Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan,

Politics are used everywhere in every concern by everybody. What about religion should we use politics in religion or should we keep Islam clean of all Politics whatsoever?Sometimes its good Politics and sometimes its bad Politics of course in religious matters politics are also used but as Islam has given clear law & lifestyle why should one use politics in religion or not?

Best Regards

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why should one use Politics in religion?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If by politics, you mean wrangling to hold on to the chair or power,   or the lies and deception that goes along with it,  then politics must definitely be kept away from the deen.

But if by politics, you mean who should run the government and who should be authorized to make the laws,  then this should not be separated from the deen.  The government and all its laws must be under the laws of Islam.

Islam is such a complete guidance to life, that no aspect of the life of a believer is outside of the deen.   Be it individual,  be it collective,  be it economical,  be it family,  or be it government:  all aspects of life should be governed and superceded by Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself established an Islamic government in Medina,  and waged jihad against those who rebelled against the laws of Allah in government.   Only under Islam will there be peace,  justice and equality for all the subjects.   

But if we do not make Islam as the supreme government,  and the unscrupulous leaders only use the name of Islam to further their votes, and their cause, and their power-base,  instead of the Cause of Allah,  (which is precisely what is happening today in many so-called muslim countries);   there will be corruption, oppression,  fraud,  injustice and nepotism!   

The government should be under Islam, and not the other way around!   No aspect of the life of the believers, who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day,  should be without Islam:  be it individual or be it collective.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan