Is it permissible to form parties in Muslim countries?Is it permissible to join a party for the sake of Islam?

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Questions should not be asked about the permissibility of adhering to, supporting or defending Islam, because doing this is one of the greatest and most emphasized obligations. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.} [Quran 43:43]  Also, Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {And hold firmly to the rope of Allaah all together and do not become divided.} [Quran 3:103]

However, some clarifications need to be made about forming parties in Muslim countries. Firstly, parties that are not based on Islam and do not act upon its teachings  -- including secular, social or communist parties -- should not be formed. The reason is that the formation of such parties  can be considered as collaboration in spreading evil and endorsement of the corrupt ideologies behind them, which could tempt Muslims away from  their religion.

Secondly, if you mean by parties charitable organizations that are mainly concerned with social works or relief of the disadvantaged, it is commendable to establish such organizations because they make positive contributions to society, provided that they are loyal to Muslims and their caliph, if there is one.

Thirdly, if you mean current Da‘wah (Islamic call) groups that invite to Islam and seek to establish its laws, this is creditable cooperation and mutual support for establishing the truth. Islam recognizes cooperation between Muslims as one of its principal values, provided that it does not lead to prejudices or fanaticism in favor of the group's opinion against others . If there is a group that adopts the method of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa‘ah in terms of belief, thought and practice, then it is permissible to cooperate with it and support it within the boundaries of sound opinion.

It should be known that real men are those who follow the Quran and the Sunnah, and that anyone's opinions may be accepted or rejected, except those of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.  Loyalty should only be to those who obey Allaah The Almighty and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and a true Muslim should accept the truth from anyone, regardless of their affiliation. 

Our advice to everyone cooperating with such groups is to be clear about their methodology and to point out to others that their loyalty is genuinely to the truth, and the support of a given group does not mean disloyalty to other such groups. Loyalty is due to each believer according to the extent of their piety and irrespective of other affiliations.

Indeed making loyalty or disloyalty conditional to a given name, slogan or a person is an innovation in religion. Anyone who claims that himself or his sect should be given a pledge of obedience (Bay‘ah) and presents the Hadeeths of Bay‘ah as evidence, is also an innovator in religion and opposed to the way of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa‘ah. Bay‘ah, as mentioned in the relevant narrations, should only be given to the caliph.

Besides, although the main goals of such groups is to support the truth and to call others to hold firmly to the teachings of Islam, not all of them hold sound opinions or have a comprehensive methodology. Indeed Islam is too comprehensive to be covered by just one group.

Such groups are only callers to Islam and each should be judged according to their adherence to the principles of Islam. The majority of Muslims, including scholars, Du'aat (callers to Islam) and Mujaahideen are not affiliated to such groups. Thus, we should perceive what the aims behind forming such groups should be, and place them in their proper position. Otherwise, the means would belie the aims and consequently lead to opposite results.

Islamic groups in the field of Da‘wah and Islamic activities are on the increase and our advice is not to form any further groups, because forming other Islamic groups is inconsistent with the call to unify Muslims' efforts.

Allaah Knows best.