The Re-election of Muslim Women in USA is Nothing to Celebrate

News:

Al Jazeera reported on the appointment of the Democratic Party’s first two Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress: Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar – they have won the re-election to the US House of Representatives. Tlaib, who is also the first woman of Palestinian descent in the US Congress, was re-elected for a fourth term as a Representative for Michigan with support from the large Arab-American community in Dearborn. Omar, a former refugee and Somali American, retook her seat for a third term in Minnesota, where she represents the strongly Democratic 5th District, which includes Minneapolis and a number of suburbs. A leading critic of US military support to ‘Israel’ in its war on Gaza, Tlaib ran uncontested in her primary and defeated Republican James Hooper to represent the solidly Democratic district in Dearborn and Detroit. In a post on social media, Omar thanked her supporters for all their hard work in her election campaign saying.

“Our hard work was worth it. We knocked on 117,716 doors. We made 108,226 calls. And we sent 147,323 texts. This is a victory for ALL of us who believe that a better future is possible. I can’t wait to make you all proud over the next two years,”

Comment:

Whilst many Muslims globally may see this re-election of Muslim women into US government positions as a power move, it should be understood that there is no greatness or achievement in the matter.

To be in the service of non-Muslim interests where Islam is considered the enemy and Muslims are oppressed globally is nothing to be proud of.

There is a difference between professional achievements with no ideological contradiction, such as being a doctor or being elected to the board of directors in a hospital. However, these political institutions that pretend to allow Muslims to influence policy are completely defunct and irrelevant as badges of honour. In fact, they will be a heavy weight on the scales of the wrongdoing on the Day of Judgement as Allah (swt) said in the Quran in Surah Aali Imran;

[الم * اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ * نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ * مِنْ قَبْلُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَأَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ * إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَخْفَىَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ]

“A. L. M. Allah! There is no god but He -the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal. It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest penalty, and Allah is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution. From Allah, verily nothing is hidden on earth or in the heavens.”

From these verses, it is clear that the only way to progress accepted by Allah (swt) is full and total submission to His (swt) Authority. However, these verses have been revealed to us by the Prophet (saw) in a manner that should follow a very specific method, that of the Khilafah (Caliphate) State - Islamic ruling system. It is an obligation upon every Muslim to ensure that this is done or they are sinful for non-implementation in front of Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement. As we enter another year of elections under the authority of non-Islamic system we must not normalise this and place the burden of responsibility upon ourselves to do as Allah (swt) wills.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Imrana Mohammad
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir