Islamic parties
Fatwa No: 88772

Question

What is your opinion about Islamic party? In Surah Ar-Room: 32, Allaah said who create "Firqat" in Islam he is a 'Mushrik', what is your opinion about this?

Answer

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

We have already issued some Fatwas about Islamic groups and the ruling of being affiliated with them. As regards Islamic parties, the ruling about them depends on the methodology that they follow. If the party adopts some of the destructive ideas like secularism, communism, or nationalism, etc. it is not permissible to affiliate, or to cooperate with it, as that is considered as helping in falsehood against which Allaah warned us. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {…do not help one another in sin and transgression.}[5:2]. But if the party is established on the truth and justice, while holding fast to the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Prophet and to the guidance of our pious predecessors and strives to benefit the people and support the truth, then cooperating with such a group is a religious obligation. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety.}[5:2].

However, one has to be careful about being fanatical to a party, the thing which leads to disputes and division, because Allaah has ordered us to be united and forbade us from dividing into sects. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur'aan) and be not divided among yourselves.}[3:103].

As regards the verse mentioned in the question [30:32] which is the saying of Allaah (interpretation of meaning): {…and do not be of those who associate others with Allaah [Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects.}[30:31-32]; it does not refer to what you have stated, that it is Shirk (associating partners to Allaah) to cause division, but it means that division is one of the characteristics of the non-Muslims. There is no doubt that all sins are a sign of disbelief and being ungrateful to Allaah, but this does not necessarily mean that all sins lead to disbelief and  taking one out of the fold of Islam.

Allaah knows best.

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