Is it not possible for all these parties, which are fighting for power in Somalia, to agree that each party nominates one person? Let us suppose there are

The questioner : A question comes to mind that follows from the answer you gave to the first question. You mentioned that these various, multiple pledges of allegiance that follow the parties increase the fire of the Fire and intensify the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The question that comes to mind is: Is it not possible for all these parties, which are fighting for power in Somalia, to agree? It is also regrettable that this partisanship has begun to appear in all Muslim lands, with each party appearing as if it is the truth and the most deserving of seizing or dominating responsibility. So we say, the question is: Is it not possible for these people to reconcile, or to agree among themselves that each party nominates one person? Let us suppose there are five or six parties, and each party nominates one of them, and then they hold elections as is done in Muslim lands, and the one who gets the most votes is the one who is given authority. Is it not possible for this to happen, if it is permissible in the Shari'ah?

The Shaykh : I say, and success is from Allah, the answer in brief is: It is not possible. Because, as the scholars of jurisprudence say: "What is built upon a defective foundation is itself defective." The system of elections that exists today, as you mentioned in some Islamic countries, is a foreign system to Islam. Even if some Muslims in some countries practice it, that is what applies to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . They said: The Jews and the Christians? He said: . The system established in the lands of disbelief is not based on the Book and the Sunnah. It is a system based on the choice of the people, or the people who will be ruled by a ruler from among them. This people, like all people, have the righteous and the wicked among them, the disbeliever and the believer, and the believers are few. So the system of election includes all of them, even the open sinners and the wicked, and even the wicked women who commit zina (unlawful sexual intercourse). All of these people intervene in the election process. What is the value of this election that is built on the shoulders of the most corrupt people? Islam does not have this kind of general election among them. Rather, it is as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: . Here, we must seize this opportunity that has presented itself to us to return to the previous discussion: , . This is a text in the Noble Qur'an. Do we apply it as we wish, or do we apply it as the Salaf (the earliest generations) applied it? If we are truly Salafis, we must apply it as the Salaf applied it. The Salaf did not know this election that you have mentioned some details of, which includes the believer and the disbeliever, the righteous and the wicked, and so on. Rather, their command was shura (consultation) among the people of expertise, the people of knowledge, the people of opinion, and the people of intellect. And the Salafi reality also shows that there is no woman in the shura council that the ruler consults regarding the incidents that may befall the Muslims, as is the case with the election mentioned earlier, which is not only defective but invalid. Therefore, the election asked about earlier, where a person is chosen from this party and a person from that party, and then these people agree on a person they choose as a ruler over this region or that region, is invalid. The root of the problem, in my opinion, is that the Muslims have turned away from the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in establishing the Muslim state. Now, the Muslims are divided into many sects, parties, and groups, and very many indeed. These people must concern themselves with knowledge, understanding the Book and the Sunnah, and practical application. And with great regret, we do not exclude any people or any government that rules a people. This people must raise themselves on the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This upbringing helps them to respond to such as His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): .