Jawed Anwar

Allah says in the Arabic Quran, meaning: 

And cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is severe in punishment. [Surah Al-Ma’idah (5):2]

Further, Allah says, meaning: 

You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are faithful, but most are rebellious. [Surah Ali ‘Imran (3):110]

Further, our main responsibility is stated as follows, meaning: 

“He has prescribed for you the Deen (system of life) which He enjoined upon Noah and which We revealed to you (O Muhammad), and which We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus, commanding: ‘Establish this Deen and do not split up regarding it.’ What you are calling to is very hard upon those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity. Allah chooses for Himself whomsoever He pleases and guides to Himself whoever penitently turns to Him.” [Surah Ash-Shura (42):13]

As the Muslim Ummah—a community—our prime roles and responsibilities are outlined in the above-mentioned ayahs of the Quran.

Allah, the Sovereign, the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe, has given us the laws to practice in both individual and public life, which includes politics and society. Therefore, we deny those institutions and bodies that make laws other than according to the guidance of God.

Allah says in the Arabic Quran, meaning: 

“And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are ˹truly˺ the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah (5):44] 

“And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are ˹truly˺ the wrongdoers.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah (5):45] 

“And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are the transgressors.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah (5):47]

The term used for those (individuals and institutions) who are disbelievers, wrongdoers, and transgressors is “Ṭāghūt” in Quranic terminology.

“We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, ‘Worship (obey) Allah and shun Ṭāghūt.’” [Surah An-Nahl (16):36]

Provincial & Federal Legislative Assemblies

If the elected lawmakers do not bind themselves to make laws in obedience to and according to the guidance of God, they play the role of Taghut.

The Canadian constitution begins with the words: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” However, this does not mean anything unless one obeys God in all spheres of life. Neither the rest of the constitution is according to the laws of God, nor are the lawmakers obeying God.

Therefore, participating in, contesting, supporting, or voting for legislative Provincial and Federal Assembly elections means engaging with and supporting Taghut.

Our position is clear on this issue, as I have already posted the article “Reviving Islamic Politics: Our Duty to Establish Deen and Reject Taghut.”

Hence, instead of involving ourselves in non-Islamic Taghuti politics, we should invite the Mala (مَلَأ—Arabic word)—the people who control power, political parties, political leaders, people of influence in all spheres of life, assemblies, councils, notables, chiefs, and the elite of society—towards Islam. The Prophets always invited the Mala first.

Dawah (inviting) to Islam is not merely a religious Dawah; it is a political Dawah. That is why Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon all of them) all started their Dawah by calling their Mala. Abraham went to the political power Nimrod, Moses went to the political power Pharaoh, Jesus went to the Roman rulers, and Muhammad ﷺ went to the elders of Quraysh and the leaders of all Arab tribes to invite them towards Islam. As followers of the last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ, until the Last Day, we must perform the same duty.

It does not matter where we are living or what our numbers are. It is a universal responsibility of all Muslims everywhere, even if there is only one Muslim.

We have to tell our Mala (the power) that the Islamic political system—based on Tauheed (oneness of God, human beings, and the universe), Risalah (the Prophet’s leadership and role model), and Shariah (laws based on the divine guidance of the Quran and Sunnah)—is far superior to liberalism, conservatism, democracy (mobocracy and majoritarianism), secularism, nationalism, capitalism, communism, leftism, rightism, and centrism.

The purpose of Shariah is to establish: 

1. Ḥurriyyah (freedom and liberty from all false gods—religious, social, cultural, and political), 
2. ʿAdl (justice, fairness, and balance), 
3. Amn (security and safety), 
4. Musāwāh (equality), 
5. Karāmat al-insān (human dignity), 
6. Takaful (mutual cooperation and shared responsibility to guarantee the basic needs of each person).

Muslims and non-Muslims should know and understand well that there is no Shariah in the so-called Islamic world. No constitution of the world is even closer to Shariah. Muslim and non-Muslim scholars should not misguide and misrepresent Islam and Shariah.

In the next article, I will discuss the non-legislative city municipal elections, recent election results, and Muslims’ voting, endorsements, and participation.

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