Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed and brought down as a guidance to mankind. In this blessed month, the righteous feelings withhin Muslims arise, and they look to Allah (swt) hoping to gain His reward and His pleasure. So we pray to Allah (swt) that He may bestow upon us and the Islamic Ummah the guidance and the help to achieve the good deeds, and honor us with His victory, and make all our actions good and for His sake alone.
Muslims, this month, listen to lectures and khutbahs about fasting, prayer, making Hajj, Zakat, du'a, istighfar, morals and many other concepts. These are all part of Islam and they are all necessary, but there is another very important part of Islam which you very rarely hear about, and even when you do hear about it, it is often part of an incomplete or a mis-interpreted speech. It is the part of Islam related to the function of the government or the ruling authority, and this is not limited to one country alone, it is unfortunately the same in all Muslim countries. In this short piece, we would like to expose the lack of understanding and importance associated with this area of government, and in so doing, we hope that Allah (swt) will guide us to the right work and the right opinion. Allah (swt) says,
"Whoever does not govern (rule) with whatever Allah has revealed, those are the unbelievers" [TMQ 5:44]
It is, therefore, clear that this matter is very serious, and of a very dangerous nature, because this issue could take a person from the Millah of Islam to the Millah of Kufr. So who are those rulers upon whom this verse applies, and under what case and what circumstances does the ruler become Kafir? There are other verses which come in the same context such as:
"Whoever does not govern (rule) with whatever Allah has revealed, those are the wrong doers" [TMQ 5:45]
"Whoever does not govern (rule) with whatever Allah has revealed, those are the fasiq, evil doers" [TMQ 5:47]
The word govern (rules) here, includes every person who has the authority and the responsibility to decide the matter and to implement it, whether this person is the head of state, his assistants, ministers or anyone who takes his authority from the head of state. So every responsibility to decide any matter and execute it would come under the term govern (rule) which came in these verses and others. So whoever settles the matter and implements it in any way that Allah has revealed, whether he did it out of ignorance, or absent mindedly, or knowingly and intentionally, and whether he brings an excuse or he really seeks other than the law of Allah with confidence and assurance. So if the one who governs with other than what Allah has revealed and does it intentionally and is convinced of the truthfulness of what he is doing, then he is of the unbelievers (kafir) and outside the deen of Islam.
The question arises as to how does the Muslim know whether the ruler who governs with other than what Allah has revealed, does so with confidence and conviction or without conviction? The Muslim does not know for sure, but he has to accept what appears to him, and he does not need to dive in to the heart of the matter. So if the evidence that the Muslim has established, is that the ruler does rule with laws other than Allah's and does so with conviction, then he can evaluate that the ruler is an unbeliever and the Muslim can even announce this openly to the people. The Muslim then has to take all the necessary measures against the ruler to remove him, measures which Shari'a has ordered the Muslim to take. But the evidence on the question of Takfir (calling a Muslim kafir) are different than those in the other issues. In the other issues, it is not enough that the evidence to accepted is likely to be true. But in the case of Takfir, it is necessary that the evidence be decisive and with full assurance because the Prophet (saaws) said, "Except only if you have seen a clear (or open) kufr, upon which you have a proof from Allah." [TMQ 5:44]
And it is clear that this person has not governed with what Allah has revealed. Other instances which would come under the same category is making halal (allowing) usury, alcohol, gambling, adultery, apostasy from Islam, and neglection of prayer. By the use of the term making halal we mean allowing such things to occur officially. Similar to that is stopping the implementation of hudood, and thus, instead of implementing the amputation of the hand of the thief, the stoning of the adulterer, the execution of the apostate, lashing the one who accuses the honor of people without proof, and punishing the one who drinks alcohol, some other non-Islamic punishment is implemented.
However, there is a difference between the one who deals with usury and believes it is haram, and the one who deals with usury and says that it is not haram. The first is Assi (disobedient), while the latter is kafir (unbeliever). This is because the first one agrees with the divine rule but he disagrees with it in action, i.e. he is disobedient. Whilst the second person not only disagrees with the divine rule but he also denies it (rejects it) and thus he puts himself in the position of being a kafir since he knowingly and decisively separates himself from the Shari'a. This is in the case of the ruler who puts the law, then once he gives up the divine rule, which is decisive, and puts instead other laws in its place thinking that these laws are better than the divine rule, then he would be a kafir, and he could not be considered a Muslim even if he claims to be.
Let us now examine the rulers in the Muslim countries. Do they give up some of the divine rules (Islamic rules) which are decisive, and put in their place other laws which are adopted from the West or the East? The answer to this question is undoubtedly yes! Do they recognize that they have given up the laws of the Shari'a and put in its place other laws? Have they done this willingly and with full conviction? The answer again is yes! Therefore, they are unbelievers, and they cannot claim other than that, unless there are a few of them who may have some excuse which might save them from this crime of kufr. However, even if these few people have saved themselves from being kafir, they do not save themselves from Fisk (evil doing) or Zulm (wrong doing).
