ELECTIONS ARE A BID’AH, STATES SHAIKH UBAID 

Below is very current, relevant and important question put to Shaikh Ubaid Al-Jaabiree. An elder and senior Scholar from the Scholars of Saudi Arabia. 

Question: “Is it permissible for the Muslims in the lands of disbelief to enter into elections and request from the Muslims to support them in this from the aspect [of being] from the lesser of the two evils or to repel the greater evil?”

Answer: I say: Elections are not from the Sunnah (the way of the Prophet) that is known by the Muslims and that which the Salaf traversed upon from the time of the Companions and the Imaams of the Tabi’een, and those who came after them. But rather it is a newly invented matter in Islam, so it is a Bid’ah (innovation), and if it is a Bid’ah (innovation) then it is Muharram (impermissible).But if the Muslims in the West or other than it are compelled to enter into elections then there are a number of circumstances [to be present]. From them: That they will not receive any of their rights that are legislated in their country except by way of a representative to speak on their behalf. So if they are forced to do this and they have no choice, they either elect a man who is Muslim or lose their rights and have no one to hear their concerns. In this situation they elect a righteous man who is wise that will benefit the Muslims and look after their rights**.
 
But if the Muslims were patient upon the hardships and loss of their rights in the way of abandoning this innovated matter it is better for them and more desirable. And Allah knows best.

Translated by: Abul-Hasan Maalik Al-Akhdar (Philidelphia, USA).

————————-

** [Translator:] It should be noted here that the Muslims in the U.S. and U.K receive the same rights as other non-Muslim citizens. They build mosques, schools, and open centers of propagation without hindrance or opposition. Muslims openly call to Islam in publications, radio broadcasts, the internet, and in public forums whether on university campuses or in correctional facilities, in fact Islam is still the fastest growing religion in the West.
Muslim women can be seen on the streets of many cities in full hijab and Muslim men in Islamic garb and full beards, all of this with no obstruction from the authorities.  All of these rights are afforded them without need of entering elections or voting.

From:

http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?forum=9&topic=5880

The Messenger of Allaah, may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, stated:

“Indeed every newly invented matter [in Religion] is an innovation (bid’ah), and EVERY innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance in the Fire.”

and, he stated:

“Whoever innovates into this affair of ours [i.e. Islaam], that which is not from it, will have it rejected.”

 

SUHAIB HASAN ONCE AGAIN OPPOSES

Can an innovation be good? According to Suhaib Hasan of the ‘Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, UK’, maybe yes. He states,

“…I have said many times that Muslims should participate in elections. IT IS A GOOD SYSTEM.”

So which scholar of Salafiyyah did he get this from, and which textual proof? Or has he innovated into Islaam that which is not from it? There is huge difference between a scholar stating that electoral voting is ‘a lesser of two evils’, and this erroneous statement that elections are a ‘good system’. When some scholars say that voting it is a lesser of two evils, then surely, every intellegent muslim can see that a lesser of two evils still means that it is evil! So how has this evil (whether lesser or greater), now been ‘re-packaged’ as good and permissible?!

And those who claim, falsely, that Suhaib Hasan has the right of ijtihaad, do not realise that ijtihaad is not a license to innovate and oppose the major scholars, and the Salafi manhaj, and to make halaal that which is haraam, and haraam that which is halaal!

Read on:

“From amongst those who regularly legitimise participation in the elections around the time of local and national elections in the UK, is Dr. Suhaib Hasan, the senior Imaam at Masjid Al-Tawhid in Leyton (North-East London). Whilst Dr. Hasan convinces the people to vote from the pulpit (minbar), there is almost always a representative of one of the major political parties standing outside giving out leaflets for his/her cause, with his/her presence being sanctioned by Masjid Al-Tawhid.

It gets worse.

After the recent ‘Undercover Mosques’ documentary by Channel 4’s dispatches (which showed Dr. Suhaib Hasan as being a ‘preacher of hate’), an article from the local Waltham Forest Guardian has now been pinned up on the Masjid’s notice board near the entrance. Here’s a part of the article:

‘Shaykh Hassan says, however, that his remarks were taken out of context, and that he has never said Sharia law would be appropriate for Britain.

“Britain is a democracy, and I have said many times that Muslims should participate in elections. It is a good system” he said.

“Why blame a western country for not implementing Sharia law when Muslim states like Pakistan do not?”’

