My simple answer to that is a resounding YES.
No matter whether your religion is a minority religion or a majority religion. Voting, to me, is like being asked to tell the truth, as you believe it is, in a court of law. If you are asked to testify, you are supposed to be there giving your testimony.
One of many concerns about the state of the Muslim communities that I lived in in the US, is that political activism, and even political participation, is looked at with some suspicion. There is always that cloud of uncertainty whether it is OK or not - religiously speaking.
Recently, a stupid email was circulated to many St. Louis Muslims by a fringe - and in my opinion, lunatic - group making a bold statement that voting is Haram, i.e., strongly prohibited on religious basis.
What a stupid idea, and what kind of a stupid group spreads an idea like that?
To my joy, the Friday sermon given my Imam Mihajuddin Ahmed in the Weidman Mosque a little over a week ago, brought the voting issue to the forefront in the largest weekly gathering of Muslims in St. Louis.
I do not have the transcript of the sermon, but from the many friends that attended it - and were euphoric about its content and message - the sermon highlighted that it is NOT religiously forbidden to vote. He actually encouraged Muslims to vote, stressing that they need to learn about all the issues, weigh both the likely benefits and possible harms - to both the Muslim community as well as the American society as a whole - resulting from the success of one or the other parties or candidates. Then, they need to vote their conscience. He also encouraged them NOT to be 'one-issue voters'.
It is difficult to overestimate the impact of statements like that by the most significant religious figure in St. Louis Muslim community.
Traditionally, many of the Friday sermons, shy away from 'iffy' subjects. I am happy that Imam Minhajuddin broke away from that tradition. I am praying that all those who are in a position of giving Friday sermons make similar efforts to awaken the spirit political participation, activism and volunteerism in the Muslim community. Muslim will not have a real impact in the USA until they are part of the political system.
As I mentioned to a group of friends in an email "one cannot be neutral in political elections. You may not agree with one side one hundred percent. But if you do not vote, you are automatically voting for the party or candidate that you think is more harmful."
Not voting for whom you think is the least harmful, is an automatic vote for the more harmful.Do not kid yourself. There is not way to stay neutral. Whether you go to your voting precinct and cast a ballot or not, you are voting.
Khaled
salaam,
ReplyDelete- "Is voting a religious duty?
My simple answer to that is a resounding YES."
Is this not also a BOLD statement, similar to what you indicated regarding the statement of the other group? ("...group making a bold statement that voting is Haram").
The ruling of prohibition in regards to this issue is ruled after weighing certain points. As the respected Imam (may Allah increase him & his family in piety and knowledge) highlighted through his discourse on the issue of voting, people often forget Allah when voting. Often complete trust and honor is put upon the one who is being voted, as if he is the savior (such as MuslimDemocrats website, which I think is ridiculous for a few reasons). We saw this happen with George Bush 8 yrs ago: unheralded support, fliers/blogs/booths in support of Bush, and only now we see the extreme consequences of that choice (nationally and internationally). As long as the conditions mentioned by Ulama (like the Imam mentioned) stands, then voting has a check. However, it is still not a religious duty.
- "Voting, to me, is like being asked to tell the truth, as you believe it is, in a court of law. If you are asked to testify, you are supposed to be there giving your testimony."
How does that analogy stand? Voting is more of "What is your conjecture on this candidate?", key word being "conjecture". It does not equate to a testimony.
-"One of many concerns about the state of the Muslim communities that I lived in in the US, is that political activism, and even political participation, is looked at with some suspicion."
And how can it not? When we are in a land not governed by ideal Islamic laws, we should take every step with great caution after careful analysis. Political participation often implies acceptance of certain political doctrines (usually of democracy) which are not in line with proper Muslim views on politics. As the Imam gave conditions to be upheld when voting, we have to be suspicious of ourselves and intentions. Are we really doing our part properly, with the proper intention (niyyah), proper methodology, fully following Islamic guidelines, etc. It is very easy to say yes we are doing it properly, but when these guidelines have not even occurred to us, let alone us asking the Scholars of Islam for the guidelines, how can we be so sure? Things like this will always, as they should, be approached with suspense.
- "I am praying that all those who are in a position of giving Friday sermons make similar efforts to awaken the spirit political participation, activism and volunteerism in the Muslim community."
How about awakening the spirit of Islam? and the Sunnah? and the Shariah? and activism to run our masaajid and so-called "Islamic" conventions by the Shariah? The Muslim community is not at loss due to lack of the above you mentioned, but rather our roots of Shariah and Sunnah, love of Allah and his Messenger (s), which if truly upheld would have an effect on every aspect of life, from ibadah to sincerity, family life to political activism, etc.
- "Muslim will not have a real impact in the USA until they are part of the political system."
This is often the greatest misunderstanding of Muslims. How can Muslims have a Muslim-impact in the U.S. when we do not act Muslim? Our worship of Allah, our interaction with humanity, is not in line with the Sunnah? Activism, participation, this and that will not have an effect unless there is some effect behind it. Only Allah puts in the effect, which in turn gives it meaning. We need to truly re-analyze what drives us, what motivates us to act the way we do, to say what we say. And the proof for that is our excitement when it comes to voting and other issues of what is referred to as activism and participation, compared to our lack of excitement in our basic tenets as Muslims (i.e. submitters to Allah).
Jazakumullahu Khair for allowing me to share my thoughts.
-salaam