Now let us come to the members of the parliament in Muslim countries, which is also known as the legislative council. If these people adopt laws and legislation which disagree with and contradict with Islamic texts which are decisive in their proof (like the Qur'an and hadith mutawatir) and decisive in their meaning, then in reality they are adopting clear kufr. Every member who announces or declares his conviction and acceptance with that, and he defends the issue of taking the laws of kufr, then he is a kafir and this cannot be refuted even if he claims otherwise.
Now let us come to those Ulema (scholars) of the rulers. In every Muslim land, we find that the ruler brings within his entourage some people whom he presents as the people of knowledge, and he leaves to them the issue of making Tafsir (interpretation) of the religion and issuing Fatwas in the way which agrees with his desires. These people who become the court of the ruler, or part of his regime and who have become his mouth piece, they are really the most dangerous of groups within the Ummah. And most of these are not actually of the Ulema, because the Ulema are the inheritors of the Prophets, and the 'Alem should be one of the people with Taqwa (piety). Allah (swt) says, "Those who really fear Allah from His servants, are those with knowledge." [TMQ Fatir:28]
Actually most of the government scholars are of the hypocrites who misinterpret Islam, and change it to agree with the whims and desires of their rulers and their masters. We find such people in every country, in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, in Iran and in almost every Muslim land we find some of these people. So what is the divine rule for such people in the Shari'a of Allah? If such an 'Alem was brought in front of the ruler, and he defends a law in direct way that contradicts with a divine text, which is decisively proved and is decisive in its indication, and encourages the adoption of such a law, such an 'Alem is unfortunately Jahil (ignorant), and is undoubtedly a kafir even if he fasts, prays, makes hajj, gives zakat, and claims to be a Muslim. This is because he is munafiq (hypocrite), an evil-doer, and a kafir. How many of these hypocrites, who do not recognize their corruption and do not recognize that they are Safih (shameless). Let us read what Allah (swt) has to say of such people in Surah Al-Baqara.
"Some of the people say that we have become believers, we believe in Allah and the Hereafter, but they are not believers. They try to deceive Allah and the believers, but really they deceive only themselves without feeling that. There is a disease in their hearts, and thus Allah has increased their disease, and they deserve a great torment because of their lies. If it is said to them do not make corruption in the land, they say no we make peace. Verily they are the corrupters, but they do not feel it. And if it is said to them believe like the people have believed, they say should we believe like the fools believe? But no they are the fools but they do not know" [TMQ 2:8-13]
So how many kafir are there that think of themselves as doing good things? Allah (swt) said in the chapter of the cave,
"Do I tell you about those who are the most lost in their actions, it is those who went astray in their lives, and they thought that they were doing good." [TMQ 18:103-104]
And Allah (swt) says in the chapter of Al-A'araf,
"They took Satan as their friend instead of Allah, and they think they are themselves guided." [TMQ 7:30]
So it is not surprising that everybody claims to be guided. How many people have had bad things brought to their eyes disguised as good, but which are not, because the measure of actions should be the Shari'a of Allah, not the whims and the desires of the people!
As we know, Allah (swt) has sent Muhammad (saaws) with the message of Islam to all the people. So whoever believed in the Prophet, and that the Qur'an is from Allah, and that the Shari'a of Islam is a revelation from Allah, and it is a guidance to the people, and his heart is assured of this, then he would not leave this faith or select other than this faith. Because it is inconceivable to any sensible man to leave a system, which Allah (swt), the Wise and th All-knowing, has brought to us, and to adopt instead another system which weak and ignorant people have made and imposed; be they the UN, the US or any of their surrogates. If, however, such a change does occur to such a so-called scholarly man, it is a clear sign that he became an unbeliever. So take notice of what Allah (swt) says in the chapter of Al-Nisa'a.
"Do not you see those who claim that they believed in what was revealed unto you and what was revealed before you, they want to arbitrate the Taghoot (non-Islam), while they have been commanded to disbelieve it, but Satan wants to misguide them away. And if it is said to them come to what Allah has revealed, and to the Messenger, you find the hypocrites turn away from you surely." [TMQ 4:60-61]
In the chapter of Al-Noor, Allah (swt) says,
"Verily, we have revealed clear verses, and Allah guides whom He wishes to the straight path. And they say we believe in Allah and in the Messenger and we obey, then a party of them turn away after that, and those are not the believers. If they have been called unto Allah and His Messenger to govern between them, you will find some of them turn away. If the right was on their side, they will come to you submitting. Is there any disease in their hearts, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust to them. No, but they are the Zalim (the wrong doers). Whilst the believers, if they have been called to Allah and His Messenger to govern between them, they say 'We hear and we obey' and those are the real successful ones. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and protects himself (of His anger), those are the real winners" [TMQ 24:46-51]
So the Muslim ruler, should never leave the Shari'a of Allah and judge with other than what Allah has revealed, and if he does so with conviction and acceptance, then he is not a Muslim. Here is a decisive word of Allah on this matter as read in the chapter of Al-Nisa'a.