This article is from the 25th January and it was still up in the Masjid yesterday (Friday 16th February). For those who are not convinced and perhaps feel that this is some extremist plot to bring down this so-called ‘great scholar’, here is the link to the newspapers story:

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/archive/display.var.1146248.0.mosque_disputes_claim.php

The fact that the article was put up in the first place and that it is still there, is a proof that these are indeed the words of Dr. Suhaib Hasan (as the notice board is heavily vetted) and that it’s not another case of media lies…”

See the full discussion here:

http://www.salafitalk.net/st/uploads/Muqbil_Elections.pdf

“A Gift For The Intellects In Explanation Of The Three Fundamental Principles Of Islaam“

300 PAGES PACKED FULL OF KNOWLEDGE!!

INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF ONLY 9.95 British Pounds.

Order now online from almost anywhere in the world:

www.SalafiBookstore.com

Author: Ash-Shaikh al-’Allaamah ‘Ubaid ibn Abdillaah Al-Jaabiree.
Publisher: Salafi Publications (22-Feb-07)
Pages: 300 (paperback)

Description

The book before you is an explanation of a concise yet great work written by a noble Scholar of Islaam from the twelth century of Islaam, known as Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab. He compiled this work, called “The Three Fundamental Principles”, in order to make clear to the people the core and fundamental principles upon which Islaam is established.Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab took these principles from the texts of Qur’aan and pure Prophetic Sunnah, as well as the Companions and those who succeeded them. This is why in all of the works of the Shaikh, whether small or large, you will find quote after quote from the Religious texts. Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab is a much maligned and misrepresented Scholar. His adversaries, in his time and after expended much effort in spreading misinformation regarding his belief and methodology. Some ascribe to him extremism; others ascribe to him deviation in belief and creed. All of this are falsehoods easily repelled by the legacy of authorship that he left behind, which clearly show that he was neither an extremist, nor a deviant, rather his works show that he was a true traditionalist in the Path of the Messenger of Allaah and his Companions.

Shaykh Rabee’ Defends the Schools and Shaykhs of Yemen

Shaykh Rabee’ Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee is asked about the current condition of the school of Shaykh Muqbil in Dammaaj, and about the recent revilement that has occurred from some of the people against this school and its Shaykhs.  He clarifies that the Shaykhs of Yemen are in the best of conditions and that their works delight the chests of the believers and that their works anger every person of desires and falsehood.

Click here to listen, with english translation:

http://www.sunnahpublishing.net/audio/rabeeonyemen.wma

www.SunnahPublishing.net

By Daphna Berman
Haaretz (Major Israeli newspaper)

A woman who reported a vicious attack by an ad-hoc “modesty patrol” on a Jerusalem bus last month is now lining up support for her case and may be included in a petition to the High Court of Justice over the legality of sex-segregated buses.

Miriam Shear says she was traveling to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City early on November 24 when a group of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men attacked her for refusing to move to the back of the Egged No. 2 bus. She is now in touch with several legal advocacy and women’s organizations, and at the same time, waiting for the police to apprehend her attackers.

In her first interview since the incident, Shear says that on the bus three weeks ago, she was slapped, kicked, punched and pushed by a group of men who demanded that she sit in the back of the bus with the other women. The bus driver, in response to a media inquiry, denied that violence was used against her, but Shear’s account has been substantiated by an unrelated eyewitness on the bus who confirmed that she sustained an unprovoked “severe beating.”

Shear, an American-Israeli woman who currently lives in Canada, says that on a recent five-week vacation to Israel, she rode the bus daily to the Old City to pray at sunrise. Though not defined by Egged as a sex-segregated “mehadrin” bus, women usually sit in the back, while men sit in the front, as a matter of custom.

“Every two or three days, someone would tell me to sit in the back, sometimes politely and sometimes not,” she recalled this week in a telephone interview. “I was always polite and said ‘No. This is not a synagogue. I am not going to sit in the back.’”

But Shear, a 50-year-old religious woman, says that on the morning of the 24th, a man got onto the bus and demanded her seat - even though there were a number of other seats available in the front of the bus.

“I said, I’m not moving and he said, ‘I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.’ Then he spat in my face and at that point, I was in high adrenaline mode and called him a son-of-a-bitch, which I am not proud of. Then I spat back. At that point, he pushed me down and people on the bus were screaming that I was crazy. Four men surrounded me and slapped my face, punched me in the chest, pulled at my clothes, beat me, kicked me. My snood [hair covering] came off. I was fighting back and kicked one of the men in his privates. I will never forget the look on his face.”

