One of the most confusing issues surrounding Muslims is: How can we seek our legitimate rights without participating within the current political system ? This is especially important considering that, as individuals, all  of us are living under man-made systems and it is haraam to participate in such a system.

We have to understand that seeking our legitimate rights and participating in political system are two different issues. Each action is distinct, and each one must be addressed in its specific context with its own Islamic ruling.

Seeking our legitimate rights

If a Muslim is treated unjustly by ruling authority, the Islamic Shariah gives him/her the permission to express his/her grievances and seek justice without endorsing the kufr ruling system. The Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia went to the court of the Negus to seek their rights - this is a well known incident where Ja'far articulated their position, also the Muslims who were in Makkah after the migration of the Prophet (saw) sought their rights their - the Prophet (saw) consented to this. However Ja'far and the Muslims did not follow the customs of Abyssinia in bowing to the King. They stated clearly and confidently that they only bow to Allah the Almighty and Glorious. They neither hid what they believed, nor did they alter it in any fashion. 

Participating in the System

The Muslims must look at every issue as unique with a specific Islamic ruling without lumping everything into a general clause such as ''participating in the system.'' Although the term ''Participating in the System,'' is a general term that could have several meanings, the Muslim Ummah perceives it as certain actions that involve changing the situation of the Muslim Ummah by using the existing political systems. Among these actions are: 

Voting  - voting to elect the director of business establishment or voting to elect school student leader is permitted. But voting for MP's, rulers, and judges who are going to rule by un-Islamic rules are clearly haraam. The reality of the issue has to be scrutinized properly.

Holding a ruling position in a Non-Islamic government (Note : Ruling positions and administrative positions are different )

Being a member of a non-Islamic party or group 

Contesting for legislative positions in the non-Islamic system

Praising the kufr political system.

Conclusion

Therefore a Muslim can live, work or study under an un-Islamic ruling system without compromising his identity. To be a Muslim means to follow Islam, the complete and total way of life revealed to us by Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala), our Lord and Creator. As we know, there is not one issue that our Creator has left out for us to decide without an answer for it; there is a Hukm Shar'a for every issue we have faced, or will ever face.

Of course, this means that Islam will naturally be at odds with, or even in conflict with, every other civilisation or ideology that men have dreamt up, be it Communism or Capitalism, the Greek, Byzantine, or Persian civilisations. The Muslims live according to revelation and all others live according to their own perceived wisdoms.

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