What is the ruling on elections if among the candidates are those described as good and righteous?
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The Shaykh : Yes. Yasar, no... until it is your turn, my brother, the one who raised his hand... the last one... if Allah wills, either today or the day after tomorrow. Yes.
The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the ruling on the elections that exist in Kuwait, considering that most of those who entered them from among the Muslims and men of da'wah (calling to Islam) were fitnah (trials) in their religion? Also, what is the ruling on the tribal local elections that exist there, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I see that elections are obligatory. We must appoint those we see to have goodness in them, because if the people of goodness neglect this, who will take their place? Answer: If the people of goodness neglect this, who will take their place?
The questioner : ... ordinary people
The Shaykh : The people of evil, or the passive people who have neither good nor evil, followers of every caller. We must choose whom we see to be righteous.
So if someone says, "We chose one person, but most of the council is opposed to that," we say: he does not oppose. If Allah places barakah (blessing) in this one person and he speaks the word of truth in this council, it will have an impact; it will have an impact, and it must. But what is lacking in us is truthfulness 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 made an appointment with him, or asked him for a time to attend with all the magicians? Musa appointed them at midday on the Day of Adornment. The Day of Adornment is the day of the festival, because people adorn themselves on it. Midday in the fourth part of the day, not at night. In the fourth part of the day, are matters hidden or revealed? Revealed. A place, level, with no trees or in... or anything. The world gathered, and Musa (peace and blessings be upon him) said to them:[Taha 20:61] One word became a bomb. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Taha 20:62] The fā' indicates sequence, succession, and causality. From the day 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 8:46] They disputed among themselves regarding their matter and whispered in secret. And the result was that these magicians who came to oppose Musa became with him. They threw themselves prostrate to Allah and declared: [Taha 20:70] And Pharaoh was before them. The word of truth had an impact, coming from one person before a great nation whose leader was the most arrogant one.
So I say, even if we assume that the parliament does not have except a small number of the people of truth and correctness, they will be beneficial. But they must be truthful with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the saying that it is not permissible to participate with the fasiq (open sinner) or to sit with them, do we say we sit with them to agree with them? We sit with them to clarify the truth to them. Did you understand? I say some of the brothers from the people of [knowledge] said, "Participation is not permissible because this upright man sits with a deviant man." Did this upright man sit to become deviant? Answer?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Why do you exclude? Or do you not have knowledge? This upright man in parliament has a deviant person next to him. Did this upright man sit next to the deviant to become deviant? Or to straighten the crooked? Yes, to straighten the crooked and correct it. If he does not succeed this time, he succeeds the second time.
The questioner : Tribal elections...
The Shaykh : It is all one thing. Absolutely. Nominate whom you see to be better and rely upon Allah.
The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the ruling on the elections that exist in Kuwait, considering that most of those who entered them from among the Muslims and men of da'wah (calling to Islam) were fitnah (trials) in their religion? Also, what is the ruling on the tribal local elections that exist there, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I see that elections are obligatory. We must appoint those we see to have goodness in them, because if the people of goodness neglect this, who will take their place? Answer: If the people of goodness neglect this, who will take their place?
The questioner : ... ordinary people
The Shaykh : The people of evil, or the passive people who have neither good nor evil, followers of every caller. We must choose whom we see to be righteous.
So if someone says, "We chose one person, but most of the council is opposed to that," we say: he does not oppose. If Allah places barakah (blessing) in this one person and he speaks the word of truth in this council, it will have an impact; it will have an impact, and it must. But what is lacking in us is truthfulness 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 made an appointment with him, or asked him for a time to attend with all the magicians? Musa appointed them at midday on the Day of Adornment. The Day of Adornment is the day of the festival, because people adorn themselves on it. Midday in the fourth part of the day, not at night. In the fourth part of the day, are matters hidden or revealed? Revealed. A place, level, with no trees or in... or anything. The world gathered, and 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]."
ويلكم لا تفتروا على الله كذبا فيسحتكم بعذاب وقد خاب من افترىSo they disputed over their affair among themselves
فتنازعوا أمرهم بينهمand do not dispute and [thus] lose courage
ولا تنازعوا فتفشلواWe have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."
آمنّا بربّ هارون وموسىSo I say, even if we assume that the parliament does not have except a small number of the people of truth and correctness, they will be beneficial. But they must be truthful with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the saying that it is not permissible to participate with the fasiq (open sinner) or to sit with them, do we say we sit with them to agree with them? We sit with them to clarify the truth to them. Did you understand? I say some of the brothers from the people of [knowledge] said, "Participation is not permissible because this upright man sits with a deviant man." Did this upright man sit to become deviant? Answer?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Why do you exclude? Or do you not have knowledge? This upright man in parliament has a deviant person next to him. Did this upright man sit next to the deviant to become deviant? Or to straighten the crooked? Yes, to straighten the crooked and correct it. If he does not succeed this time, he succeeds the second time.
The questioner : Tribal elections...
The Shaykh : It is all one thing. Absolutely. Nominate whom you see to be better and rely upon Allah.