Shear says that when she bent down in the aisle to retrieve her hair covering, “one of the men kicked me in the face. Thank God he missed my eye. I got up and punched him. I said, ‘I want my hair covering back’ but he wouldn’t give it to me, so I took his black hat and threw it in the aisle.”

‘Stupid American’

Throughout the encounter, Shear says the bus driver “did nothing.” The other passengers, she says, blamed her for not moving to the back of the bus and called her a “stupid American with no sechel [common sense.] People blamed me for not knowing my place and not going to the back of the bus where I belong.”

According to Yehoshua Meyer, the eyewitness to the incident, Shear’s account is entirely accurate. “I saw everything,” he said. “Someone got on the bus and demanded that she go to the back, but she didn’t agree. She was badly beaten and her whole body sustained hits and kicks. She tried to fight back and no one would help her. I tried to help, but someone was stopping me from getting up. My phone’s battery was dead, so I couldn’t call the police. I yelled for the bus driver to stop. He stopped once, but he didn’t do anything. When we finally got to the Kotel [Western Wall], she was beaten badly and I helped her go to the police.”

Shear says that when she first started riding the No. 2 line, she did not even know that it was sometimes sex-segregated. She also says that sitting in the front is simply more comfortable. “I’m a 50-year-old woman and I don’t like to sit in the back. I’m dressed appropriately and I was on a public bus.”

“It is very dangerous for a group of people to take control over a public entity and enforce their will without going through due process,” she said. “Even if they [Haredim who want a segregated bus] are a majority - and I don’t think they are - they have options available. They can petition Egged or hire their own private line. But as long as it’s a public bus, I don’t care if there are 500 people telling me where to sit. I can sit wherever I want and so can anyone else.”

Meyer says that throughout the incident, the other passengers blamed Shear for not sitting in the back. “They’ll probably claim that she attacked them first, but that’s totally untrue. She was abused terribly, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Word of Shear’s story traveled quickly after she forwarded an e-mail detailing her experience. She has been contacted by a number of groups, including Shatil, the New Israel Fund’s Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change; Kolech, a religious women’s forum; the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the legal advocacy arm of the local Reform movement; and the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA).

In the coming month, IRAC will be submitting a petition to the High Court of Justice against the Transportation Ministry over the issue of segregated Egged buses. IRAC attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski is in touch with Shear and is considering including her in the petition.

Although the No. 2 Jerusalem bus where the incident occurred is not actually defined as a mehadrin line, Erez-Likhovski says that Shear’s story is further proof that the issue requires legal clarification. About 30 Egged buses are designated as mehadrin, mostly on inter-city lines, but they are not marked to indicate this. “There’s no way to identify a mehadrin bus, which in itself is a problem,” she said.

“Theoretically, a person can sit wherever they want, even on a mehadrin line, but we’re seeing that people are enforcing [the gender segregation] even on non-mehadrin lines and that’s the part of the danger,” she said.

On a mehadrin bus, women enter and exit through the rear door, and the seats from the rear door back are generally considered the “women’s section.” A child is usually sent forward to pay the driver.

The official responses

In a response from Egged, the bus driver denied that Shear was physically attacked in any way.

“In a thorough inquiry that we conducted, we found that the bus driver does not confirm that any violence was used against the complainant,” Egged spokesman Ron Ratner wrote.

“According to the driver, once he saw that there was a crowd gathering around her, he stopped the bus and went to check what was going on. He clarified to the passengers that the bus was not a mehadrin line and that all passengers on the line are permitted to sit wherever they want on the bus. After making sure that the passengers returned to their seats, he continued driving.”

The Egged response also noted that their drivers “are not able and are not authorized to supervise the behavior of the passengers in all situations.”

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Avner Ovadia said in response that the mehadrin lines are “the result of agreements reached between Egged and Haredi bodies” and are therefore unconnected to the ministry.

A spokesperson for the Jerusalem police said the case is still under investigation.

A Romanian priest has been jailed for 14 years for conducting an exorcism that led to the death of a nun who he believed was possessed by devils.

Irina Cornici, 23, died after being starved and chained to a cross at a secluded convent in the north-east.

The ritual in 2005 was led by Daniel Petru Corogeanu, 31, the priest at the Holy Trinity convent in Tanacu village.

He and four nuns were convicted of manslaughter. The nuns got jail terms ranging from five to eight years.

