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:

Assalam--allikum,

what is the value of vote in terms of Islam? what is the procedure to elect as leader in the eyes of Allah and his Propphet(saws)? How were the muslim leaders like Imams and Khalifa`s were elected? 

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Answer:

Significance of Vote in Islam/Procedure to elect Leader

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.

Your Question: what is the value of vote in terms of Islam?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura (Consultation) verse 38:

38 (The believers are) Those who hearken to their Lord and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation.

Islam has guided its believers to conduct their affairs, regardless of whether it concerns family or community matters, by mutual consultation.

Your Question: what is the procedure to elect as leader in the eyes of Allah and his Propphet(saws)?

Although Islam has not laid down a set or prescribed procedure to elect a leader amongst themselves for governance; any form or manifestation of consultation or election whereby the leader chosen or appointed is the choice of the majority of the people is acceptable in Islam.

It may be through direct election of the populace whereby the whole of the people vote; or it may be that the people appoint their leaders and they amongst them vote to choose a leader as in the ‘parliamentary form of election’; or it may be that the leaders of a community or tribe elect a leader amongst themselves. Any form of voting or election is acceptable in Islam provided the leader is the choice of the majority of the populace.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4573 Narrated by Awf ibn Malik

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God's blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and who hate you and whom you curse and who curse you.’ It was asked (by those present): ‘Shouldn't we overthrow them with the help of the sword, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?’ He (saws) said: ‘No, as long as they establish prayer among you. If you then find anything detestable in them, you should hate their administration, but do not withdraw yourselves from their obedience.’

Your Question: How were the muslim leaders like Imams and Khalifa`s were elected? 

In the times of the first generation of believers immediately after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws), was only one office of ‘Khalifah’ who served as the ‘Ameer-ul-Mumineen’ or ‘Leader of the believers’ politically as well as spiritually. It was only after the fitnah and mischief that arose in the Ummah after the murder of the 4^th Khalifah Ali ibn Abu Taalib (r.a.); that a ruling dynasty or kingdom was established in Damascus and soon after the political leadership and religious leadership became separated.

After the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws), the leaders of the Ansaar or residents of the city of Madinah, Hadrat Abu-Bakr and Hadrat Umar, etc. in consultation chose Hadrat Abu-Bakr (r.a.) as their first Khalifah.

After the death of Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.), Hadrat Umar (r.a.) was unanimously chosen and appointed as the 2^nd Khalifah by the companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

At the end of his reign, the 2^nd Khalifah Hadrat Umar (r.a.) appointed a group of seven eminent companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and ordered them to elect a leader amongst them to be the 3^rd Khalifah after his death. This team of these seven eminent and noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) chose Hadrat Uthman (r.a.) as the 3^rd Khalifah.

After the gruesome murder of Hadrat Uthman (r.a.), the believers in Makkah unanimously appointed Hadrat Ali (r.a.) as the 4^th Khalifah.

After the assassination of Hadrat Ali (r.a.) at the hands of the Kharijite Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Muljim, a great mischief in the Ummah arose regarding the appointment of their leader and subsequently the political leadership was assumed by the members of the Banu-Ummayyah tribe who were then based in Damascus, Syria. From then onwards, the political leadership was transferred as a kingdom from father to son until the Bany-Ummayids were overthrown by the Banu-Abbasids, who were subsequently overthrown by the Fatimids, who were overthrown by another, then another until the Ottomans took over the political leadership which lasted until the complete break-up of the Muslim Ummah political scenario which is witnessed today with each of the 56 muslim nations who have their own independent political leaders!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan