Lutfi `Abdullatif – Riadh: The prominent jurist, Sheikh `Abdullad Al-Mahfudh bin Bayyah, emphasised that the participation of Muslims living in the West in political activity, whether via nomination or election, is not by any means tantamount to devotion to disbelief or coming out the fold of Islam. Rather, such participation is a requirement of residence in the concerned lands. It is one of the legal rights of citizenship which does not contradict Islam, as many incidents in the biography of the Prophet confirm.

Undoubtedly, permitting Muslims to participate in the concerned political activity promotes their interests and protects them against being isolated in their Western societies. In addition, Sheikh Bin Bayyah stated that it is permissible for Muslims living in the West to work with existent political parties in a manner that conforms to interests of the Muslim community. The fact that leaders of such parties are non-Muslims does not change the situation as the majority of Westerners are non-Muslims.

Muslims living in the West are only a minority but they have their own interests and issues. Sheikh `Abdullah bin Bayyah added: “Muslim youth in the West face great challenges. The future of such challenges will determine the final conditions of Islam and Muslims in Western lands. This is because if the youth oppose their loyalty to Islam and abandon their religion entirely, Islam will no longer exist in the West and Muslims will melt away in the Western society. On the contrary, if youth stick to Islam; the outcome will be pleasant.” Besides, the Sheikh pointed out: “The so-called issue of “minorities’ rights” is a false one.” He proceeded: “There should not be any terminological disagreement. Minorities’ jurisprudence is not separated from general Islamic fiqh. It is part of it and it is based on Qur’an, Sunnah, ijma`(consensus of scholars), and qiyas (analogy) i.e. the four origins of shari`ah (Islamic law).

On the other hand, Muslims living in the West have their own problems and difficult conditions that range between strong juristic necessity and need. Therefore, such conditions have to be dealt with according to jurisprudence of ‘facilitation objectives’. This does not mean innovating new fiqh. Rather, it signifies considering real conditions.” Sheikh Bin Bayyah then elaborated: “Reality as well as Muslims’ issues in the West prompts us to discuss jurisprudence of minorities. The European Council for Fatwa is a league of scholars, du`ah ‘callers to Islam’, and jurists. It gives fatwas ‘Islamic legal opinions’ on issues of Muslim minority in the West while abiding by principles of shar` (Islamic law).

Source: Al Madinah newspaper