When No Political Party Is Perfect: A Shi‘a Perspective on Elections - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

Friday Juma KhutbaApril 25th, 2025- We marked the wafat of Imām Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣādiq (a) and are nearing the federal elections. - Voting is essential for having a voice and shaping our future. - Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (a)’s political stance varied based on context. - He supported Zayd ash-Shahid’s uprising but rejected the ‘Abbasid movement due to insincere motives. - He warned his relatives against joining the ‘Abbasids, who later betrayed them. - Yet, he allowed Shi‘as like Najjāshi and ibn Hubayrah to serve as governors. - His guidance was case-specific; we can't generalize one stance to all situations. - A hadith advising Sudayr to stay home was context-bound, not a blanket rule. - Imām emphasized understanding context and deeper meanings in ḥadith. - Marāji‘ stress voting as a duty; not voting lets others decide your future. - In the West, Muslims can join politics if it serves community interests. - Vote for the lesser evil—support justice, especially for minorities.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)