SIX QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU VOTE
About this Guide
Based on a recent Jumu’ah talk delivered by Maulana Sulaimaan Ravat, this guide explores six questions facing South African Muslim voters. It is intended to encourage informed reflection, careful political choices, hope for the country and constructive civic engagement beyond election day.
1 Why is this election so critical?
- Services under strain. Water, electricity, sanitation, roads and municipal infrastructure affect daily life; continued decline places greater pressure on families, communities and businesses.
- A changing political landscape. Voters face many more parties, independent candidates and possible coalitions. Greater choice can create opportunity, but also uncertainty and confusion.
- Understandable disappointment. Corruption, unfulfilled promises and weak accountability have left many feeling angry, betrayed or unsure whether participation matters.
- Frustration or withdrawal? These emotions can motivate constructive involvement, but declaring South Africa “finished” risks surrendering our ability to help change it.
- Every crisis also poses a question. Will we become more disillusioned and disengaged, or more organised, informed and solution-oriented?
KEY TAKEAWAY
Frustration must not become hopelessness.
2 Can Muslims Participate in the Current Political System?
- Scholarly guidance. Many respected contemporary scholars permit participation in elections where it can secure benefit or avert harm, even when no option is ideal.
- Participation is not blanket endorsement. Voting for a candidate need not mean accepting every belief, policy or principle of that candidate or the political system.
- Politics affects us regardless. Decisions shape our homes, livelihoods, masājid, madāris, schools and neighbourhoods. Withdrawal does not remove these consequences.
- Consider actual circumstances. Political systems differ in the freedoms they provide to religious communities; our response should recognise the environment in which we live.
- Integration without assimilation. Muslims can contribute positively to public life while retaining their Islamic identity, convictions and principles.
KEY TAKEAWAY
We may choose not to engage with politics, but
we cannot choose not to be affected by politics.
3 WHY CONSIDER VOTING WHEN PARTIES KEEP DISAPPOINTING US?
- “What difference will my vote make?” This is a fair question after repeated disappointments. But also ask what happens when we do not participate: representatives are still chosen and decisions still taken.
- Imperfect is not identical. Parties and candidates may differ substantially in their strengths, failures and consequences. Dismissing all choices as the same can obscure important distinctions.
- Consider benefit and harm. Where an ideal choice is unavailable, examine the practical implications of different options, including whether harm might be reduced.
- Assess the whole record. Look at integrity, competence, delivery, accountability, previous conduct, promises and coalition arrangements — not just slogans or personalities.
- Seek reliable information. Read policies and manifestos, consult trustworthy people, and use available assessments for your own considered judgement.
KEY TAKEAWAY
An imperfect choice still deserves careful, informed consideration.
PALESTINE, JUSTICE AND MORAL CONSISTENCY
A party’s position on Palestine raises fundamental questions of justice, human dignity and political trust. The argument that local elections are “only about service delivery” overlooks the importance of moral consistency. Some efficiency in municipal services cannot simply be equated with a party’s position on grave moral issues. The suffering in Gaza also involves access to water, electricity, sanitation and healthcare. South Africa’s own struggle against apartheid reminds us
why international solidarity matters. Where parties are reluctant to take a clear stance, voters should ask why, and examine their explanations, actions and wider commitments.
4 WHY MUST WE NOT GIVE UP ON SA?
- This is our home. Generations of Muslim families have built lives, businesses, masājid, madāris, schools and community institutions here. We should not think of ourselves as outsiders.
- Remember the opportunities. South Africa has afforded important religious freedoms and space for Muslims to contribute materially, spiritually and socially.
- Look for evidence of hope. Serious problems are real, but there are also people and communities whose efforts produce positive results. Highlight what works and learn from it.
- Turn anger into energy. Frustration can prompt initiative rather than apathy. Moving from complaining to contributing is a deliberate choice.
- Move beyond survival. Develop a vision for our families, communities, country and Ummah — not simply ways of coping with decline.
- Fill the vacuum. Principled, capable people should contribute in education, media, law, business, public institutions and social development rather than abandoning those spaces.
- Think in generations. South Africa and the Ummah have overcome severe challenges before. Rebuilding society is a marathon, not a sprint.
KEY TAKEAWAY
We are not an Ummah of quitters. Difficult does not mean impossible.
5 How can this Election Become a Starting Point for Change?
- Launchpad, not endpoint. The ballot is one moment in a longer process of civic responsibility. The work of improving communities continues between elections.
- Move from spectators to shapers. Rather than only debating problems, ask what each of us can do to address them constructively.
- Begin close to home. Learn about your ward and municipality, identify specific issues and engage representatives and community structures.
- Work with others. Find committed, like-minded people; share knowledge and organise practical initiatives rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
- Demand accountability. Follow promises and performance, participate in meetings and raise concerns respectfully and consistently.
- Maintain purpose and perseverance. Setbacks are inevitable; sustained effort, sincerity and a strong connection with Allah remain essential.
KEY TAKEAWAY
From complaints to solutions; from spectators to shapers.
6 Can SA help Shape a New World Order?
- An increasingly uncertain world. Power often takes precedence over justice and morality in international affairs — almost a second Jāhiliyyah.
- Prosperity and influence are shifting. Economic prosperity and global influence are increasingly moving from West to East.
- The Global South is gaining traction. Countries of the Global South appear poised to play a greater role in global affairs, challenging the traditional dominance of the Global North.
- South Africa’s unique position. Our country is strategically positioned to play a potentially transformative role in this changing world.
- A responsibility beyond ourselves. Helping South Africa overcome its challenges is not only for our benefit, but also for the contribution it could make towards a better world for humanity.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Improving South Africa can strengthen its contribution to the wider world.
UUCSA POLITICAL PARTY REPORT CARD
The UUCSA Report Card offers assessments of political parties to support informed reflection. It does not endorse any party or tell readers whom to vote for. Readers can review the information and make their own assessments or scores.
Obtain the digital copy, share it with family and community groups, and encourage others to read and interact with it. Scholars are also encouraged to circulate it through masjid and community channels.
DIGITAL REPORT CARD: www.uucsa.co.za/voterguide
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