Application of Shariah Methods as Guidance in Leadership Selection During General Elections in the Context of Malaysia

Malaysia practices a parliamentary democracy in which citizens are mandated to elect the government through a General Election (GE) every five years. The selection of leaders is a Shariah obligation and a matter of scholarly consensus (ijma?). While previous studies indicate that voter decisions are shaped by issues, geography, sentiments, and background, no consistent guideline has been applied in leadership selection during elections.This study aims to provide Shariah-based guidance for leadership selection by examining Islamic jurisprudential principles alongside the roles and essential qualities of leaders in Islam. Employing a qualitative library-based methodology with content analysis, the study draws on the Qur'an, Sunnah, Shariah maxims, ijtihad, and the views of both classical and contemporary scholars. A three-step algorithm is proposed: first, prioritizing coalitions with a majority of Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs); second, evaluating party manifestos using Fiqh al-Muwazanat (jurisprudence of balancing priorities) and Maqa?id al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law); and third, assessing individual candidates on competence, integrity, and minimal potential harm. This framework enables over 14 million Muslim voters to align their choices with Shariah principles in future elections and may encourage political parties to refine their policies and manifestos in line with Islamic values.