Do Arab Muslims think that American Muslims should participate in American politics?

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Just me

Theres different views on this. So its hard to say really. IF I remember correctly Ibn Uthaimeen ( May Allah have mercy on his soul ) talked about the lesser evil thing.

When you're in Saudi you can just phone the Mufti or the well known scholars and ask what they think. I dont think its something that has been discussed deeply in Saudi, but it has been talked about for sure.

Chances are you'll find different opinions, I may be wrong though as its a topic I havent looked into in a loooong time.

Im not sure but chances are QSS ( Quran and Sunnah Society ) might have the same opinion as they do in Saudi.

The people at ICNA might have a different opinion.

Opinions in Saudi I think would be the same as the opinion of at least one of the two.

~ Noora ~

"vote for the lesser evil" is a "ye old" thing by some people who are trying to encourage muslims to vote and the wiser ones will resist and not to vote at all

i am not an Arab muslim but according to the ulema, there are no excuses like who can vote and who can not

i have a printed fatwa and ahadeeth about voting and i can not link them now

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=3062&ln=eng&txt=voting

Adam

I follow the opinion that in general voting in a non muslim country is not correct....I am an muslim american, and u know that ISNA endorsed GW Bush when he first ran...so we can thank the voting muslims for the war in Iraq? I dont know, but I cant in good faith vote for any of the 3 candidates, they all support Tel Aviv and none has promised to get out of Iraq immediately. They all support legal alcohol, pornorgraphy, etc....sooooo "let us not help one another in sin or aggression" I do vote on local level....where the issues are paving the streets, zoning etc....

I dont care to be called Ignorant Mintee....I am following the opinion of Legitimate and recognized scholars. Not issuing some fatwa of my own that None here are qualified to do....I am a Veteran (disabled one at that) I have more right to vote as I served my country for 9 years. Having said that, I did not participate in the 1st gulf war, and I had I still been in the Army at this time I would surely have resigned. I suppose you think its ok also to be a muslim in the US Army now? I served in the military when communisim was the threat (which it still is) so before you 'h' give fatwas, and call other people ignorant, you ought to check what the SCHOLARS say. You want to follow a different opinion, thats fine, but how dare you call me igonorant for doing the same thing. Allah knows best

The ulama forbid voting, since all governments not under shariah are seen as false states and voting was never part of shariah, so to encourage voting is Bid'ah and shirk

Ashraf

Of course they should vote. They are American citizens and have the right (and also the obligation) to express their opinions and share in political life. It is both a right and a duty.

There appears to be no evidence from Qur'an or Sunnah that voting is haram. The only evidence put forward that I have seen from the Sunnah that voting is haram is the fact that Muhammad :saw: refused to participate in the qureishi system in Mecca. in fact this example is grossly misleading as Muhammad :saw: was in fact offered a place in the system as a bribe, to make him renounce Islam. They were trying to silence him. This is not analagous to voting or standing in an election as a Muslim candidate. It is analagous to being offered a seat in the House of Lords (or any similar house of non-elected leaders) in return for renouncing Islam. It is perfectly possible for Muslims to vote in and stand in elections in non Muslim countries as Muslims and for Islamic parties (even if you have to start one up yourself). Therefore it is NOT the same situation that Muhammad :saw: was in in Macca when he was offered a place in their system.

In addition there are many examples of Muhammad :saw: co-operating with all kinds of non Muslims, and groups of non Muslims (Christians, Pagans and Jews) so I don't see how anyone can argue that participating in an election is wrong.

It is ALSO a sin to make something haram when in fact it is halal. And as I have yet to see any evidence that voting is haram, saying that it is haram would be committing a sin. In fact this is a very serious sin, similar to shirk. There are many verses in the Qur'an that says this for example 5:90-91, 16:116, 10:59, and several others.

In addition, it is obligatory on Muslims to do whatever is within their power to to fight against evil. "If you cannot fight against evil, then you must speak out against it, if you cannot speak out against it then you must make dua." (hadith)

Voting is a way of speaking out against evil if you use your vote to attempt to elect a candidate that is anti capitalist/anti USA/Israel. Even if the candidate does not get elected, you have taken the opportunity to speak out against capitalism and USA/Israel. Demonstrating is also a way of speaking out against these things, as are consumer boycotts.

Could not have it better explained I say: yes, American Muslims should participate in American politics.

Take care.

ameen(out for long time)

Yes indeed!

1. You are an American and you represent part of the community. You should have voices in the government. It is not only about voting, but to have someone in the government that represent muslim opinions.

