“You are the best community (ummah) brought forth for (the good) of mankind” (Aal ‘Imran, 3:110).

The Prophet (SAW) did inform, “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.” Civic engagement with non-Muslims upholding universal values that include freedom, equality and justice and cooperating with them on matters of goodness and piety is a religious obligation as Allah (SWT) commands, “And cooperate with each other in (matters of) goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility.” (al-Ma’idah, 5:2).

The civic engagement must be fundamentally based on justice.

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Justice as witnesses to Allah, even if it is against yourselves, your parents and close relatives…” (al-Nisa’, 4:135)

Similarly, Allah (SWT), in the reverse order says,

“O you who believe! Stand up for Allah as witnesses to Justice. And do not let the enmity and hatred of others make you swerve from doing Justice…” (al-Mai’dah, 5:8).

As Muslim minorities, we shouldn’t blame the powers that be if we don’t exercise our right to vote. On the other hand, we should blame ourselves, because we were not engaged in the process that could change the conditions of our society. We have to exercise our consciousness and do the right thing. Voting is another area that may be considered as Amr bil-Ma’rouf and Nahi ‘an al-Munkar, enjoining what is right and forbidding the wrong.

Below is a top down links and contact information for national and local officials.