The Romanian nun died after being bound to a cross, gagged and left alone for three days in a cold room in a convent, Romanian police have said.

Members of the convent in north-east Romania claim Maricica Irina Cornici was possessed and that the crucifixion had been part of an exorcism ritual.

Cornici was found dead on the cross on Wednesday after fellow nuns called an ambulance, according to police.

A priest and four nuns were charged with imprisonment leading to death.

Orphan

Police say the 23-year-old nun, who was denied food and drink throughout her ordeal, had been tied and chained to the cross and a towel pushed into her mouth to smother any sounds.

Local media reports that the young woman had arrived at the remote convent three months before, having initially gone there to visit a friend and opted to stay.

She grew up in an orphanage in Arad, in the west of Romania.

Mediafax news agency said Cornici suffered from schizophrenia and the symptoms of her condition caused the priest at the convent and other nuns to believe she was possessed by the devil.

“They all said she was possessed and they were trying to cast out the evil spirits,” police spokeswoman Michaela Straub said.

Father Daniel who is accused of orchestrating the crime is said to be unrepentant.

“God has performed a miracle for her, finally Irina is delivered from evil,” AFP quoted the priest as saying.

“JOHN IS OUR GOD”, DECLARES VILLAGE CHIEF.

At the base of a sacred volcano in an isolated corner of the South Pacific young men play the “Star Spangled Banner” on bamboo flutes.

Every February they parade in old US army uniforms with wooden weapons.

Others go bare-chested with the letters “USA” painted in bright red letters on their bodies.

Nearby, a giant Stars and Stripes flutters in the breeze from the main flagpole.

This is the heart of John Frum country on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu.

Villagers at Sulphur Bay worship a mystical figure who they believe will one day bring them wealth and happiness.

Time of upheaval

“John is our god,” declares village chief Isaac Wan, who beats his fists into the ground to emphasise his words.

“One day he will come back,” he says.

Believers are convinced that John Frum was an American.

The name could well have come from war-time GIs who introduced themselves as “Jon from America.”

Devotees say that the ghost of a mystical white man first appeared before tribal elders in the 1930s.

It urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and the influence of Vanuatu’s British and French colonial masters.

The apparition told villagers to do all they could to retain their own traditions.

Anthropologist Ralph Reganvalu told the BBC that the sect was a “cultural preservation movement” that was born during a time of upheaval.

“There was a whole period in history known as Tanna Law where the missionaries put in this series of rules about what people weren’t supposed to do and the movement emerged because of this oppression,” he said.

World War II and the arrival of US troops on Vanuatu was a defining time for the movement. They had a name for their spiritual deity. He was John Frum.

Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for delivering to them the munificence of the US military.

They were awestruck by the army’s cargo of tanks, weapons, refrigerators, food and medicine.

John Frum day is held annually on 15 February. This year’s celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the sect’s formal establishment.

It also recognises the day when villagers raised the US flag for the first time.

Through this homage to the US, disciples hope their ethereal saviour can be encouraged to return.

“It’s a little bit weird but it makes me feel really patriotic,” said Marty Meth, a retired businessman from New York, who had travelled to Tanna to see the festivities.

“It’s really nice to see Americans welcome here since in so many places in the world we’re not so welcome these days,” he added.

Sulphur Bay lies in the shadow of Mount Yasur, an active volcano whose roar can be heard far away.

Many followers of John Frum believe his spirit lives deep within the volcano.

Every few minutes Yasur bellows.

Watching and listening from the crater’s edge is both exhilarating and frightening. A deafening growl is followed by the blasting of molten rock high into the sky.

These rumblings are a constant reminder for villagers that the spirit of John Frum remains as potent as ever.

About 20% of Tanna’s population of 30,000 follow the teachings of one of the world’s last remaining cargo cults.

Other islanders can barely disguise their contempt for it.

A Christian youth worker told me how he thought the cult was childish. “It’s like a baby playing games,” he insisted. “Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true,” he said.

I put this view to Rutha, who’s married to Chief Isaac’s son. She was unfazed.

“I don’t care what they think,” she says gently without a hint of displeasure. “John is our Jesus and he will come back.”

The John Frum Movement is still trying to entice another delivery of cargo from its supernatural American god.

In the meantime his disciples continue to wait and hope.

MAKKAH, 16 February 2007 — In a unique sting operation involving police from both Makkah and Madinah, a Nigerian black magician was arrested here yesterday.

