It was a couple of weeks ago when I had a voicemail from a journalist at Radio 4 asking me to return the call. Dutifully, I returned the call and a half an hour conversation, or interview depending on your point of view, commenced. The discussion was around the General Election, in particular an individual representing the Conservative Party. She asked, “Do you think The Conservatives have put forward a Muslim candidate for Bradford West in order to win ‘the Muslim vote’?”

Until that moment I had not considered that particular angle. As a result during that conversation and subsequently after I thought about ‘the Muslim vote.’

Did it exist? Should Muslims’ vote in a manner which looks to defend or acknowledge their faith? Does the faith, or no-faith, of the candidate make a difference? Is it the individual or the policies of the party which are more important? Is it sufficient for a person to demand allegiance based on ethnic or religious lines alone?

Muslims, like all citizens of this country, will cast their vote in order to have representatives in Government to improve the education, welfare, health and general state of their city and country. Therefore, the key part is the representation these individuals claim they will make on our behalf. Hence, honesty, true representation, working for the people are some characteristics which would be required. Not too dissimilar to the Prophet’s statement when we apply it in a general sense,

“On a journey, the leader of the group is their servant.' (Sunan Ibn Maja, Shu'ab Al-Iman Al-Bayhaqi)

Hence, what he was describing is a servant-leader; in other words a people-orientated individual who is a good listener and ‘feels’ the pulse of the people, rather than one who is task-orientated.

Furthermore, when a Muslim and non-Muslim brought a case to the Prophet he judged in favour of the non-Muslim as his position was correct. Hence, justice and honesty are over riding factors.

Returning to the phone call, does ‘the Muslim vote’ exist? I would reply in the affirmative. However, it is not a case of voting for somebody who resembles oneself. Therefore, candidates/parties need to address the needs of Muslims as a group of people, as it would and should for other groups of people. However, there must be some credit given as Muslims do not adopt, in most cases anyway, a simplistic attitude of voting as is viewed by some Parties.