BENEFIT 143: Voting is Haraam!

This question coming from our Indian brothers in the state of Kerala, relates to the view of Sheikh Wasiullah Abbas Al-Hindi, who asserts that every single Muslim must vote in the elections in India. What advice do you have for Muslims in India in general and for our Salafi brothers in particular? Sheikh Abu Amr AbdulKareem Al-Hajoori: The answer (is as follows): If this statement came from a layman, they would be criticised, let alone a knowledgeable sheikh, teacher, and instructor. Moreover, our Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, says, { وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَیۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡـُٔولࣰا } "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned." [Surah Al-Isrāʾ: 36] Additionally, in the authentic hadith, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent." Elections are prohibited due to the many evidences and the numerous violations it contains, such as the fact that it comes from the disbelievers, and our Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, says, {یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ بِطَانَةࣰ مِّن دُونِكُمۡ لَا یَأۡلُونَكُمۡ خَبَالࣰا وَدُّوا۟ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ قَدۡ بَدَتِ ٱلۡبَغۡضَاۤءُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَ ٰ⁠هِهِمۡ وَمَا تُخۡفِی صُدُورُهُمۡ أَكۡبَرُ} "O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater." [Surah Āli-ʿImrān: 118] Voting is part and parcel of the Kufri democratic system. Democracy is disbelief! It entails equality between the knowledgeable and the ignorant, and our Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, says, {قُلۡ هَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِینَ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ} "Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'" [Surah Az-Zumar: 9] It entails equality between the Muslim and the disbeliever, and Allah the Almighty says, {لَیۡسُوا۟ سَوَاۤءࣰ} "They are not equal." [Surah Āli-ʿImrān: 113] It entails equality between men and women, and Allah says, {وَلَیۡسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ} "But the male is not like the female." [Surah Āli-ʿImrān: 36] It contains numerous violations. A number of scholars have written about its numerous violations. It is sufficient that it comes from the disbelievers. It is sufficient that it was not present during the time of the Companions, nor during the time of the Successors, nor during the time of the Salaf, so this suffices. To make matters worse, they will be voting for a disbeliever. If they were voting for a Muslim, these elections would not be permissible due to the many violations we have mentioned. So how about if the one being voted for is a Hindu disbeliever who worships cows?! {سَتُكۡتَبُ شَهَـٰدَتُهُمۡ وَیُسۡـَٔلُونَ} "Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned." [Surah Az-Zukhruf: 19] This is an oppressive fatwa. It is not permissible. He must fear Allah and repent from this. What was required from him was to advise them to fear Allah and hold onto the religion of Allah, and to tell them that they are in a land where Islam is strange, and that whoever can migrate should migrate, and whoever cannot should adhere to his religion, and to remind them of the evidences regarding adherence, patience, and perseverance. {وَمَن یَتَّقِ ٱللهَ یَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ مَخۡرَجࣰا * { وَیَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَحۡتَسِبُ} "And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out * and provide for him from ways unimaginable." [Surah Aṭ-Ṭalāq: 2 - 3]