers

That He should establish the truth and abolish falsehood, even if the criminals disliked it.”

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Anfal, Ayah 7-8]

Salam alaikoum,

Do you remember the story of the muslims who didn’t make hijrah (altough they could have) and who came to fight the muslims with the Quraish in the battle of badr ? When these muslims were killed and the angels where taking their souls away they were asked:where were you ? They responded :we were weak in the land .
The angels respondes to them :Didn’t the earth spacious enough to find place to practice your deen ?(IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAD THE OPTION OF LEAVING AND YOU DIDN’T TAKE IT, AND YOU CAME AND FOUGHT MUSLIMS WITH KAFIRS).

I see that we can draw some similarities with this story and the issue of voting in democracy.
Democracy is a system of kufr (every person with eeman know that).So voting for this system without being forced , even if you think that you are doing good (like the muslims of makkah who fought alonside Quraish) could be interpreted as fighting Islam and commiting Kufr.

And there is a possibility that the angels can ask you the same questions.
So if you want to be safe in the last day (even if you think that democracy is not kufr) ,you have the option of not voting and to make doua for your brothers and sisters in muslims lands .

(Forgive me if my english is poor)

May ALLAH makes us die with eeman

to muslim cowboy:
Learn how to edit your own blog and keep your vicious tongue away from the sheikh.‎
‎ Allah has blinded you and many others from the truth, so there is nothing we can do but ‎make dua for you. None can guide the misguided except the all Mighty

I agree with the sheihk 100% I guess some of the RAND MUSLIMS can’t accept the truth….so they rather pick and choose the deen of Allah where it suits them.

Allah hu Akbar! May Allah continue keep you firm on the haaq!!!

why do those who want to vote not address the fact that america is at war islam and killing muslims accross the world? rather you only care for yourself and own benefit while in reality your situation is more like a holiday in america, you have it easy. stop being so selfish and think for a second, you are voting for people who are killing muslims!!! and you will have direct particapation in this killing. v=efKguI0NFek

Br Ahmed says:

“what would you say to the thousands of Muslims all across America who work for a living? What would you say to the ones who are just trying to get by, those who are pushed to the brink of poverty by onerous tax burdens and ever escalating education costs? Are you suggesting that they take no action to ameliorate their situation? They cannot afford to send their kids to school, cannot afford to continue paying rent for their already diminutive living quarters, those who are exhausted by working two jobs just to make rent and put food in their children’s mouths, what would you suggest they do?”

He also says my argument:
“neglects to take into account the very real, worldly needs of Muslims-Black, white, Indo-Pak, Arab, etc- who will suffer with the election of one candidate, and flourish with the selection of the other.”

Br Ahmad it is not all about the belly. If your concerns are as you stated before then there is a leader that would fulfill your needs much better that either Mccain or Obama and that is al Dajjal. The hadith state that the people who follow him will flourish and the people who don’t would suffer. So he would be the best candidate in terms of putting food on the table for your children.

Ahmed also says:
“In any case, I would like for you, ya Shaykh, to provide more practical advice for those of your fellow brothers and sisters whose quality of life depends on the policies of the next president.”

Rasulullah says: A time will come when the best way to live would be to ride on one’s horse and fight in the cause of Allah, or to live away from people and shepherd sheep. (Bukhari)
In this hadith you have two ways of countering evil when it becomes overwhelming as is the case today. You either fight it or you completely stay away from it. Rasulullah did not give us a third option of voting for it and being part of it. Secluding one’s self from society is an old tradition from the time of the salaf. They did it to avoid fitnah. So if you cannot fight than avoid kufr by staying away from it. That is not being passive, it is being protective of the most valuable thing you posses and that is your faith. It is better to do nothing than to do what is wrong.

Br Ibraheim says:
“The Imam at my mosque today talked about how important it is to vote next week. I became so angry when he told us this that I nearly interrupted to remind him of what some of the candidates have said about Islam in the last few months”

And this is exactly why I am saying we should have nothing to do with the elections. These masajid have become masajid Dhirar. I have seen how in one masjid the entire administration along with many members where so busy running around to host this non-Muslim candidate who will come and speak nonsense while an African American Muslim brother was in need of just one masjid member to answer his question or concern and they would walk infront of him as if he didn’t exist. Rasulullah was warned about ignoring the blind man because he was busy with giving dawa to a leader of Quraish. These candidates are not coming to hear us give them dawa, they are giving dawa to us!

