Why is the appointment of the imam not done by shura (consultation) instead of being imposed?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The Shaykh ... the people choose the imam through teaching and learning ... a cultured person? So is it from the perspective that the imam is imposed on them by force, or is there someone who ... there is no role in the councils, meaning they elect him, meaning so that all the people participate in that?
The Shaykh : Fine, may Allah reward you. This is good, but what if three-quarters of the country are communists and the communists choose him!
The questioner : No, we do not put communists in place; they should not be there. We put Muslims in place.
The Shaykh : They do not obey you in the country, do they? As long as the matter is by election, go ahead, be more steadfast than me, and I will be more steadfast than you.
The Shaykh : Fine, may Allah reward you. This is good, but what if three-quarters of the country are communists and the communists choose him!
The questioner : No, we do not put communists in place; they should not be there. We put Muslims in place.
The Shaykh : They do not obey you in the country, do they? As long as the matter is by election, go ahead, be more steadfast than me, and I will be more steadfast than you.