According to police, the sorcerer, thought to be one of the most dangerous in the Kingdom, claimed he could locate hidden treasures from the ground, provide unhappy people with happiness and increase sums of money through the mere touch of his hand.

Officers received reports that a Nigerian man called Sheikh Zubair was practicing black magic. Reports stated that the man was charging people SR10,000 for a single spell and that he would travel the Kingdom practicing his dark art.

Secret police were able to locate the man in Madinah and laid a shrewd plan to arrest him red-handed. An officer telephoned Sheikh Zubair pretending to want a quick way to become rich. “The officer told Sheikh Zubair that he had heard of his excellent magic powers and that he would pay him anything to use his magic for his personal benefit. He also told him to put a spell on his first wife because she objected to him taking a second wife,” said a police source.

“Sheikh Zubair comforted the officer and told him he would do everything he wants him to do. The officer told Sheikh Zubair that he would even provide him with housing in Makkah if he chose to come,” the police source added.

Subsequently, the magician said he would inform the officer of his date of arrival. Police officers did not call the man to avoid making him suspicious and after three days the sorcerer contacted the undercover policeman to say he was coming to Makkah.

Sheikh Zubair and his assistant met the undercover policeman just outside Makkah. The officer then took both men to a house where police were lying in wait. “He promised the officer that he would make his first wife go to his second wife and ask her hand in marriage. He even told him that he would help him find treasure worth half a million riyals hidden underneath his house. For the services he demanded SR10,000,” said the police source.

Inside the house, the magician began taking out his equipment and papers with strange writing on them. “As soon as he began his spells, police moved in and arrested him,” said the police source, adding that the two magicians did not even have valid residence permits.

Arab News spoke to Sheikh Zubair who admitted he was dabbling in magic. “I’ve earned a lot of money in Saudi Arabia. There are enough idiots here to trick and make money from,” he said, adding that he has earned over SR400,000 from practicing black magic in the Kingdom.

Full details:

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS & APPLICATION FORM

Salafi Publications, NEW BOOK COMING SOON!

Release date 15th March 2007
Ibnul-Qayyim’s The Path To Guidance

Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allaah’s mercy be upon him, said:

“Get up and hurry in servitude to Allaah and being with Him in the Home of Peace, without any tiredness, hardship or fatigue, but by the nearest and easiest of paths. And this is by realising that you are in a time between two times which is what constitutes your life, and this is the present time which is between what has passed and what is yet to come. Then that which has passed you can correct by repentance, remorse and seeking forgiveness. This is something in which there will be no tiredness, fatigue or any straining efforts required on your behalf. It is nothing but the action of the heart…

“And there is due from the servant to Allaah, in every moment from his time, servitude which will advance him or bring him nearer to Allaah. So if he spends his time in servitude to Allaah, he will come closer to his Lord and if he busies himself with desires or relaxation or inactivity, he will lag behind. And the servant never ceases either to be moving forward or falling behind, and there is no stopping whilst on the path, ever.”

Some individuals have wrongly assumed that the point of contention over the issue of elections between the “Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK” and others is based upon a difference of opinion between the Scholars. Nothing could be further from from truth. Our contention is: 1. that the Jamiat holds that democratic elections are supported by Islaam and the sharee’ah, 2. that the one who does not vote is sinful and responsible for any resulting evil, and, 3. the sinful innovations they themselves fall into due to their involvement in the political arena. These false principles of the Jamiat are in contradiction to Islaam and not supported by any textual proofs, nor from the way of the Salaf, nor supported by the Scholars of Islaam.

As for certain Scholars that hold that voting is permitted as a lesser of evils, then that is an ijtihaad that is held to be erroneous by other Scholars who bring strong textual and reasoned arguments, and we hope to make those clear some time in the future, inshaa’Allaah. Recently some erroneous people have began to say that the Jamiat is supported in its positions on elections by some scholars. And this statement of their’s is untrue and unfounded, rather NO Salafi scholar has stated that democratic elections are supported by the Sharee’ah, nor that one is sinful or “carries the burden of any resulting sufferring” if he does not vote.

Shaikh Al-Albaanee (rahimmahullaah) stated:

“However, if the situation is contrary to this, and this is what I think the question is referring to, then one of them must be selected due to the electoral process established today. It is upon you to know that this system is not Islamic in any way whatsoever.. ” (Silsilatul Hudaa wan-Noor, Tape 284)

Let us repeat the statement of Shaikh Al-Albaanee:

“It is upon you to know that this system is not Islamic in any way whatsoever”!

