Fatwa On the PM, MPs, Mayors And Lords
Fatwa dated  March 9th, 2001

Question: What is the Islamic verdict regarding voting for man-made law or sharing power with man-made regimes or a so-called democratic system? What is the verdict for those Muslims who vote for Man-made Law e.g. Who Elect MPs, Mayors or a PM? What is the Islamic Verdict for a Muslim to become a PM, MP, Lord or Mayor of a Kufr regime or Man-made system? What is the Islamic Verdict for a Muslim involving him/herself in legislating?

Answer: There is no doubt that if a Muslim indulges in Kufr action such as ruling, legislating or judging by Kufr law (man-made law) then he/she will be considered to be an apostate (Murtadd).

However, in order to understand the divine rule regarding the above questions we must understand that the fundamental point of view of the west (i.e. the Capitalist ideology or Man-made ideology) is based on the detachment of religion (i.e. God) from life's affairs.
For the Capitalist ideology God may or may not be the creator however He is definitely not the commander, it is Caesar, the Prime Minister, the King, the President or the representative of the people. (i.e. it is man who legislates and commands).

The Capitalist ideology states that the principle of God or religion is an individualistic concept remote from the society. Religion for them is about a ritual or spiritual relationship with God whereas society concerns the relationship between people (i.e. economic, social and ruling systems etc.) managed by representatives of the people i.e. a state or an authority. Hence the famous saying [give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's] manifests the secular concept clearly. In other words: God mind your own business in the church or in the mosque and we will mind our own business in life's affairs i.e. Society.

In the Capitalist ideology God is usually represented by clergymen or charitable organisations, and man is usually represented by statesmen or political parties. One is not allowed to interfere with the other. Hence man in the west manages his own affairs and he is the one who satisfies his basic needs i.e. for food, shelter and clothing etc. and his instincts i.e. of procreation, reverence and survival how he wishes.

From this secular point of view emanates the idea of democracy, which defines that sovereignty and authority are for man since he is the source of legislation. This is manifested in the saying [The rule of the people, by the people, for the people] which is translated legally and practically into three types of authorities:

1- The Legislative Authority: which has the power to legislate and pass laws or to amend or repeal them and to monitor their execution.

2- The Executive Authority: which executes the laws and rules which have been legislated by the legislative authority.

3- The Judicial Authority: which involves courts and judges who pass verdicts in cases they judge according to what the legislative authority legislates.

This is the basis of the democratic system, a branch of the root, which is the detachment of religion from life's affairs. Hence whoever accepts the branch must necessarily accept the root from which it emanated implying acceptance of sovereignty for man in contradiction with Islam which is based on the fundamental principle that sovereignty, mastership and supremacy are for none but Allah (SWT) and that the only system which people are obliged to follow is the system which the final Messenger Muhammad (SAW) brought to mankind and which is manifested by embracing the words which make one a Muslim:

"I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is a Messenger of Allah".

This means that we pledge to worship, follow, obey and submit to none but Allah (SWT) and to follow no way of life or system different to that which the messenger Muhammad (SAW) brought. Whereas in the democratic system the people will follow and submit to their own whims and desires manifested in legislating law and order in their legislative parliaments.

God (SWT) has favoured us with Islam, and commanded us to implement it; He (SWT) has made Islam a unique way of life, a distinct pattern in terms of its concepts and rules, and a complete and comprehensive system engulfing all life's affairs.

God forbids us to keep disbelievers as friends let alone to share power with them. The divine evidence for this from the Quran is that God (swt) says:

"Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you (Muslims) unless thou follow their form of life and religion. Say: the guidance of God (Islam) is the only guidance. And were thou to follow their desires after the (Quran) which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper against God" [EMQ 2:120].

And Allah (swt) says:

" O' you who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your Deen (Islam): they will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs if you have wisdom" [EMQ 3:118].

Moreover Allah (swt) says:

" It is never the wish of non-Muslims of the people of the Book, nor of the Pagans that anything good should come to you from the Lord but God will choose for His special mercy whom He will, For God is Lord of grace abounding" [EMQ 2:105].

As for legislation, parliaments in general and particularly in Europe legislate non Islamic laws, and in many cases laws completely contradictory to Islam; they legislate laws and systems of unbelief (kufr), this action is forbidden by Islam. This in Islam is known as "Rububiyyah" (Lordliness). Allah (SWT) says:

"They take their priests and their rabbis to be their lords in derogation of Allah...." [EMQ 9:31].

