Provincial council election and Sri Lankan Muslims: some reflections

(Dr Rifai Naleemi.UK)

                    The provincial council election is around the corner in some parts of Sri Lanka and as usual people are getting ready to vote this time. There have been some arguments about Muslim participation in this election. Unlike in the past Muslims are fade up this time to vote with any enthusiasm not because Muslims have no interest in politics rather recent anti-Muslim propaganda made to keep away from this government.  They feel that Muslim community is being systematically marginalised by this government wittingly or unwittingly. Some Muslims feel that they should totally boycott this election.  Some others feel that they should go to voting centres and invalidate their votes as a protest against this government. Some others feel that they should all vote for UNP candidates as a protest vote.  Some others feel that voting is haram that we should totally avoid take parting in this sort of election in this Non-Muslim country.  When we were children we were advised by some clerics that voting for a kufr system is Haram and should avoid as much as possible. Yet, I do respect different of opinions on this issue and it is personal choice of people. It is democratic rights of people whether to vote to not to vote.   

                 It has been argued whether it is permissible to vote in a non- Islamic country such as ours. It has been extensively debate in Islamic legal discourse about this subject. Some Islamic scholars say that it is permissible to vote in Non-Islamic countries while others say it is not permissible to vote or participate in any form of election process at all.  Mostly Saudi scholars oppose any participation in election process and they do have some valid point in their arguments as well. Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan and Sheikh Ubaid al-Jabiree and others maintain that participating in voting and election in a non-Muslim country is some of form of consent giving to kufr system and disbelief practices. Yet, majority of Islamic scholars both in Arabic world and Muslim countries hold that participating in election process in Non- Muslim countries is permissible today in our modern world. They argue that participating in election process or voting in election does not mean that Muslim people agree for all anti-Islamic legislations or Kufr systems and laws rather it is done in the interest of Muslims not out of love for kufr systems or for its people. They do not express any loyalty or love for any form of disbelief practices of these Non-Muslim countries and yet, to protect basic rights and interest of Muslims, Muslim people who live in a non-Muslim country should fully participate in all election process in Non-Muslim countries.  In some case, if Muslim communal interests are at stake, Muslim participation in voting or supporting some candidate might bring some benefits for Muslim community. They could ward off harm and greater evils in some countries in some situations. For instance, we may have two presidential candidates and we know for sure that one candidate is less hostile for Islam and Muslim cause; in this case, choosing lesser hostile one is more beneficial for Muslim community. In our modern world, voting is a form of democratic rights and people have a voice to select and elect political leaders as they like. This is a freedom given to people in our modern world and if we do not use this freedom as minority community, someone will be elected who are hostile to minority community and hence it is in the interest of minority communities to use this right. 

          In Sri Lankan context as a second minority community we should cleverly use our vote bank. Individually some of us may vote or may not vote and yet, collectively as a community we should vote for candidates who look after communal interest with sincerity and honesty. He should be really supporting Muslim community and look after them and at least not harming them. This is the case when we are electing a non-Muslim candidate for any executive position or membership of parliament.    

         It is a collectively religious duty of Muslim community to choose the most qualified and most honest person for any public office or position in Sri Lanka otherwise, crook and dishonest people will come to power. They could misuse the mandate given to them by public.  We have seen many politicians in our community they have been cheating our community for a long time in Sri Lanka. This  Sri Lankan government prefer to have inactive and incapable Muslim MPs to represent Muslim community in Sri Lanka. 

 Look at the pathetic status of our politicians today: they have no any political influence in today's Sri Lanka. They could do very little for community today at this crucial movement. While Islamic heritages are destroyed they even can not open their mouths. Do you need such politicians for our community? What benefits community gets from these types of selfish politicians in SL.? If all these Muslim politicians are really committed Muslims, they should have crossed over to UNP or they should have resigned from their posts when they see all these anti Muslims activities that are perpetrated with the support of some MPs in parliaments. 

It is not a big issue whether we vote or not and most of Muslim people will vote but yet the big question is to whom we vote and how do we vote? It is sad story that Muslim politicians are divided into many camps and parties. Muslims candidates are divided in between UNP, SLFP, Muslim congress, Muslims people's congress and other parties. It is pathetic to see this situation. What will be dare consequence of this division? Muslim votes will be divided. Consequently, we would not able to elect enough people in this election? This is a political suicidal of Muslims community as a minority we should wisely select our candidates and wisely elect our representatives. We do not have unity among us. It can be said that more Tamil/Singhalese candidates will be elected this time in this election. It is because of our division, we may loose out this time.   I’m afraid to say some greedy people could be elected at the expenses of community welfare and interest. 

Once companions asked the prophet when will be the Day of Judgment? Prophet said when unqualified people are entrusted with responsibilities? It is one of sign of Qiyama to select and elect unsuitable candidates for any public office or post, what about this post to represent Muslim community? Definitely we should send the most qualified, most pious, most honest and most educated one to speak for us?