Vote on Tuesday says:
“So you mean to tell me just standing idle and doing nothing is better than participating?”

Yes brother that is exactly what I am saying: Do noting. Rather than being part of a system that is un-Islamic you can do what Rasulullah did in Makkah and that is dawa.

Zakariya says:
“As to the lesser of two evils thing, not even the best of scholars could tell you which of the two candidates is truthful and which would follow sharia more.”

May Allah keep you firm on the true path.

Muslim34 says:
“If you feel voting is haram, then maybe you should go live in an Islamic country.”

I agree.

Confused about elections says:
“The question is then, should we not select the lesser of the two shayateen since we will be ruled by one of them anyways? We don’t have choice in this matter as far as being ruled under one of them. Whether you vote or you abstain, one of them will come into power.”

Allah has destined that there will always be evil. That is because life on this earth is a battle between good and evil. Allah has also taught us how to counter the evil. He told us to fight it not to vote for it.

Truth will prevail says:
“If we think Democracy is the solution to our probelms then we must not forget OUR ONLY ROLE MODEL Mohammad SAW rejected all of the offers from the Democracy of QURAISH. Becasue HAQ (truth) never compromise with Baatil (falsehood).”

Nicely said

Not again says:
“Pple who are pro - voting, open your eyes and smell the coffee!!!! How many elections do you have to experience in your lifetime to realize that NO LIMTIT of participation brings a difference or benefit to the Muslim Community!”

Yes people, smell the coffee!

Rukajja says:
“Why don’t you go out to Afgan, Palestine, Iraq, Chechenija, and smell the blood and the sadness, sattle yourself down beside them and vote for the Kufar, why don’t you do that??!!! I do not think so that you would vote than for the Kufar, but yes you can vote if you know that your live and the live of your family is safe, out of the rain of bullets and rockets, out of the screams of raped mothers and sisters, the screams and the cry of children who lost their mothers even if thous would stay alive, out of the smell of blood from man and boys who are trying there bast in fighting those FOR WHO YOU WOTED!!!!!!!!
Not one of them can make me cry, not bush, not mccain, not putin, not karadzic or milosevic, not sharon, not one of them can make me cry, BUT YOU CAN, YOU MUSLIMS, YOUR ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS!!! I ask you, where is your heart, where is it, where is your love for Allah, where is you fear from Him, where is it??!!!! Where is you love for the Prophet salAllahu alejhi we sellem, where is it??!!!!!!!!! SubhanAllah, you are hurting me, your sister in faith”

Never mind the grammar but that is the Fitra speaking.

Umm Yahya says:
“Allahu akbar!, you couldn’t have said it any better sheikh. may Allah open the eyes of ‎those muslims who are blinded by their hawa(desire) FOR THIS WORLD AND NOT ‎FOR THE HEREAFTER. Instead of thinking about the greater consequences of these ‎kufur policies i.e the destruction of their muslim brothers and sisters around the ‎world, they are only concerned with their bellies, houses, money etc, consenting to the ‎western ideology of ‘me’, ‘myself’ and ‘I’”

Unfortunately with some people that is the case.

Question says:
“SO WHAT DO WE DO?”

Do dawa, study Islam, and strive to become a better Muslim.
Question also says:
“Is it really part of our Din of Islam that we exclude ourselves from our Western societies and ONLY involve ourselves when it’s to out advantage???”

Absolutely.

Vote on Tuesday says:
“I’m proud to be a muslim american.”

Please brother reconsider that statement. Our pride is in being Muslims.

Sad says:
“I was at the mosque and heard the imam promoting voting. I left disgusted. Why? Because a few years back we were told to vote for a president who only brought harm to the ummah and caused harm to those in this country.”

That is very sad indeed. People go to the masjid to be guided only to be deceived.

Zaeem says:
“I fully agree with you about US elections. However in my country Pakistan, we have Jammat-e-islami which takes part in Pakistani elections and they say that they will bring sharia once they are voted into power. Do you think it is right to take part in such an election when an islamic party is contesting and we want it to win. Same argument goes for Hammas in Palestine.”

