The US Presidential election campaign has come to life in recent weeks with the Republican and Democratic ‘Primaries’ and captured news headlines around the world. However the news has been dominated by the negative and personal attacks by the candidates upon each other and some of the more unscrupulous tactics they have deployed such as accusations, negative advertising and trawling through their opponents past records to expose their faults. The irony being that Clinton and Obama are supposed to be in the same political party! In the era of 24 hour rolling news coverage, such attacks can have a devastating and lasting effect, with each candidate hoping to deliver the knockout blow.

The revelation that Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton lied about her trip to Bosnia 12 years ago claiming she landed ‘under sniper fire’, revelations’ about Republican John McCain’s private life leaked in the New York Times and the fact that Barack Obama has been ‘outed’ as being associated with a controversial Black pastor are just some of the revelations the world has seen. They will have shocked many but equally will not have come as a complete surprise. Each candidate has almost certainly been exposed by the supporters of another. As the US Presidential campaign heats up and polling in November draws near we can continue to expect more of the same. It can be expected that such tactics will be displayed by all the candidates and their sophisticated campaign teams who are constantly at work seeking to gain every advantage they can.

All of these incidents and general tactics have actually become the hallmark of Western election campaigns and Democracies elsewhere. The reason for such tactics is obvious; these candidates are desperate to win and are prepared to use any method as long as they can get away with it. Politics in the West is a dirty game, free from any morals and noble values. The current candidates have almost solely focused on each other rather than how they will address the immense social and economic problems America faces.

It cannot also be overlooked that huge amounts of money are at stake; Barack Obama has so far raised nearly $194 million, Hillary Clinton $169 million and John McCain nearly $65 million. Most of this money has been donated by American corporations and special interest groups. With such huge sums involved this is more than just about the candidates themselves; whilst some may have donated to all three candidates, divergent business and lobby groups are vying to gain influence by ensuring that their candidate will capture the seat of power in America. The last thing these people will want is to see their money go to waste.

Such behaviour ultimately comes down to the ethics of the candidates and their campaign teams; they are prepared to lie, cheat and slander against each other. However what is also apparent from the actions of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain and indeed any other would be ruler, democratic or dictator is that becoming the leader is coveted as a great personal prize. Whether this is to satisfy their personal ego, to be glorified and remembered in history or simply to accumulate power and wealth, becoming the leader is seen as the pinnacle in what is regarded as a ‘career’ in Western politics. Looking after the people’s affairs and solving problems become secondary. This is the main reason why potential leaders will use every tactic possible in order to gain the leadership. The behaviour seen in the current US Presidential campaign is no different. In dictatorships and corrupt governments, becoming the ruler is seen as a gateway to enrich one’s self.

By contrast, Islam prohibits the use of lies, half-truths, slander and false accusation not just in positions for public office but in everyday life. For a Muslim such behaviour on a personal level would be considered sinful; for a Muslim leader holding any office in the Khilafah such behaviour would draw the wrath of the people and run the risk of being removed from his or her position and facing charges in the Court of Unjust Acts.

In Islam having power over people is an amanah [trust] and a huge responsibility. Muhammad (SAW) said:

Each of you is a shepherd, and all of you are responsible for your flocks.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Leadership is something that is not to be taken lightly or desired, as that person will be held accountable for all of his actions. The Khaleefah on the Day of Judgement will be held responsible for the state of his people and whatever ill fell upon his people due to his actions.

Muhammad (SAW) said:

"He who has been a ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection, until the justice (by which he ruled) loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1037

Today in the Muslim world not only do we see the corrupt and wicked rulers forcibly holding on to the reins of power, but also see them prepared to torture and kill their own people in order to ensure their continued grip on power. Such people are far removed from the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet. Contrast their behaviour with what Imam Ali, the fourth Khaleefah, in discussing the qualities of a leader, said:

“O People! You know that it is not fitting that one who is greedy and parsimonious should attain rule and authority over the honour, lives and incomes of the Muslims, and the laws and ordinances enforced among them, and also leadership of them. Furthermore, he should not be ignorant and unaware of the law, lest in his ignorance he misleads the people. He must not be unjust and harsh, causing people to cease all traffic and dealings with him because of his oppressiveness. Nor must he fear states, so that he seeks the friendship of some and treats others with enmity. He must refrain from accepting bribes when he sits in judgment, so that the rights of men are trampled underfoot and the claimant does not receive his due. He must not leave the Sunnah of the Prophet and the law in abeyance, so that the community falls into misguidance and peril.”

Democracy in America has become an exercise in going through the political motions in order to bestow a veneer of legitimacy on its purveyors. The US Presidential campaign will run it’s course and the winning candidate may indeed use many more such dirty tricks before achieving victory; but what is increasingly being felt by many people as America struggles with growing economic and social problems, is that whoever wins, leaders who are products of such a corrupt political system cannot solve the problems of their people. Such victories only satisfy personal egos and corporate interests ring increasingly hollow. Not only has this approach and conduct failed the American people, it has failed the rest of the world too.