WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:09.220 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:13.500 Two misconceptions and the refutation of them. 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:18.500 There are two misconceptions raised against the truth regarding the issue of ruling by other than the Sharia. 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:22.500 We shall mention them below and refute them. 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:24.719 First: 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:28.719 Some believe in remaining silent about declaring this manifest disbelief (kufr bawwah). 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:30.719 Out of fear of causing civil strife (fitnah). 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:34.719 Due to the harms they claim would result from speaking out. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.750 In their view, the preferred course is patience and silence. 00:00:38.750 --> 00:00:41.750 Until reformers are able to speak out. 00:00:41.750 --> 00:00:45.780 And are capable of clarifying the truth and confronting the tyrants. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:48.780 To answer this, we say: 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:52.780 There is a difference between clarification (tabyin) and changing (taghyir) the situation by force. 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:57.780 What we are currently calling for is clarification through the tongue or the pen. 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:00.780 Not through changing things by the hand or the sword. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:03.780 For changing things through jihad and confrontation, 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:06.780 Is something that requires the condition of capability. 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:09.780 And in which the benefits and harms must be weighed. 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:11.780 As for clarifying the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid), 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:13.780 It is the greatest of all known duties. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:17.780 Which must be used to confront the greatest of all forms of polytheism (shirk). 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:21.780 This must never be delayed under any circumstances. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:24.780 Because major shirk is the greatest form of fitnah, 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.780 As mentioned in the words of Allah the Almighty: 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.780 “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.” (2:191) 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.980 And the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:36.980 When the words of Allah the Almighty were revealed to him: 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:38.980 "Arise and warn," 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:42.980 He was in a position of weakness in Makkah. 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:45.980 And his Companions were concealing their Islam. 00:01:45.980 --> 00:01:47.980 Yet he stood up and proclaimed the truth openly. 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:50.980 He clarified the shirk and warned against it. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:53.980 However, he delayed changing things by force, 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:56.980 Until the time he had the capability to do so. 00:01:56.980 --> 00:01:59.980 The idols were not removed from around the Ka'bah, 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:03.980 Until the conquest of Makkah in the eighth year of the Hijrah. 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:08.979 This means the evil remained in place for twenty-one years: 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:11.979 The total duration of the Makkan period, 00:02:11.979 --> 00:02:14.979 And eight years of the Madinan period. 00:02:14.979 --> 00:02:17.979 Whereas warning against it and clarifying the truth, 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:22.979 Was proclaimed from the very beginning of the Prophet’s mission. 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:26.419 The second misconception: 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:29.419 Is summarized by what has appeared in recent times, 00:02:29.419 --> 00:02:32.419 From some misguided callers, 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:36.419 Who have gone beyond the limit of remaining silent about the truth in this matter, 00:02:36.419 --> 00:02:39.419 To downplaying its significance, 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:42.419 And defending the rulers who fall into it, 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:45.419 By claiming that it is merely a sin, 00:02:45.419 --> 00:02:48.419 And not major shirk, 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:51.419 As long as the one legislating a law other than Allah’s, 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:54.419 Has not denied Allah’s law or deemed the act lawful (istihlal). 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:57.419 And is someone who says: 00:02:57.419 --> 00:03:00.460 "There is no god but Allah." 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:04.460 They use as evidence the statement attributed to Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:07.460 In his Tafsir of the words of Allah the Almighty: 00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:10.460 "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:13.460 Then it is those who are the disbelievers." 00:03:13.460 --> 00:03:16.460 He said: "It is disbelief less than disbelief (kufr duna kufr)." 