At-Tibyan Publications | Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 31 | Size: 1 MB
Recently, a debate between our religiously committed brothers has erupted on the Internet regarding the permissibility of participating in democratic elections in the West. An article entitled “To Vote or Not to Vote” and another entitled “Why Vote, and Who to Vote For?” in particular have raised several points, which we feel are necessary to address as well as certain others related to Democracy and participation in the electoral process in general. In this short address, we will attempt to offer some clarification on the issue with the hope of refuting some claims and correcting some errors of the authors of these articles as well as addressing some of the more common mistakes related to this topic overall. In approaching the topic of Muslims participating in democratic elections, certain introductory points must be made. It is our intention to be very brief in these points as to avoid dwelling upon them and we only mention them for later reference in discussing the core issue of dispute regarding the permissibility of participating in the democratic elections.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: 4
A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DEMOCRACY AND ITS INHERENT KUFR
AND MANIFEST SHIRK: 4
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS UPON THE
VOTERS 7
REFUTATION OF THE DOUBTS RELATED TO THE PARTICIPATION IN
DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS 10
1. The participation of Prophet Yūsuf, upon whom be peace, as a minister in the
government of the King of Egypt. 10
2. The Rule: “The Lesser of Two Evils is Chosen” 12
3. The rule: “The Benefit is Taken over the Harm” 14
4. The Rule: “Actions are Based on Intentions” 15
5. The Rule: “Commanding the Good and Forbidding the Evil” 17
6. The Rule: “The Necessity Permits the Unlawful” 20
7. The Rule: “Kufr is Excused Due to Compulsion” 22
A point concerning compulsion: 23
THE RULING UPON THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC
ELECTIONS 24
CONCLUSION: 25
APPENDIX ONE: A CONCISE FATWĀ ON THE RULING ON
PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS 27
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