We should not be part of the democratic system whether in the land of Muslims or non Muslims.

Voting on November 4th says:
“I understand that democracy is different from Sharia or Islamic law, but this is not an Islamic country. We can’t expect it to be ruled by sharia. And those that do should probably move to an Islamic country where sharia is the law. And it is our right as American citizens to vote and make a difference. We should excercise that right. Or else we cannot sit back and complain about the status quo—including things like the current war in Afghanistan and Iraq (which has destroyed our economy and lead to inflation and people losing their jobs)”

Brother your reasoning is flawed even on an issue we agree upon and that is ending the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. You say the war “ has destroyed our economy and led to inflation and people losing their jobs”. These reasons you mention are actually good consequences that the war has brought. I am against the war not because of what you have stated but because it is a war between True Muslims and disbelievers and I wish the disbelievers an utter defeat.

Hassan says:
““And it is our right as American citizens to vote and make a difference.”
so which one of your future puppet masters will make the difference in the life of the Muslim?”

Good point.

A brother says:
“By Allah, I hope that when Obama comes into power with your direct support and blessings, and unleashes a new front on the War on Islam, and spills the blood of another million Muslims, and destroys the homes of another million, that you are held accountable in front of Allah for your betrayal of this Ummah just so you could have some tax cuts.”

Ameen

Jihadfeesabilillah says:
“The Pharaohs of USA, UK, the Illegal State of Israel will all be defeated InshAllah, not by the ballot box but by the the Jihadfeesabililah which is already on the way.”

That is how Rasulullah did it and that is how every Muslim victory in the past was won.

George Carlin a non muslim had this to say: “people who say if you don’t vote you have no right to complain, well wheres the logic in that?! if you vote and you elect dishonest incompetent people and they get in to office and screw everything up you are responsible for what they have done, YOU caused the problem, YOU voted them in, YOU have no right to complain. I on the other hand, who did not vote, who infact did not leave the house on election day, am no way responsible for what these people have done have every right to complain about the mess you have created and I had nothing to do with”

Selamu Alaikum,

at first of all i want to thang our belove sheikh to share his point of view with us.
Than i have to say that i dont understand why many people are so angry about his statement. Many big scolars have the same opioion that particpating in votes is haram. Now Anwar Awlaki have the same attitude and people are upset, this is just ridiculous. We know that there is a second opinion, fine. But the point of him was the both canditats are planning to push more troops into afghanistan and are alwas ready to support israel 100%. So the outcome will be the same, there is not really a choice of the lesser evil, indeed both are against islam!!!
Here Just another fatwa.
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/107166/voting

From the things that the Ummah should wake up to and be worried about are the affairs of the Muslim prisoners all over the world, especially the scholars and callers to Allah amongst them - those who took it upon themselves to openly speak the truth and confront falsehood. This applies to those imprisoned by the treacherous apostate slave regimes in the Muslim lands – and they are many, and they are put through immense torture and humiliation in these dark oppressive prisons - as well as those being held in the prisons of the Romans in America and the Western countries. I am especially referring to the Muslim youths who are unjustly held at Guantanamo Bay, as well as the elderly blind scholar, Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd ar-Rahman, who is put through so many types of harm, humiliation, and subjugation in prison. They pay no regard to his weakness, old age, or status with the Ummah, and they do not intend with this except to subjugate Islam and the Muslims! May Allah hasten his release and the release of all of the Muslims all over the world!

O nation of Muslims, do you think that if the other nations had in the prisons of the Muslims what we have in their prisons that they would remain silent? Do you think that they would live in comfort or relaxation?!

I think that you have heard how America and all the other Western nations threatened the Libyan people with various punishments, sanctions, etc. if they didn’t free a group of female European criminals who intentionally killed over four hundred Muslim children by injecting them with AIDS-infected needles, that deadly disease! At the same time, the Islamic nation has hundreds if not thousands of scholars and Muslim youth in the prisons of the disbelievers and apostates for no crime except that they said their Lord is Allah, as Allah Said: {“They had nothing against them except that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!”} [al-Buruj; 8] Despite this, the Muslims are completely clueless and heedless except those who Allah has bestowed Mercy upon. They pay no attention to the situation and the oppression and hardships that these prisoners are experiencing, as if these prisoners from the scholars and youth of Islam are not the sons of this nation and have no rights upon their Muslim brothers!

