Al-Qalam 
By Azra Hoosen
The United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) is calling on Muslims to rethink the way they view politics, arguing that civic participation is not separate from Islamic responsibility but closely tied to the daily realities of Muslim community life.
At the centre of UUCSA’s message is the argument that Muslim communities cannot separate their religious institutions from local government, emphasising that ‘Your Masjid is not separate from your municipality.’
Head of UUCSA’s Political Strategy Committee, Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat, emphasised that disengagement is not what Islam teaches us. “Never forget that we need a conducive environment to preserve our Masaajid, Madaaris and Institutions; to practise our faith and to live our lives as citizens. If you disengage from the system, you are effectively handing over the responsibility to someone else to decide what kind of environment we will exist in materially and spiritually. That is why every vote counts,” he said.
Explaining the importance of participation in the upcoming local government elections, Moulana Ravat said many voters do not fully understand how the municipal voting system works. Coalition politics has changed South Africa’s political landscape. In many municipalities and provinces, outright majorities are no longer guaranteed, meaning smaller margins can now determine who governs, how coalitions are formed and which policies are prioritised.
“There will be two ballots. One ballot works on a winner-takes-all basis. The second ballot is for a political party. Even if that party’s ward candidate does not win, the total number of votes received across the municipality still contributes towards the number of seats that party receives in council. Your vote still strengthens the party of your choice,” he explained.
Moulana Ravat clarified that UUCSA is not forming a political party, nor are they telling people who to vote for. “The aim is to help communities become more structured, organised and mobilised from the grassroots level upwards, so that our efforts are coordinated and more impactful within the political landscape,” he said.
Moulana Ravat also encouraged Muslims to educate themselves about governance systems and to participate meaningfully in civic life: “Learn the system, apply your mind, be strategic, do the best you can, exercise the power of your vote, and leave the rest to Allah.”
The Secretary General of UUCSA, Moulana Yusuf Patel, told Al-Qalam that growing frustration with politics should not lead to disengagement. Many people only recognise the importance of politics once service delivery failures begin affecting their homes, institutions and communities directly.
“The question is not whether politics will affect us. It already does. The question is whether we will participate in shaping those decisions, or whether we will leave them entirely to others,” he questioned.
The council outlined several issues affecting Muslim communities that require stronger representation at the municipal level. These include zoning and land use for Masajid, Madrasahs and Muslim schools, cemetery and burial matters, safety around places of worship, service delivery, housing, disaster response and support for small businesses.
Moulana Patel said that as Muslims, we must distinguish between partisan fighting and principled civic engagement. “UUCSA is not asking Muslims to become blindly loyal to any party. We are asking Muslims to become politically conscious, organised and accountable in how we engage,” he said.
The organisation also warned against fragmented activism, saying communities that lack coordination often struggle to have their concerns addressed effectively.
At the same time, UUCSA stressed that Muslim civic engagement should not focus only on specifically Muslim concerns. “Our Islamic responsibility is wider than that. We must speak for justice, dignity and accountable governance for all communities, while ensuring that the specific needs of Muslim institutions and communities are not ignored,” said Moulana Patel.
Beyond elections, UUCSA encourages Muslims to become involved in ward meetings, civic forums and public participation processes. It also urges communities to monitor promises made by political parties and public representatives.
Moulana Patel said that success would mean Muslim communities becoming “more organised, more informed and more consistent” in civic engagement across the country.
UUCSA’s message to Muslims who feel disconnected from politics is direct: Your voice matters, and your absence also has consequences. Your community is not separate from the decisions made in council chambers. Your responsibility as a Muslim is not separate from your responsibility as a citizen.
“If you are not registered, register now, vote and encourage others to do the same,” said Moulana Patel.
