Question:
What is the ruling on engaging in political activism, protests, and civil demonstrations in non-Muslim countries?
Answer:
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
The ruling on participating in political activism and public demonstrations is tied to a number of Islamic legal principles, including the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bil ma’ruf wa nahi ‘an al-munkar), the preservation of life and public safety, and the consideration of maslahah (benefit) and mafsadah (harm).
First: Foundational Principles from the Qur’an and Sunnah
Allah says:
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ
“Let there arise among you a group inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong.”
(Aali Imran 3:104)
This command establishes the general obligation of standing up against injustice and immorality in society.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
من رأى منكم منكراً فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمان
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
(Muslim)
From this, the scholars derived that responding to injustice and oppression is an obligation, but the method of responding is governed by the principles of the Shari’ah.
Second: Conditions and Guidelines
All four madhahib and traditional scholars agree that action taken to forbid wrong or support the oppressed must not lead to a greater harm. The legal maxim applies:
لا ضرر ولا ضرار
“There is no causing of harm nor reciprocating harm.”
Also:
درء المفاسد مقدم على جلب المصالح
“Preventing harm takes precedence over bringing benefit.”
Therefore, any form of protest or political action must be evaluated by its outcomes, not merely its intentions.
If demonstrations or activism:
- remain peaceful,
- do not violate Islamic ethics,
- do not involve mixing with haram, such as chanting false slogans or calling for anti-Islamic ideologies,
- and do not result in greater chaos, violence, or harm,
then participation can fall under the scope of permissible or even encouraged action—especially when it is used to advocate for the rights of Muslims or to oppose injustice.
Third: Application in Non-Muslim Societies
In countries where Muslims are minorities, and where the law permits peaceful demonstration and political expression, many scholars from recognized Islamic councils have permitted such participation provided the guidelines are followed.
If a protest or demonstration:
- supports a just cause, such as stopping war, ending police brutality, protecting Muslim rights, or preserving religious freedoms,
- and is not tied to promoting falsehood or unethical groups,
then participating in it can be an act of amr bil ma’ruf and supporting the oppressed.
However, if the environment becomes violent, or the protest becomes a platform for un-Islamic behavior (such as music, dancing, or vulgar speech), then it is not permissible to join or support it.
Muslims are obligated to be distinct in their values, conduct, and methods, even while opposing injustice.
Wallahu a’lam