BARMM grand mufti: Let Quran guide choice of bets
COTABATO CITY—The highest Islamic advisory body in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has issued a fatwa or religious ruling about the standards in choosing candidates vying for public office on May 12.
Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abdulraof Guialani, through the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta (House of Opinion), issued Fatwa No. 03 which outlined guidelines for voters in electing leaders based on their moral, intellectual and leadership qualities, regardless of the elective positions they aspire for.
The document was dated April 11 but was only made public on Monday.
Guialani said the ruling went through thorough deliberation and discussions among Islamic scholars and jurists.
He underscored the importance of adhering to the Quran, the Islamic holy book, and sunnah or the way of life of Prophet Muhammad “as they provide the moral and ethical foundation for establishing a just and compassionate society.”
Guialani said the fatwa identifies nine qualities of candidates that voters should consider in choosing their next leaders during the midterm elections.
These include one’s sense of guardianship by having a clear regard for ensuring public safety and welfare; knowledge in governance; strength in leadership and decision-making; trustworthiness; physical and mental fitness to govern; being kind and merciful in dealing with the people; being consultative and not tyrannical; having determined and sound judgment with due regard for treating everyone equally; and trust in Allah or God.
Aside from the Quran, Guialani said the fatwa also drew from the sunnah’s exhortation of placing the most suitable and competent individuals in positions of leadership and governance.
Call for reflection
As the region’s electorate prepares for the May 12 elections, Guialani appealed to all voters and political aspirants to reflect on the Islamic values laid out in the fatwa.
“This fatwa emphasizes that as we strive to build a more just and compassionate society, we must remember and embody the guiding principles and characteristics outlined in the Holy Quran and sunnah,” Guialani said.
He asked the electorate to help promote justice, compassion and moral governance in the region whose autonomous government is built on the sacrifices of Moro martyrs who waged at least four decades of struggle for self-determination.
In the past, the Darul-Ifta also issued a fatwa that exhorted the Muslim populace not to shun vaccination as a means of fighting a disease. The ruling helped prop up the vaccination drive of the government in Bangsamoro communities.
On May 12, some 2.4 million voters are expected to troop to the 1,244 polling centers in BARMM.
