1. Regarding Being Hasty in Making Tabd'ee and Openly Warning Against and Ordering Hajr of People from Ahlus-Sunnah - Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
2. Regarding Voting to Remove Harm or to Bring Benefit - Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan
   
3. Wouldn't Voting or Participating in Elections be from Helping the Kufaar to Have Authority Over the Muslims? - Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan

Question: A question was asked concerning voting and if voting should be done if it would bring forth some benefit or take away some harm, or give the Muslims more power. And the Shaykh ibn 'Uthaymeen, when he was here he deemed it permissible but some people still deem it haraam. What is the just saying on this?


Answer: The Shaykh said that he answered this a few years back, either in the Haram or on the program call Noor 'alad-Darb. He said that the Muslim should do that which would bring benefit to Islaam and the Muslims, and it is known that no benefit can come about through disobedience of Allaah and His Messenger. Where there is no ruling concerning a matter, in the book or the Sunnah, and this action would bring forth some type of benefit to Islaam, then it can be done. As such, voting for a man who might bring to the Muslims something better than which they have, or keep away from them harm that is upon them, or he is better in comparison with his opponent; then there is no problem with voting for that man.

The Muslims should make ijtihaad i.e. a great effort in finding out what is best for them and most beneficial. They may get it or they may not, but they would have tried based upon hope that they would have done this good and brought benefit to Islaam and there is no haraam in that. In some lands the number of Muslims is great and if they work together they would have a good effect in choosing. For instance, if there are ten million (10,000,000) Muslims and they vote for a man they see is not taken by desires, swung left and right, but he is truthful and returns the favour, then there is no problem in choosing such a man.



Answered by: Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan

Title of Lecture: Obligation of Muslims in Ramadaan

Date of the Lecture: October 16, 2004

Listen to Lecture: Click Here

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here

Question: Wouldn't voting or participating in elections be considered as assisting the kuffaar in having authority over the Muslims?


Answer: If the Muslims refrain from voting, then are the elections going to be nullified or are they still going to go forth or not? If this President is going to be put forth (elected), and if it is true that whether the Muslims vote or not it's going to go through, and they see that in electing someone to office is better for them than the opposing party - if they see that this is the situation; or if they see that this person is better than the other he's going to be easy with the Muslims or better with them than the opposition, then in this situation, it is good for them to vote.

But if they don't vote and they sit back and there is an opposing party that is clear that it is opposing the Muslims, and it would cause some harm upon the Muslims, then this is not good. In fact, it would be hurting the Muslims, or helping to hurt the Muslims because you have not voted for the party that would help the Muslims.


Answered by: Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan

Title of Lecture: Obligation of Muslims in Ramadaan

Date of the Lecture: October 16, 2004

Listen to Lecture: Click Here

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here