O Muslims! How can you live comfortably and remain silent in the face of the injustices done to your imprisoned brothers while Allah Said: {“Indeed, the believers are brothers…”} [al-Hujurat; 10] and {“The male and female believers are allies of one another…”}[at-Tawbah; 71]?

O Muslims! How can you live comfortably and remain silent in the face of the injustices done to your imprisoned brothers while your Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the prisoner!”

And he said: “It is upon the Muslim faithful to free their prisoners and to pay their ransom.”

And he said: “There is no Muslim who forsakes a Muslim in a situation where his reputation and honor are violated except that Allah will forsake him in a situation where he would want His help, and there is no Muslim who helps a Muslim in a situation where his reputation and honor are being violated except that Allah will help him in a situation where he would want His help.” And what is worse than for the entire Ummah to forsake the best of its sons who took it upon themselves to protect its religion and honor in their hardest hour?!

And he said: “Whoever helps his brother in secret, Allah will help him in this world and the next.”

O Muslims! How can you live comfortably and remain silent in the face of the injustices done to your imprisoned brothers while your Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The believer to the rest of the believers is like the head to the body: the believer is pained at what afflicts the rest of the believers just as the head feels the pain of whatever afflicts the body.”

And he said: “The believers are like a single person: if the head hurts, the entire body complains, and if his eyes hurt, the entire body complains.” And his saying “the believers” means that every single believer - regardless of their race, color, and nationality – cannot be except like a single person in their cooperation and compassion and unity. They are like a single man, feeling the pain as if they are one body, feeling concerned for each other just as a man feels pain and concern in his entire body when a single limb of his hurts. Are we like this?!

O Muslims! How can you live comfortably and remain silent in the face of the injustices done to your imprisoned brothers while your Prophet said: “You see the believers in their mercy and compassion towards each other like a single body: if a single limb hurts, the rest of the body tends to it to relieve it.” So, each one of us should ask himself in order to test his faith and ascription to the believers and to this religion: am I one of those who worries and feels the pain when the Muslims around the world are going through hardships? Or am I one of those who don’t care and only pay attention to my own interests and desires?!

O Muslims! How can you live comfortably and remain silent in the face of the injustices done to your imprisoned brothers while your Prophet said: “Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this life, Allah will relieve him of a hardship in the Hereafter, and Allah will help His slave so much as he helps his brother.” And what hardship is greater to relieve and remove from your Muslim brother than the hardships of being a prisoner? Imagine how great the hardships are of being captive in the depths of the prisons of the oppressors and criminals!

And he said: “The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim. He does not oppress him or hand him over, and whoever helps his brother, Allah will help him. And whoever relieves the distress of a Muslim, Allah will relieve his distress on the Day of Resurrection.” His statement “he does not oppress him or hand him over” means that he does not hand him over to oppression and the oppressors, and rather strives to rescue him from their clutches,

O Muslims, you want the scholars and callers to Allah to openly proclaim the truth and to fulfill their obligations towards the Ummah, yet if they do this and are afflicted with trials and hardships such as their being thrown into the depths of the prisons of the oppressors, you abandon them and distance yourselves from them, and sit back from helping them as if you don’t know them and they have no rights over you… {“That is a division that is most unfair!”} [an-Najm; 22] So, Islam should be aided by the Muslim people as well as their active scholars together – not one instead of the other.

A door to the doors of good has been opened for you, O slave of Allah! So, take advantage of it before it shuts and you are prevented from this abundant good! This door is that you see to the needs of your imprisoned brothers and their families and children. So, I give glad tidings to those who take advantage of this before the door is shut, and they spend the rest of their lives in regret!

O Allah, the Living, the Self-Sustaining! Owner of Majesty and Honor! I ask You by Your Mercy and Power to release the Muslim prisoners everywhere on Earth, to relieve their distress, to unite them with their children and families and loved ones immediately, to be with them in their solitude, to keep them firm, to cause tranquility to descend upon their hearts, and to exact revenge upon the oppressors and their helpers. Show us one of Your signs in how You deal with them, as You are Hearing, Close, and Respondent, our Lord!

