The reality of Islamic political parties
18-8-2011 | IslamWeb
Question:
What is your view on joining an Islamic party?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It should be known that Muslims have to be a united Ummah (nation) and that disagreement that leads to hatred and disunity is prohibited. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful. And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.} [Quran 3:104, 105]
There is no doubt that the reality of many Islamic political parties is bitter and has involved several violations of the Sharee‘ah, in addition to the severing of relations, enmity, hatred, cunning and other evils that contradict the aims of the Sharee‘ah.
Therefore, joining an Islamic party requires due deliberation, that is to say, if the party adopts the methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa‘ah (the Sunni mainstream) in terms of creed, thought, behavior and manners, and follows Sharee‘ah-approved means in Da‘wah (Islamic propagation) and works for Islam, then it is permissible to join it as a form of cooperation in working for good. However, it should not lead to fanatic adherence to names and mottos, or drawing allegiance and disassociation for the sake of the party. Instead, brotherhood must be for whoever obeys Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and follows the way of the believers. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Your ally is none but Allaah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give Zakah, and they bow [in worship]. And whoever is an ally of Allaah and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allaah - they will be the predominant.} [Quran 5:55, 56]
If the party adopts a devious ideology that contradicts the methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa‘ah, then joining it is prohibited because this is considered a violation of the commandments of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and a means of following the devil's ways instead. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.} [Quran 6:153]
Allaah Knows best.