Now let us mention the statement of Abdul-Haadee Omaree, one of the heads of the “Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK”:

“The act of taking part in elections is an activity that is in fact supported by the Sharee’ah (the Islamic Legislation)…” (Source: ‘The Dawn’, Title: ‘On the Eve of Election’ by Dr. Naseem, Salma Yaqoob & Imam Abdul Hadi. The Newsletter of the Birmingham Central Mosque Trust Ltd, June 2004 /Rabbi al-Thani 1425 AH, Issue 164)

So Al-Albaanee holds democratic elections to be against Islaam and the Jamiat holds democratic elections to be from Islaam. So how can it ever be undertood that the Jamiat is in agreement with Shaikh Al-Albaanee?

And let us not confuse the ijtihaad of Shaikh Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) with the deviations of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK, and thereby claim that Jamiat was correct AND following the scholars. Look at the base principle of Shaikh Al-Albaanee in stating the Islamic position on democatric elections and the base principle of the Ahle-hadith UK in which they make it binding to vote and regard the one who does not vote to be sinful. Abdul-Haadi Omari of the Jamiat said:

“If one chooses not to participate due to ignorance and someone of a corrupt and immoral background is elected then the burden of any resulting suffering and injustice will be upon those who refused to use their vote.” (Source: ‘The Dawn’, Title: ‘On the Eve of Election’ by Dr. Naseem, Salma Yaqoob & Imam Abdul Hadi. The Newsletter of the Birmingham Central Mosque Trust Ltd, June 2004 /Rabbi al-Thani 1425 AH, Issue 164)

The Shaikh Muhammad al-Imaam of Yemen (from the senior students of Al-Allaamah Muqbil ibn Haadee) states in complete opposition to Abdul-Hadi Omari and the Jamiat:

“And it does not suffice the opposer [of the Sunnah] with claiming that Elections are merely permissible, but rather he increases the ‘clay with more water’ (i.e. that he makes the affair worse), so he says: “They [elections] are obligatory [to enter into] and the one who does not [enter into them] is sinful and a  transgressing wrong-doer and that he has not fulfilled his trust or responsibility.. and so on.”

So who is the one who claims that the Jamiat ahl-e-Hadith based their rulings and opinions on the verdicts of the Scholars?! Indeed they based their rulings on desires and whims, thinking themselves to be Muftis and Imaams! And possibly the greatest scholar of Pakistan and India in last century or two, Allaamah Badee’ Ud-Deen (rahimahullaah) rebuked them and censured them severely, in his own words when he said: 

“In this manner, some of our brothers (of Jamiat AhleHadith) have accepted democracy and have mistaken it for Islaam. It is astonishing how they have accepted a western ideology while being AhleHadeeth. Did the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) give us this ideology, did the rightly guided Khulafaa give us this ideology, or did the four Imaams give us this ideology? Who gave us this ideology? An ideology emerged from Europe and you accepted, you deemed the ideology of the Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam deficient! Let me ask you one question. Are there any opposing political parties in the Sharee’ah. If the government was established for the sake of Allaah, and someone stood in opposition of it, what would become of him? There would be hostility everywhere. Democracy safeguards these hostilities, and this is why evil is given a chance to exist. It is for this reason that these people who are starving for power attempt to win power and fight (amongst each other). 

Has Islaam not taught you how to run the governments? Did not the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) establish an Islaamic government within a kingdom of kufr? How did the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), how did he establish this government? He acted upon the guidance of Allaah and he was successful, Allaah gave him victory, Allaah gave him success. All forces were in opposition to the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and they still are; the forces of these selfish maulvis (religious leaders), the forces of saints (peers), and the forces of the wealthy. All of these groups are against each other but are united against the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). The time came when the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) was given victory, and he announced on the hill of Safaa, “There is none worthy of worship except Allaah alone, and He aided His salve, and completed His promise, and He by Himself defeated the forces. This is Islaam, and this is our methodology, and this is our Imaam.

How is it that we accept those things that he (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) cursed, and we accept the methodology of the enemies of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)??

Today, there is a group that claims that they are from the upholders of the religion, and they used to claim at one time that it was impermissible to partake and run in elections. Later, they claimed that all of these things are necessary and permissible if we want to gain power, so they began to partake in all of these things that these worldly (political) parties partake in. The people of the Jam’eeyah (AhleHadeeth) began to walk in their footsteps.

