REPUBLICA.CO.ID, Islam has provided guidelines for its electors in choosing leaders. The most important thing is that a leader must believe. As Allah says SWT in Surat Al Maidah verse 55:

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

Professor of Islamic Religious Studies at Bogor Agricultural Institute who is also the Board of Indonesian Ulema Assembly (MUI) Prof. Dr. Didin Hafidhuddin explained that the verse came down when Abdullah bin Salam, a former Jewish rabbi who later converted to Islam, told the Prophet that his people had abandoned or shunned him after he embraced Islam. Then came down verse 5 of the letter of Al-Maidah.

Prof. Didin interpreted the word waliyukum as leader, helper. He explained that for Muslims it is enough for God and His Messenger to be a leader, a helper. Besides those who believe. In this verse, it is explained that the person who is the leader of the Muslims must believe, in addition to performing prayers, paying zakat, and worshiping.

“So leadership in Islam has to do with faith. With regard to faith, it is not solely political in the narrow sense let alone politics in search of power. And the faithful are open only to confession. There has to be proof of that. He is a Muslim leader who defends Islam, that is, he seems to like to observe prayer, like zakat, like to worship,” Prof. Didin said, which was also broadcast live on Kalam TV's YouTube account of tafsir surah Al Maidah verse 55.

Therefore, he reminded future generations when choosing a leader in any context, look for leaders who believe in God and His Apostle and love to pray and proselytize. According to him, this right is very important and cannot be considered trivial for the future of the people.

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