And may peace and blessings shower our unlettered Prophet, his Household, and his Companions.

Our final call is that all praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Original Arabic: http://www.abubaseer.bizland.com/articles/read/a%20106.doc

Just go out to vote and make ur live more comfortable and hey maybe u can buy then ur children everyday a big icecream, and dont forget, dont watch television maybe u will see the other side of the world where ur BROTHERS AND SISTERS are killed and raped.
But dont waste ur time just look who will decrease the taxes for u and enjoy ur time….
the head ot this ummah is so deep in this dunya subhan Allah!

HARRY TO THE LANDs OF THE MUJAHIDEEN AN LIVE WITH HONOUR AND PREPARE UR ANSWEAR FOR ALLAH TAA’LA

I completely agree with the Shaikh that both candidates are evil for us.Initially
I thought that I am not going to vote;
But we know that if Mccain comes to power he will start another war a muslim country say Iran & aggravate the lives of muslims in other countries.So my conscience led me to vote for a lesser evil in order to prevent a bigger evil.Do you want more
muslim nations to lose their independence & suffer like the palestinians?

Dear Sheikh Anwar,

As much as I enjoy your lectures, I am quite disappointed by your statements. You need to listen to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyahs lectures on Muwatana, and the duties one has when they live in a country. If you strongly believe in this position, then you should give up your american passport, because it was issued by a democratic nation, and you shouldn’t reap the benefits of a country that you pronounce has such “evil” elections.

Salam ou aleikom brothers and sisters,

Thank you brother Anwar for this message. I wanted to briefly mention to the brothers and sisters concerned about the vote that how can you believe that a 2 party system really represents 300 million americans? These parties are leaning against one another so that they may never tumble, your vote really does not matter a thing, since it does not, do not add to it displeasing Allah. In 2004 Kerry clearly won the election as stated in the book “armed madhouse” and many other reliable sources, did it matter? No. Tawakallu ala Allah and do not vote.

Assalamualikum

I am very sorry and sad indeed to see such a post come out on the eve of the coming elections.

There is something called the burden of history. That is when you remain locked in a certain past in such a way that you cannot think of ways to make things better.

My sense of Islamic history is that the Prophet (SAWS) built on the current ummah he found. His message wrapped itself around the society he was in like vines around the trunk of a tree.

The message posted above asks for Muslims to completely isolate themselves from the society of which they are a minority. It is disenfranchizing oneself by force.

Had the Prophet done that in Mecca, he would have certainly perished.

I do not believe that voting will resolve the problems of the Muslim world. I think however that voting will make American Muslims (whether they feel at home or not) at a closer step to carving a Civic existence for themselves.

If we are not happy with the place we are in, we must change that place. If we do not wish to change that place or change what is upsetting us, then we might as well leave to another.

salam, I am soooo pleased to see that at least someone else is not supporting the evil of democracy.

Imam Anwar i just like to say that we are having th same problems in the UK when it comes to voting during elections as majority of the salafi, sufi, moderate dawah organisations are alll for voting.

i have some notes that may help muslims in their dawah regarding this matter but its inrealtion to the UK……

WHY WE REJECT THE ELECTIONS

Our rejection of the elections is based on convictions that emanate from various evidences, they can be summarized in the following points,

The elections are a mechanism to choose a representative, in order to participate in a legislative body in a non-muslim country amongst the disbelievers in order to legislate law; this is in contradiction with the Islamic rules. Somebody may say that ‘these elections will lead us to the best and most qualified person who will represent our interests in the parliament’, however it is not true that the person chosen will be the most suitable or the most pious (i.e. with the most taqwa) rather it will be the one who collects the most votes to come to power. He may obtain these votes by his effective media propaganda or because of his partisanship to a party or because of his wealth or even because he bought the loyalty of the people or because of any other desires.

The people will never gain their position because they are capable for the job in this way, not to mention that the capability for the job is not an excuse to commit Shirk Akbar i.e. legislation. Verily, all the elections’ measurements are based on the wealth and the media, and the one who has no wealth nor media backing, his winning is a form of imagination, whenever he has more money and his image in the media is stronger, he will have a stronger hope to win the election. If you were to bring a man who compiles all the certificates and qualifications of the world and then let him sit at home, then see if anyone will vote for him or not unless he spends much money and leads a campaign!

