Question:
Is it permissible for Muslims to join political parties, whether Muslim-based parties or others like DMK, Congress, etc.? What are the Islamic guidelines?
Answer:
The principle is: if a person joins an organization, they become responsible for its actions and policies. If the party engages in activities that are contrary to Islamic teachings—such as promoting shirk, music, dance, indecency, or falsehood—then joining such a party makes the member a partner in those sins.
If the party openly promotes and organizes events that violate Islamic values, and a person becomes a member with knowledge of this, they bear responsibility. Membership implies approval and participation.
Even if one does not personally engage in the wrong actions, being a member of an organization that does them means sharing in the sin. This applies equally to so-called “Muslim parties” if their practices contradict Islam.
As for elections, the approach is to choose the lesser evil. If one is compelled to vote, they should assess which candidate or party will cause less harm to the community. This is based on the Islamic principle of choosing the lesser of two harms when necessary. However, joining a party as a member—with all the associated responsibilities—is not permissible if the party engages in un-Islamic activities.