Voting is a religious obligation for Muslims, says Pas president

SHAH ALAM – Muslims are religiously obliged to cast their ballots in elections, as it is an Islamic duty to choose leaders who will govern the country, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said.

He said the democratic system, in which governments are elected through polls, makes voting a mechanism for fulfilling the Islamic political obligation of selecting leaders.

He said the authority to govern is part of the political responsibilities in Islam, aimed at establishing good governance, upholding trust and ensuring justice in accordance with Islamic law.

"Casting a vote in a democratic system is the fulfilment of the obligation to choose leaders in one's respective constituency.

"Islamic scholars have affirmed that whatever is indispensable for fulfilling an obligation also becomes obligatory," he said in a statement on Monday.

Hadi said the obligation to vote becomes even more significant when there is a possibility that those regarded as threatening the position of Islam and Muslims could gain political power.

He added that politics cannot be separated from religion, as governing a country and implementing just laws are integral parts of Islamic teachings.

He said the perception that politics is inherently dirty stems from ignorance of religion and the influence of secularism, which separates governance from religious principles.

"Many people fail to vote or sell their votes, allowing Islamic political power to be taken away. Others compete for positions to the point of causing divisions, which ultimately weaken the community.

"Voting is also a means of electing representatives to carry out the duty of amar makruf (enjoining good) and nahi mungkar (forbidding evil). If this obligation is neglected, the community may face severe consequences," he said.

He added that Islam mandates justice for all members of society, including non-Muslims who are not extremist, but stressed that the country's leadership must be guided by faith in Allah and responsibility towards religion.

In this regard, he urged Muslims not to neglect their responsibility to vote and to unite in electing leaders they believe are capable of defending religion, the nation and the country.