A wasted vote is a vote for genocide

Assalamualaikam

I suspect that my post won’t be allowed through by the moderators, or will be edited so as to make it minimise the points.

I have a great deal of respect for the shaykh, and all his Islamic learning. However, I think his understanding of the reality is flawed.

Democracy is a man-made system, meaning rule by the people for the people. It is not simply an electoral process. It is based on a philosophy alien to Islam

Thus it is contrary to Islam, because rule is for Allaah, the Most High, the Almighty, and many prominent shuyukh argue it is not permissible to give legislative rights to any human being, no matter who he is (as opposed to executive rights).

The democratic system is one of the modern forms of shirk, in terms of obedience and following, or legislation, as it denies the sovereignty of the Creator and His absolute right to issue laws, and ascribes that right to human beings.
Please see Surah Yusuf ayat 40 for example.

The democratic system and the ruling thereon, inherently consists of individuals and parties nominating themself or someone else (for election) and our voting is approving of this system, and is working with it. Many shuyukh say this is a grave danger, because the democratic system is contrary to Islam and approving of it and participating in it are actions that imply apostasy and being beyond the pale of Islam. If the honourable shaykh was being intellectually fair, he should really give a critique as to why they are wrong (many will be his own teacher), and not just rely on “public benefit” or “lesser of two evils”. By that logic, if the government agreed to stop all oppression against Muslims if we all had a shot of vodka each, then that would be fine.

Wr are not voting in a referendum on Gaza, with a single issue, no matter how important. Voting by an individual in a general election is for a manifesto. There are many parties calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, but looking at the whole of what you are voting for in the manifesto seems very contrary to Islam- the same parties are legalising drugs and alcohol; advocating sexual and gender changes contrary to Islam; are calling for Muslims to be allowed to change their religion without consequence; they are calling for secularising of education and our children. By voting for them, you patently cannot say I am voting a single policy you are advocatjng but disagree with everything else you will do when I get you into power with my vote. You are choosing them to go into parliament and fight for everything that they have stood for in their manifesto.

With all due respect to the Shaykh, there was no Islamic evidence given by the Shaykh as to why voting is wajib, and more wajib this year. The ayaat he quotes are the same that HT use, but come to opposite conclusion (I am not HT!). Our hearts bleed for Gazs, but was it not “more wajib” when the destruction and oppression of Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Kashmir, Xinjiang/East Turkistan, Central African Republic, Eritrea, are/were all being supported by the UK Government or they were being silent on?

What does the folleong hadith mean “If the people were killing one another, until Hajarat al-Zayt (an area of Madinah) were submerged in blood, what would you do? I said, Allah and His Messenger know best. He said, Stay in your house and lock the door. I asked, What if I am not left alone? He said, Then be one of them. I said, Should I take up my sword? He said, If you did that, you would be joining them in their activities. No – if you fear that the brightness of the shining sword will disturb you, then cover your face with part of your clothing, and let him carry his own sin and your sin. (Ahmad.) I am not advocating quietism and pacifism but that not every “lesser evil” needs to be chosen. But not every problem has an easy solution, and we need to know that Allaah SWT has a bigger plan in His Wisdom.

The mental gymnastics of an abstention of voting is more evil and a vote for genocide? No, that’s not correct. Why should I choose one liar over another, rather than saying they are all liars? Is my casting a vote the only way that I can show that I disagree with policy on Gaza? It is more powerful to go to the street and stand and call the oppressors out. The millions who marched for Gaza. The woman who threw milkshake on Nigel Farage has made a much more powerful statement on his xenophobia than her vote will have done. Non-violent public displays are more powerful than my vote amongst 100,000 other constituents. Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, vast majority who don’t believe in akirah, have made more of an impact with their direct action than their individual votes have. If the government can ignore the millions who marched for Gaza,and 20 years ago for Iraq, then with all due respect their realpolitik and lobbyists won’t give 2 hoots about your little secret vote, when the majority of the population are more engrossed by illegal migration, the collapse of the NHS and poverty. Welcome to real democracy.

Please do use some nuance in this discussion and please don’t drive Muslim communities apart by saying they are faasiq for not following your fatwa. I wish you the best. But there are many, many sincere imams and brothers/sisters who will not vote but will choose another path, so please don’t say they are sinful as they are worshipping Allaah SWT in a different way in regards to this issue.

Forgive me if I transgressed any bounds.