The Lawfulness of Elections and Participating in Them

Question:
He says: It is not hidden what is happening in the lands of the Muslims regarding what is called elections. What is your advice regarding their lawfulness and participating in them?

Answer:
Elections are not part of the system of Islam. The system of Islam is that the people of authority and decision (ahl al-hall wa al-'aqd) choose their ruler. The people of authority and decision are the leaders, and the rest of the subjects and the community follow them. The rest of the subjects and the community follow the people of authority and decision. Or, the ruler appoints a successor who is qualified for the matter, and obedience to him in that is obligatory, just as Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, and they accepted this and did not object to it. This is the system of Islam in choosing the ruler: either the ruler specifies a successor and appoints him, or, if the imam has not specified a successor, the people of authority and decision from among the scholars and people of opinion choose whoever is qualified for it, and the rest of the subjects follow them. This is the system of Islam. Yes.