Should Muslims vote for the "lesser of two evils" or abstain from voting when faced with a dilemma of choosing between two politicians who have both caused harm to Muslims and innocent people?
Should Muslims vote for the "lesser of two evils" or abstain from voting when faced with a dilemma of choosing between two politicians who have both caused harm to Muslims and innocent people?
Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 years ago
There isn't a single answer from shari'ah to this question.
Generally speaking, Muslims have a choice of whether or not to vote, and whom to vote for. Many Muslim leaders today encourage voting so that Muslims can also exert some influence over society and develop a stronger public identity rather than being an invisible group, and to try to direct society on a good course. However, as you point out, in some cases, there may be no good option.
In some cases, Muslim leaders such as maraji' may give direct guidance on voting.