VOTING FOR NON-MUSLIM LEADERS IN THE QUR’ANIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper examines how the law elects non-Muslim leaders from the Qur’an perspective. The issue raised was based on the Regional Head Election ( Pilkada ) of the DKI Jakarta on February 6, 2017 where one of the candidates is non-Muslim. Then, the simultaneous local elections on June 27, 2018, and the Legislative Election ( Pileg ) and the Presidential Election ( Pilpres ) on April 17, 2019. It has become interesting because the issue of ethnic, racial, and religious sentiments (SARA) in the context of candidate leaders often becomes a serious consideration for voters, in addition to capability and track record of the candidate. This paper uses the thematic interpretation method ( maudhu’i ) seeks to get a comprehensive genealogy of the verse choosing non-Muslim leaders. The results studies that in the Qur'an there are four terms related to leadership: khalȋfah, uli al-amr, imâm, and awliyâ’ . The last term gives rise to various interpretations because it is mentioned 33 times with various meanings: salvation, friend, and leader. From these verses it can be understood that partiality for non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) is not permitted in Islam, especially in the affairs of the nashb al-Imâmah . As for the fulfillment of the rights of non-Muslims as citizens, it is still guaranteed and highly upheld in Islam.