2. To involve in the politics, means to have influence. It should be for the good, no matter how small it is.

3. Let me take you one step back. I remember a friend of mine in the US, he used to say, Muslims should live there, breed there and migrate there. US is such a big power and big influence and it is impacting us in our daily life. We cannot afford to be enemies with it and leave it to the bad guys (zionists). I rather have voice in it, and have positive influence on its politics.

searchforthetruth007

Voting is not haraam on it's own. Voting in an non-Islamic govt is what is *haraam*. There is no Islamic state now so we should not vote. Lesser of two evils, Hahahaha - I have to laugh. This is not an Islamic stance on the matter. Here is more info on ruling by other than Islam and taking part in non-Islamic govt:

Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
And it is known by necessity in the Deen of the Muslims and by the agreement of all the Muslims that whoever follows a Sharee'ah other than the Sharee'ah of Muhammad then he is a Kaafir and it is like the Kufr of the one who believes in some of the Book and disbelieves in some of the Book." –"Al-Fataawa", Vol. 28/ 524

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer said:
"So whoever leaves the clear Sharee'ah, which was revealed to Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, the Seal of the Prophets, and takes the Hukm to other than it from the laws of Kufr which are abrogated, he has disbelieved. So what about the one who takes the Hukm to the 'Yasaaq' (the law of the Tartars which mixed Sahree'ah rulings with invented rulings) and puts it before it?! Whoever does that, he has disbelieved by the Ijmaa' of the Muslims."
– "Al-Bidaayah wa Nihaayah", Vol. 13/ 119

Shaikh Saalih al-Fowzaan said:
"So whoever takes the Hukm to other than the legislation of Allaah from all of the institutions and the man-made laws, then has taken the implicators of these laws and the ones who rule with them as partners with Allaah in his legislation. He, ta'ala said: 'Or do they have partners who have legislated for them what Allaah has not allowed? ' And He said: 'And if you obeyed them, then you are Mushrikeen. '
– "Al-Irshaad ila'Saheeh Al-' Atiqaad ", Vol. 1/ 72

And then again, after narrating what Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer wrote concerning the Tartar's and "Al-Yasiq", he said, "And the likes of the law that he mentioned from the Tartars, and judged upon with Kufr, those who put in the place of the Islaamic Sharee'ah, are the fabricated laws, which have – in our time – been established as sources of laws in many countries and the Islaamic Sharee'ah has been disregarded in favor of them except in what they call 'personal matters'."
– "Al-Irshaad ila'Saheeh Al-' Atiqaad ", Vol. 1/ 74

jo n jo

hello i am Syrian ( Arab Muslim ) I lived in Saudi Arabia for more than 19 years.
Voting is not haram and those who consider it haram need to read more and re-thought.
it is a must that American Muslims vote because as you stated we much chose the least evil one.

Mintee

I do.. I register with the american consulate and vote..
I cannot sit back and complain if I didnt exercise my right to vote..
I also write to my congressmen and complain on things I feel strongly about..
I also have a few other american-arab friends here in saudi that also vote.. We are more than you think..
I also applaud muslim americans inside USA who are taking part in politics and running for office...
OH.. and if you think.. "I can thank the voting muslims in America for the war".. thats just ignorant.. Not all voting muslims voted for BUSH.. I certainly didnt.. and if more muslim americans voted and voted against the war.. then at least we are showing a stand.. I think every vote counts.. we cant sit back and complain if we didnt vote.. So YES.. do vote...

kool dude

i would say that its a personal choice to vote and they should vote

i am a muslim living here in ksa from 16 years but NOT an arab

Sulaiman2nd

sure

BT in SA

Judging by many of the answers you've been given so far, I hope that American Muslims won't vote!

If you are "anti capitalist/anti USA" you should NOT be in the United States. You need to go back to wherever it was you came from and be happy with that way of life. You are undeserving of our way of life and do NOT belong in the United States of America.

As Americans, we have bent over backwards to become a diverse nation and to allow you to do as you wish - which is much, much more than I can say about many of the countries from which Arabs came from. Can you worship who and where you wish in Saudi Arabia? No. Are you allowed all the freedoms in Saudi Arabia that you are in America? Absolutely not. If you are Muslim and follow your faith you are against much, much more than you are for in the United States, but you have the freedom to do as you wish. Try having the freedom to do as you wish in most Arab countries - and although I cannot speak for all of them - I have lived in Saudi Arabia for five years [and have been to Bahrain, Dubai, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar] - I know that I am not afforded anywhere near the freedoms here that I am allowed in America.

To those who choose this viewpoint, "Even if the candidate does not get elected, you have taken the opportunity to speak out against capitalism and USA [sic]," you really need to go and find another country to live in where you can live without the freedom to even have a say by voting!

wewantjustice

yes they have to participate, sur they r american too and have same rights so why can't they participate

cajunbaby

they need to vote i think everyone should have to vote

Lebanese Cheese

All the arab muslims I know only want obama to win cuz
#1) he's not white or blue eyed
#2) he has some islam background
#3) his middle name is hussein

They dont care about this country, they just want the darkest, closest thing to islam.

Bug Fuggy

I'm an American Muslim and I'm also Republican. Issues go far beyond if Israel is being supported or not for me. Just as with any candidate there are many issues they stand for and oppose not just one and you have to wade through them to see who is the candidate that represents your beliefs most. Republicans are dominated by Christians as Democrats get a majority of Jewish vote. So if one is deciding on who to vote for based simply on Jews then they mine as well not even vote and keep their mouths shut. I side with Republicans not because of Jews, but because their beliefs as far as morality, values, family, personal responsibility, pro-life, etc. represent my beliefs. If I was to side with Democrats simply because they are not as pro Israel as Republicans is silly to me. Some can argue about Republicans being for a war against Muslims...but that's where they're wrong. They are not for war against Muslims, they are warring against dictators and evil men. This is not Christians vs. Muslims. I'm not going to sit here and say "Leave a dictator in place who is making millions suffer because if we take him down some will die." That's war. It happens in every war and there's no avoiding it and should be expected.

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