Islam considers this as resorting to the rules of non-Islam in which we have been ordered to disbelieve. Allah (SWT) says:

"Have you not turned your vision to those who declare that they believe in the revelations that have come to you and to those before you? Their real wish is to resort together for Judgement in their disputes to the Taghoot (non-Islam) though they were ordered to reject it. But Satan's wish is to lead them astray far away (from the Right)." [EMQ 4:60].

This action is not the right path for believers, Allah (SWT) says:

"If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in hell - What an evil refuge." [EMQ 4:115].

Legislation has not been approved in Islam by any text of Shari'ah, so it is rejected, as narrated in the Hadith of Muslim on the authority of Ayesha: She said that the Prophet (SAW) said: " Whoever performs an action not ordered by us it is rejected".

As for giving a vote of confidence to rulers who are elected to implement these kufr laws, this is an approval or acceptance of other than what Allah (SWT) has decreed, and is a co-operation on Ithm (oppression) and Allah (SWT) has forbidden this for believers.

As for those who wish to become PM, Mps or Lords in order to take part in parliamentary business such as voting on any legislation (whether for or against) or giving the ruler a vote of confidence etc., this is totally forbidden and rejected; Muslims should not vote for them because it is a means that leads to forbidden ends (Haram) and helps and strengthens mischief, sin and wrongdoing. Islam has forbidden such actions for Allah (SWT) says:

"Help not one another in sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment" [EMQ 5:2].

The Sovereignty For none But Allah (SWT): For the Capitalist ideology the sovereignty and authority is for man and he is the legislator. But in Islam Allah (SWT) is the only Creator, Commander and Legislator.

The evidence for this is that Allah (SWT) says:

"The command is for none but Allah, He hath commanded that ye worship, follow, submit and obey none but Him; that is (Islam) the right religion, but most men understand not." [EMQ 12:40].

The above ayah states clearly that sovereignty is for Allah (SWT) and that the believers are obliged to worship, follow, submit and obey only Him by following nothing but His commands in all spheres of life i.e. ritual, personal, ruling, social, economic and international affairs. Moreover this verse nullifies the possibility of anyone claiming that we should follow what the majority decide because Allah (SWT) says: "...but most men understand not" and God in the Quran dispraises and condemns the majority who do not follow His commands. He warns us of being trapped or impressed by the opinion of the majority. He (SWT) says:

"The good and the evil (which have been decided by Allah) are not alike even if the evil looks like the good and is followed by the majority. So fear Allah, O ye that understand; that (so) ye may prosper." [EMQ 5:103]

And God makes it clear that none of His servants, believers or disbelievers is allowed to disagree or to be dissatisfied with His commands or decisions by His saying:

"The command is for none but Allah and no one can say otherwise." [EMQ 13:4].

Further, Allah (SWT) states:

"It is not allowed for a believer, male or female, if Allah and His messenger decide a matter to have any say." [EMQ 33:36]

God has thus decided the message of Al-Islam to be the dominant message and the confirmation of all messages before and the abrogation of them. Allah (SWT) says:

"The only Deen (belief or actions) Allah accepts (from the believers) is what is based on Islam." [EMQ 3:19].

And He (SWT) says:

"And whosoever follows or looks for a way different to the way of Islam God will never accept his deeds (even if it looks good) and he will be in the hereafter among those who have failed." [EMQ 3:85]

From the above verses it is clear that a Muslim has no choice but to abide by the command of God and to reject the commands of man. Under no circumstances can he accept the legislation of man nor can he participate in or promote man's law because Allah (SWT) says:

"Obey Allah, Obey the messenger and those (believers) in legitimate authority above you and If you face any dispute, problem or issue among yourselves refer it to God and His Messenger if you claim you are a believer." [EMQ 4:59]

Hence Allah (SWT) holds every responsible person (i.e. Al-Mukallaf) subject to be accounted for his/her deeds be they verbal or physical actions or transactions. Allah (SWT) says:

"By your Lord, (Oh Muhammad) I will account all of them about every deed." [EMQ 15:93].

Therefore, the Islamic Verdict concerning participating in legislative parliament and its functions as well as on the function of the members of such parliaments is Kufr action i.e. Apostacy. Whereas voting for, appointing or selecting candidates, PM, MPs or Lords is prohibited (i.e. Haram) and a sin. These are the Islamic Verdicts whatever the intention or the objective. Indeed the aim does not justify the means in Islam.



Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad
Judge of The Shari'ah Court of The UK