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:19.680 This understanding held by these people, 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.680 Is a manifest misguidance, 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:25.680 And a strange confusion of matters. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.680 For the mere act of replacing the Sharia of Allah, 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:31.680 And substituting it with other human-made legislations, 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:34.680 Is in itself major kufr, 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:37.680 Whether or not the belief in its lawfulness (istihlal) is present. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.680 For the texts, 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.680 Which indicate the kufr of one who replaces the Sharia, 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.680 And rules by other than the law of the Most Merciful, 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.680 Do not stipulate the condition of istihlal; this is merely, 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.680 A claim brought forth by these people, 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.740 From their own inventions. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:58.740 Rather, for ruling, 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:01.740 By other than the Sharia to be a sin and not kufr, 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:04.939 The following conditions or restrictions must be met: 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:07.939 First, that the sovereignty, 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:10.939 And the basis of seeking judgment, is founded upon the Book, 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:13.939 And the Sunnah, and is practiced, 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:16.970 In the reality of the people. 00:04:16.970 --> 00:04:19.970 Second, that the ruling which contradicts, 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:22.970 The Sharia is an exception in specific, individual cases, 00:04:22.970 --> 00:04:25.970 Not in general matters. 00:04:25.970 --> 00:04:28.970 And it is not imposed upon the people as, 00:04:28.970 --> 00:04:31.970 A general, binding law. 00:04:31.970 --> 00:04:34.970 Rather, it is done out of the ruler's whim, 00:04:35.970 --> 00:04:38.970 Or, for example, favoritism by the judge, 00:04:38.970 --> 00:04:41.970 In an unjust ruling; the ruler, 00:04:41.970 --> 00:04:44.970 In that case, is in grave danger, 00:04:44.970 --> 00:04:47.970 And has committed a major sin, 00:04:47.970 --> 00:04:51.160 Even if it does not reach the level of kufr. 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.160 Third, that the judge or ruler, 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.160 Does not believe that what he has done is lawful. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:00.420 For if he believes it is lawful, 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:03.420 He is a disbeliever by consensus, and this is, 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:07.420 The "disbelief less than disbelief." 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.420 Ibn 'Abbas said this in the context of his debate with the Khawarij, 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:13.420 Who declare people disbelievers for committing sins, 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:16.420 And want the scholars to agree with them, 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:19.420 In declaring the oppressive rulers disbelievers, 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:22.420 Who were ruling in some cases, 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:25.420 In contradiction to the Sharia, 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:28.420 Following their whims or out of ignorance of the ruling. 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:31.420 So they justify their position with that agreement. 00:05:32.420 --> 00:05:35.449 It also indicates that this, 00:05:35.449 --> 00:05:38.449 Is what Ibn 'Abbas meant, 00:05:38.449 --> 00:05:41.449 That the form of replacing the Sharia in a, 00:05:41.449 --> 00:05:44.449 General sense did not exist, 00:05:44.449 --> 00:05:47.449 At all in the time of Ibn 'Abbas. 00:05:47.449 --> 00:05:50.449 And it would not have crossed anyone's mind, 00:05:50.449 --> 00:05:53.449 Nor would anyone even suspect, 00:05:53.449 --> 00:05:56.449 That it is permissible for him to rule the Muslims, 00:05:56.449 --> 00:05:59.449 By other than the Sharia of Allah, nor to legislate, 00:05:59.449 --> 00:06:02.449 Something contrary to the Book and the Sunnah, 00:06:02.449 --> 00:06:05.449 And then force the people to submit to it. 00:06:05.449 --> 00:06:08.449 This only appeared in the era of the Tatars, 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:11.449 When Genghis Khan compiled, 00:06:11.449 --> 00:06:14.449 The book of "Al-Yasa" and made it the reference, 00:06:14.449 --> 00:06:17.449 For judgment among the people, and he mixed in it, 00:06:17.449 --> 00:06:20.449 Between legislations for the Muslims, 00:06:20.449 --> 00:06:23.449 And others from the religions of the People of the Book and others, 00:06:23.449 --> 00:06:26.449 And some prevailing customs and traditions, 00:06:26.449 --> 00:06:29.449 And his own opinions on laws and legislations. 00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:32.449 Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah issued a fatwa, 00:06:32.449 --> 00:06:35.449 Declaring him and his supporting followers, 00:06:35.449 --> 00:06:38.449 To be in a state of kufr that expels one from the fold of Islam, 00:06:38.449 --> 00:06:42.120 And he deemed it lawful to fight them.