This is what taqleed is, acting upon the correct and incorrect actions of your Imaam; they do not separate, take what is correct and what is incorrect, this is the Muqallid. When these people (who partake in elections) received the fatwa that these action are impermissable, none of them objected, even though it is necessary that one of the two is incorrect.

An ideology in which an individual who seeks leadership stands in elections, and they divide into groups and parties, and they severely waste the wealth of the Muslims on backbiting and mud-slinging, how can an ideology such as this be correct?

So my brothers, this methodology in not found in the Quraan and the Sunnah…”

Shaikh Al-Albaanee after stating the evils of democratic elections and voting, then states it may be the lesser of two evils. He said: 

“I say yes, because the Muslims in this case are between two evils. Similarly, this is the case if the candidates were Muslims, since amongst the Muslims are Communists, Baathists and so on. Okay, do we just sit back and watch or should we choose the one whose harm is less?” (Silsilatul-Hudaa wan-Noor, Tape 284)

So where is the comparison between the statement of this Imaam and Muhaddith and statement of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith, as forwarded by the ‘mufti’ and ’scholar’ of the Jamiat, Abdul-Haadee Omari, who does not regard democratic elections to be wrong and in opposition to Islam, but rather supported by Islaam! The Jamiat Ahle-Hadith then proceeds to enact its own deviated opinions which are NOT supported by the scholars, by falling head-long into the following:

1. Inviting socialists and communists to their mosques to deliver lectures.

2. Attending photo opportunities with politicians, even those who support suicide bombings in Iraaq and Palestine!

3. Free-mixing with females.

4. Attending rallies, protests, and anti-government street demonstrations, and encouranging all those who attend their mosques to do so.

5. Giving fatwas containing lies upon Islaam, such as praise of the grave-worshippers and innovators.

6. Organising gatherings and inviting innovators (such Jihadists, Soofees, partisans, secularists), politicians, other faith leaders to address their congegrations.

7. Attending innovated celebrations of the Soofees along with the politicians, such as the Prophet’s Birthday!

Click here to see proofs of all of these: “The Reality of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK”

So do you see all this in the ijtihaad and fatwa of Shaikh Al-Albaanee or Shaikh Ibn Baaz regarding voting?! Never, may Allaah’s mercy be upon them both.

And let us look again at the clear statement of Al-Imaam al-Muhaddith Shaikhul-Islaam Al-Albaanee, so we are not deceived by those who claim that the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith and its wretched sister from Kuwait, Jamiat Ihyaa Turaath are upon the position of Shaykh Al-Albaanee:

QUESTIONER: “We have heard that you said - O Shaikh - that it is permissible to enter into Parliamentary Elections, but with conditions?!”

SHAYKH AL-ALBAANEE: “NO IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE! These conditions - when there are any - are purely theoretical and speculative, and not knowledge-based. So do you remember the conditions that I stated?”

QUESTIONER: “The first is that a person must protect his ownself (i.e. protect his religion).”

SHAYKH AL-ALBAANEE: “And is this possible?”

QUESTIONER: “I have never done it [so I would not know].”

SHAYKH AL-ALBAANEE: “And if Allaah wills you will NEVER do it! It is not possible to meet these conditions. And if we observe many of the people who at the beginning of their lives - we could see from their appearance, from their clothes, from their beards - and then when they entered Parliament, then their appearance changed! And after that they started justifying it… And likewise we would see people entering the Parliament with Islamic Arabic clothing and the after some days, they changed their clothing!! So is this an evidence and indication of corruption or rectification?!”

QUESTIONER: “Shaikh, I mean the brothers in Algeria, and their work there and their entry into the poloitical arena?”

SHAYKH AL-ALBAANEE: “WE DO NOT ADVISE THIS! We do not advise political work these days in any of the Islamic countries…”
(Tape: “Silsilatul-Hudaa wan-Noor” (1/352))

So the fact is and still remains that the Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith have NEVER been upon the positions of the scholars in these affairs nor have they previously claimed that. The Jamiat invents it’s own political fatwas and policies, and to claim otherwise now is an insult to those great scholars, may Allaah’s mercy be upon them. The fatawa of the Scholars do not and never have supported the political activities of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith. Indeed, it is apparently clear that Abdul-Hadi Omari takes his political ideology from Abdur-Rahmaan Abdul-Khaaliq, whose methodology he translated over a decade ago.