In my country, the government has categorized people into several different cast (forward cast , backward cast , most backward cast etc) , and every cast has a certain no of seats to apply for government jobs, joining in colleges etc. , for eg. if backward cast has 3 seats, every 3 in 100 people in govt jobs, colleges should be of backward cast even though they has poor qualifications than other cast members . however the splitting of seats is not equal and its not fair . The muslims are catogarized as “muslim backward cast” and they are having certain no.of seats . And certain jammah regularly make protest in public roads including womens who will come without there mahram and small kids , to increase the no. of seats for muslims, by that will strengthen the muslim community . my question is , is it permissible to make protest like this for the benefit of muslims community , and is permissible to ask for more seats like this because if the seats of the muslims increase , the seats of other cast will reduce, does it not considered as a violations against someone else rights.?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Such protests are a kind of means, and in principle, means are permissible unless there is evidence which proves that they are forbidden as we have already clarified in Fataawa 118916 and 97197.

Therefore, if these protests are for the sake of demanding a right that was taken away unjustly, and they do not lead to evil consequences, like sabotage or transgression against public properties or forbidden mixing between men and women, and the like, then they are permissible.

Asking for more Muslim seats does not necessarily mean transgressing against other people’s rights if the Muslims were originally given a number that is less than what they deserve, as in this case, their rights were violated and they do not protest to ask for violating other people’s rights; rather, this is for retrieving a right that was originally taken away from them.

We ask Allaah to grant safety, security, help and guidance to the straight path to our Muslim brothers and sisters everywhere.

Allaah Knows best.