"By your Lord, they would not be true believers, unless they make you govern in all disputes among them, and they would not have any difficulty in their hearts about what you have decided (for them), and they submit completely." [TMQ 4:65]
So beware Muslims, may Allah (swt) shower his mercy upon us all, of certain actions which you may consider easy, but which are very grave to Allah (swt). It could be some matter which takes a Muslim away from Islam, when he is not aware of it, and later on it will not benefit him, however much he prays or fasts. And Allah (swt) has informed us of the people of the Book before us who took their priests and their bishops as gods other than Allah. When the Prophet (saaws) was asked how did they take them as gods, the Prophet (saaws) replied, "They made to them the haram as halal and the halal as haram and then they obeyed them."
So look at your rulers. Don't they make the haram halal and the halal haram for you, and don't you obey them? Undoubtedly, they have made halal for you many things which Allah has made haram for you (to make peace with usurpers of Muslim lands, to invite the kafir to our lands, to give the authority to the kafir, to allow usury, insurance, etc.), and they have prohibited upon you many things which Allah has made halal for you. But what about you? Are you accepting this in your heart? If you have done so, then you have taken them as gods other than Allah, and we surely seek the protection of Allah from involving ourselves in such an action.
The Prophet (saaws) said, "Whoever of you sees a Munkar (wrong), he has to change it by his hand, if he cannot, then by his tongue, and if he cannot, then by his heart, and this is the weakest Iman."
In another narration, instead of saying "and this is the weakest Iman," he said, "and after that there is not even an atom weight of Iman." So these rulers are really the head of Munkar and their regimes are the source of Munkar. If the Muslim could not change this Munkar by the hand and by his tongue, and if he does not hate it and deny it in his heart, then his heart is the heart of a Kafir, which does not have even an atoms weight of Iman.
From all this, it is clear that most of the rulers of Muslims are not only disobedient or Fasik, but they are truly unbelievers, with a disbelief which takes them away from the Deen of Islam. And it seems clear that the media which praises these rulers and the kufr rules which they apply. They are actually a media of hypocrites and even unbelievers, and their disbelief is real, which takes them away from the Deen of Islam. Similarly those who accept these rulers, and the rules of kufr which they implement upon us, in their hearts, they are also real kafir, with a disbelief which takes them away from Islam. May Allah (swt) forgive us and save us from falling in that great sin.
It is not enough to deny the Munkar by your heart because it is the weakest of Iman. Most of the Muslims are capable of denying it with their tongues, and even some are in a position to change it with their hands (like the influential or the military). So the one who takes a stand against the ruler because of his Munkar, by his tongue or by his hand, he puts himself in a position of danger as he may be subjected to harm from the ruler or from his mistaken soldiers. So to what extent does Islam make it a duty upon a
Muslim to bear this harm and danger in the way of Allah (swt), and in the way of changing this Batil and supporting the truth? Allah (swt) commands us to 'Obey Allah as much as you can.' And the Prophet (saaws) said, "If I commanded you with something, make of it as much as you can."
The jurisprudents have decided the limits of that capability, and they are the limits of repression and persecution in which death is most likely to occur, or where damage would render the people incapable of performing natural tasks in life, such as taking their eyes, cutting their hands or legs, breaking their backs, or paralyzing some of their limbs. Therefore, it is not halal for any Muslim to leave any duty, or commit any haram unless he has been forced to this extent. But the mere threatening with lashing, with imprisonment, or being deprived of a job and other such things, they are not a license for the Muslim to leave a duty or to commit haram, because these matters are not outside his capability, rather they are within the capabilities. This is the duty of Muslims. Even though it is permitted to stop when those limits have been reached, it is still recommended for the Muslim to go to the extent of death. Islam has encouraged the Muslim to stand against a Munkar and the people of Munkar even if he sacrifices his life and not only his money and his time for the sake of Allah (swt). The Prophet (saaws) said, "The master of the martyrs is Hamza, and the person who stood up to an unjust ruler, and he advised him but was killed by him."
So Muslims, stand up for your duty and may Allah (swt) shower us with His mercy. Stand up for your society against the corruption, and this can only be done by demolishing the systems and rules of kufr, their rulers and the heads of kufr, and their helpers, and by taking the power from them and putting it in the hands of the people, who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and who govern by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saaws).
O Muslims! The reward of the obedience in this month is great, it is greatly multiplied than in any other time, and it is the best of times to work to establish, Insha' Allah, the guided Islamic Khilafah by which Allah (swt) will honor us with victory over the Jews and those who support the Jews and the Kafir. And by which Allah will, Insha' Allah, unite the Muslims. And by which he will purify our mind's, our hearts, and our societies of the diseases of kufr which invaded us. And by which the Islamic Ummah returns back as a mighty Ummah as Allah (swt) deemed us to be the best Ummah brought for mankind, calling for Ma'ruf (the good), denying Munkar (wrong) and believing in Allah. And Allah (swt) says,
"Allah promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that He will make them governors of the land as He made those before you, and He will establish to them their Deen which He accepted to them, and He will turn their fear into security, on condition that they worship me and do not associate anything with me." [TMQ 24:55]
Ar-Raya Magazine
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