 What does Islam tell us about political engagement? This is a hot topic that many Muslims ask Should we as Muslims living in the West should we engage in politics? Should we vote? Should some of our youth run for office? Should we lobby with certain political groups? political parties Individuals should we financially support political campaigns and contribute To political campaigns This is a question That is posed and we see that there is a divide. We see there's two opposing views one view states that we as Muslims living in the West should abstain from politics We should have nothing to do with politics. We should not vote. We should not run for office. We should not Support or endorse any political Candidates or any political campaigns. Let's stay away from politics. Why? because these governments are oppressive governments they have occupied our countries and They are supporting tyrannical regimes. This is one view This is one camp there's a great percentage a good percentage of the Muslim community and even in the Shi'i community who have this opinion that political engagement is It's forbidden. We should abstain from political engagement. This is one view on the other hand There's another view That says that we live in this country Those of us that are citizens if you live in America, you're American if you live in Canada, you're Canadian if You live in the UK your English if you live in Australia. You're an Aussie Wherever you live and you carry a citizenship. You're part of that country. You're part and parcel of that country Don't you pay taxes? Who doesn't pay taxes? If you are residing in a country legally and you're not in trouble with the authorities and you're making money That means you're paying taxes when you pay taxes. Is it that considered supporting an oppressive regime? Whether you're like it or not when you live in a country when you live in a society and you're paying your taxes You're engaged in that regime. So by saying I will not vote You're not giving your voice but you're paying your money You're giving your taxes to these Governments that in your eyes are oppressive that are supporting as oppressive regimes regimes and dictatorships and countries If you're not paying your taxes, you're either breaking the law Or you're about to go to jail. Most of us pay taxes That support for these governments. How come you don't say well, I'm not gonna pay taxes You won't vote but you pay taxes. This is a double standard. Look at the logic of the Quran Look at the logic of the Quran and you will be able to decide which view is Most in accordance to the Quran. You be the judge The view that says let's abstain from political engagement or the view that says we should engage in politics In our countries look the Quran says in Nalla You know You want to sit and complain of Islamophobia that we Muslims don't have our rights in certain states. They want to ban the niqab. They want to ban the hijab in public Places you want to sit and complain Allah says I give you the ability to do something about it You could have improved your situation, but you couldn't but you didn't not that you couldn't you didn't So who are you to blame? Why do you put the blame on others? Why do you expect that Allah will perform a miracle for you when you sit lazily and you don't do anything for yourself? That Allah will not change us unless We make change for ourselves. We change ourselves and then Allah will say I'll give you a push And I will support you The Quran says Say act produce contribute Make a difference Each human is judged based on his efforts The effort that you make to change yourself to change your family to change your community To change your nation to change your country it's based on your efforts A famous hadith by one of the imams. I believe imam Islam doesn't say that you cannot engage in politics engage in politics even if you work for the sultan But there's a cost the cost is that you help your brothers and sisters you help your community Worked for the worst tyrant for the worst dictator haroun al-rashid he worked for him Ali ibn iqtayn was his minister And several times ali ibn iqtayn would ask al-imam al-qadam should I continue working for her for haroun al-rashid or should I stop The imam would tell him continue work Work for haroun al-rashid, but serve your brothers and sisters Work for the shi'a work for the shi'i community Work for haroun al-rashid, but don't oppress anyone but at the same time serve the shi'a community This is a lesson that we have to engage in politics voting is important my dear friends Voting is important. This is a right Why do you forfeit that right when you don't vote when the muslim community don't doesn't vote Political candidates are not going to cater for you. They could care less about us and for our rights Why because we didn't vote for them If we are not a major voting factor If we muslims don't have enough votes and we don't contribute to political campaigns, but others do Put yourself in the shoes of a political Candidate who's he going to care for more those who vote for him or those who don't vote for him It's common sense It's logical those who vote for you those who vote you're going to go and cater to them But if you're a community that doesn't even engage in politics never votes Never go out Goes out for the ballots. You sit at home. No one's going to cater for you. No one's going to care for you No one's going to care for your rights They're going to say, you know, who cares about this community because they don't make a difference. They don't contribute to political campaigns and they don't vote We need youth to run for office if we want rights In these countries in canada in america in the uk in europe In australia in new zealand, we need our youth to run for office to fight for our rights To go out and fight for our rights. No one will fight for your rights other than yourself