A Muslim must know that if he is to maintain his Islam, he cannot participate in the election and must not participate in any form of kufr such as voting for a person that wants to go to elections in order to participate in the legislative body under the pretext of his ‘good intention’.

Looking to people in any society, we find that they have huge demonstrations against their government policies similar to the people in UK demonstrate against the Labour policies even walking in millions in the street protesting against a government that is supposed to represent them; we find the very people who voted for them rising against them, so how did they obtain their votes in the first place except by deceiving and lying to them?

Elections are a mechanism inside a political symphony in the framework of a particular culture (i.e. the western culture here in the UK) based on the idea of multi-party elections and multiculturalism motivated by a particular man-made ideal. In Britain, that has already been laid down in the deen of Kufr, the Deen of democracy and secularism, which contradicts to Islam.

Understanding this fact, we find that the election has become a method to put your head in the sand like an ostrich, it will not solve any problems, rather it will only strengthen the kafir parties, whether labour or conservative or lib dem or Respect or any other man-made party.

People should know that all of these mechanisms of elections are based on a man-made framework and man-made (i.e. Kufr) culture, they should know that they are not participating in anything except to negate and leave their deen.

Many people think that elections are the way forward to represent the Muslim interests and benefits in the British society and to unite the Muslim voice, to demand and pressure the parliament for certain benefits for the Muslims. But Verily elections are a mechanism to fragment the Muslims and to destroy the remaining forms of co-operation and to spread between them envy against the candidates opposing them; that is because it is based on partisanship and alliance to and based on the kufr. He cannot live with himself, whatever he does of good deeds he has to participate and ally with a corrupted party and to co-operate with kuffar, he has to compete on behalf of them in order to achieve any result. This will cause in the Muslims the spirit of division instead of cooperation in good deeds.

That will destroy the Islamic brotherhood that distinguishes them from other nations; for other nations it means nothing to co-operate with all other people, but for Muslims, to co-operate and ally with Kuffar opposes the very usul of Al Walaa Wal Baraa’.

Furthermore, the success of the candidate is based on how many votes he can collect, that is by promising to the people to fulfil their individual interests in order to represent them in parliament. Therefore, the candidate will win his seat either by his promises to fulfil their interests and desires over the promises of his counterpart – in this case the wishes of the people becomes a dummy that they ride upon in order to achieve his own ambition to become an MP.

Many people who participate in the elections among the Muslim community do not know the position of the person that they vote for, if they were aware that what they are doing is sin and Kufr Akbar, they should refrain from participation. However when they have been given an emotional, false and misguided justification and incorrect interpretation they are duped into supporting a Kufr Deen.

Some people may say that it is a practical solution for the Muslims and to stop all Islamophobia and misrepresentation of Islam; they should know however that in a country that has a multitude of corrupted sects and religions, it will never bring any practical solution for the Muslims unless they compromise their deen the way we see many Muslims compromising their Deen in order to be accepted politically.

However our rejection of the participation of the elections is only a matter of obedience to Almighty Allah, and our rejection of integration is not a call for dictatorship, nor a call for isolation, rather it is a call for positive interaction in society; only in the way that Allah ordered us, not according to the pressure of the society; according to the divine text, not according to the interpretation of the reality.

Therefore, our fear from death or suffering from a lack of participation should not make us throw ourselves into a place where we will sink and lose our identity, rather it should be a driving force to form a pressure group as a community, whom can dictate the interests of the Muslims without to be part of the system, rather to be a fifth column who are able to maintain and survive and maintain it’s unique identity, offering a live example for the people to see. If we fail to convince them verbally in debate and argument, let us convince them practically without to join them in their system, and without losing our identity.

The Islamic Alternative to Voting for
Man-Made Law

Since voting for man-made law is a clear-cut prohibition and an act of apostasy in Islam, many people frequently ask the question; what is the alternative to voting and how are we going to elect a government unless we vote? It is very shallow and naïve to assume that the only form or mechanism of electing a government is through Democracy or voting (for man-made law). As Muslims, it is part of our creed to believe that the Sharee’ah of Allah (Islamic law) is perfect, complete, and has no contradictions. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’aan:

الْيَوْم