Elections are an Innovation, states Shaykh Ubaid.
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).
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** [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:
