Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 230
230 islam’s response to contemporary issues truly belongs. He must be vigilant and aware that he will be held responsible for his act in the sight of God. In view of this Islamic concept, if a political party has nominated a candidate who an individual party member considers will fail to discharge his national trust, that member should quit the party rather than vote for someone who does not merit the trust. Loyalty to a party is not allowed to interfere in his choice. Again, a trust must be discharged in good faith. Therefore, every voter must participate fully in exercising his vote during the elections unless he is unable to do so. Otherwise, he will have failed in the discharge of his own trust. The concept of abstention or refraining from exercising the vote, as happens in the USA where reportedly almost half the electorate actually bothers to vote, has no room in the Islamic concept of democracy. The Confusion as to the True Nature of Islamic Government It is becoming popular among Muslim political thinkers of the contemporary age to claim that Islam stands for democracy. According to their political philosophy, God being the ultimate authority, sovereignty belongs to Him. Divine Authority Absolute sovereignty belongs to God. The Holy Quran sums up His domain in the following verse: