The Ruling on General and Tribal Elections in Kuwait
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What is the ruling on the elections that exist in Kuwait, considering that most of those who entered them from among the Muslims and the men of da'wah (calling to Islam) have become corrupt in their religion? Also, what is the ruling on the minor tribal elections that exist there, O Shaykh?
I see that elections are obligatory. We must appoint those whom we see to be good, because if the people of good neglect this, who will take their place? The people of evil, or the passive people who have neither good nor evil, who follow every barking dog. So we must choose whom we see to be righteous. If someone says: "We chose one, but most of the council is contrary to that,"We say: There is no harm. If Allah puts blessing in that one person and he speaks the word of truth in that council, it will have an impact, and it must. But we lack sincerity with Allah. We rely on material, tangible matters and do not look to the word of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). What do you say about Musa (peace be upon him) when Pharaoh asked him for a time to bring all the magicians, and Musa appointed him the morning of the Day of Adornment—The Day of Adornment is: The day of the festival; because people adorn themselves on the day of the festival—in the fourth hour of the day, not at night, in a level place. So the world gathered,So Musa (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: [Ta-Ha:61] One word became a bomb,Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [Ta-Ha:62] The fatha indicates sequence, succession, and causality. From the moment he said this word, they disputed among themselves regarding their matter. And when people dispute, it is failure,As Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Anfal:46] [Ta-Ha:62] .
And the result was that these magicians who came to oppose Musa became with him. They prostrated to Allah,And they declared: [Ta-Ha:70] And Pharaoh was before them. The word of truth from one person had an impact before a great nation whose leader was the most tyrannical ruler.
So I say: Even if we assume that the parliament does not have but a small number of people of truth and correctness, they will be beneficial. But they must be sincere to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).As for the saying: It is not permissible to participate in the parliament, nor to associate with the open sinners, nor to sit with them.Do we say: Do we sit to agree with them? We sit with them to clarify the truth to them.
Some of the brothers from among the scholars of knowledge said: Participation is not permissible. Because this upright man sits with the deviant man. Did this upright man sit to become deviant, or to straighten the crooked? Yes, to straighten the crooked and correct it. If he does not succeed this time, he will succeed the next time.
The questioner: .
The minor tribal elections, O Shaykh! The answer: It is all one thing. Always nominate whom you see to be the best, and rely upon Allah.
I see that elections are obligatory. We must appoint those whom we see to be good, because if the people of good neglect this, who will take their place? The people of evil, or the passive people who have neither good nor evil, who follow every barking dog. So we must choose whom we see to be righteous. If someone says: "We chose one, but most of the council is contrary to that,"We say: There is no harm. If Allah puts blessing in that one person and he speaks the word of truth in that council, it will have an impact, and it must. But we lack sincerity with Allah. We rely on material, tangible matters and do not look to the word of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). What do you say about Musa (peace be upon him) when Pharaoh asked him for a time to bring all the magicians, and Musa appointed him the morning of the Day of Adornment—The Day of Adornment is: The day of the festival; because people adorn themselves on the day of the festival—in the fourth hour of the day, not at night, in a level place. So the world gathered,So Musa (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them:
Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents [such falsehood]."
وَيْلَكُمْ لا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِباً فَيُسْحِتَكُمْ بِعَذَابٍ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَىSo they disputed over their affair among themselves
فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْand do not dispute and [thus] lose courage
وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُواSo they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.
فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَىAnd the result was that these magicians who came to oppose Musa became with him. They prostrated to Allah,And they declared:
We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."
آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَىSo I say: Even if we assume that the parliament does not have but a small number of people of truth and correctness, they will be beneficial. But they must be sincere to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).As for the saying: It is not permissible to participate in the parliament, nor to associate with the open sinners, nor to sit with them.Do we say: Do we sit to agree with them? We sit with them to clarify the truth to them.
Some of the brothers from among the scholars of knowledge said: Participation is not permissible. Because this upright man sits with the deviant man. Did this upright man sit to become deviant, or to straighten the crooked? Yes, to straighten the crooked and correct it. If he does not succeed this time, he will succeed the next time.
The questioner: .
The minor tribal elections, O Shaykh! The answer: It is all one thing. Always nominate whom you see to be the best, and rely upon Allah.