Question:

Can we take part in protests and rallies for genuine causes? 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Protests, rallies, shows of solidarity, marches and other such activities are all means to achieve some objective. In contemporary times these activities have become a main form of activism for raising awareness on a large scale. There is nothing inherently problematic with these mechanisms. 

However, as potent as they all may seem, they are still just “means” to an objective. Just as any other “means” the taufeeq and ability of change within them comes solely from Allah Ta’ala. As Muslims, we should always be vigilant about our connection with Allah. Nothing transpires without the taufeeq from Allah. None of these vigils and marches will have any effect if Allah does not wish it.

Once that is understood, then we also realize that expecting a positive change from utilizing some means without actually obeying Allah Ta’ala in other commandments of His religion is a remote chance. Many people who join these activism platforms forget about their religious obligations.

Intermixing with opposite gender, carelessness in covering awrah, destroying someone’s (targeted or just bystanders) property, missing congregational salah, or even the salah itself are all types of disobedience of the laws of Allah. It is futile to expect a change through means while the One that brings about the change is not happy with us.

So, while we encourage using any and all halal means to achieve the objective, whether it be from political influence, a rally, a nation wide solidarity event or even a financial boycott etc., it is incumbent that before even undertaking these means, one should revert back to Allah. Connect with Allah, ask an abundance of forgiveness, shed those tears of sincerity and seek Allah to put taufeeq in those means. Without Allah from this equation, nothing is possible, no matter how honorable the cause.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi