1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:09,150 Summary of the concepts held by the people of the Sunnah 2 00:00:09,150 --> 00:00:13,339 What is meant by judgment and ruling (hukm) 3 00:00:13,339 --> 00:00:16,460 Allah's judgment is of three types: 4 00:00:16,460 --> 00:00:19,460 First, universal decree (qadari), 5 00:00:19,460 --> 00:00:22,460 which the servant must accept with contentment and bear with patience; 6 00:00:22,460 --> 00:00:25,460 and that is divine decree and predestination (al-qada' wal-qadar). 7 00:00:25,460 --> 00:00:28,719 Second, legislative ruling (shar'i), 8 00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:31,719 which the servant must comply with and obey; 9 00:00:31,719 --> 00:00:34,719 thus, the entire religion, with all its legislations, falls under it. 10 00:00:34,719 --> 00:00:37,719 And the Noble Qur'an has indicated, 11 00:00:37,719 --> 00:00:40,719 across several verses, 12 00:00:40,719 --> 00:00:43,719 that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, possesses exclusivity 13 00:00:43,719 --> 00:00:46,820 over both of these types of ruling. 14 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:49,820 Regarding universal decree—predestination and fate— 15 00:00:49,820 --> 00:00:52,820 Jacob, peace be upon him, said: 16 00:00:52,820 --> 00:00:55,820 “And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.” (12:67) 17 00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:58,820 "Judgment rests only with Allah; 18 00:00:58,820 --> 00:01:01,820 in Him I have put my trust, and in Him let all who trust place their reliance." 19 00:01:01,820 --> 00:01:04,909 And regarding the legislative ruling, 20 00:01:04,909 --> 00:01:07,909 Joseph, peace be upon him, said: 21 00:01:07,909 --> 00:01:10,909 "Judgment rests only with Allah; 22 00:01:10,909 --> 00:01:13,909 He has commanded that you worship none but Him. 23 00:01:13,909 --> 00:01:16,909 That is the upright religion, 24 00:01:16,909 --> 00:01:19,909 but most people do not know." 25 00:01:19,909 --> 00:01:22,980 And the Exalted said: 26 00:01:22,980 --> 00:01:25,980 “Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers.” (6:114) 27 00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:28,980 And He said: "And whoever does not judge 28 00:01:28,980 --> 00:01:31,980 by what Allah has revealed—such 29 00:01:31,980 --> 00:01:35,170 are the disbelievers." 30 00:01:35,170 --> 00:01:38,170 Third, retributive judgment in the Hereafter, 31 00:01:38,170 --> 00:01:41,170 and it belongs to Allah alone. 32 00:01:41,170 --> 00:01:44,170 The Exalted said: "Master of the Day of Judgment." 33 00:01:44,170 --> 00:01:47,840 The connection of ruling and judgment 34 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:52,120 to Tawhid (monotheism). 35 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,120 Just as Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is transcendent above 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,120 having any partner 37 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,120 that is worshipped alongside Him, 38 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,120 He is likewise transcendent above having alongside Him 39 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,120 any judge or legislator 40 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,120 who rules by other than His ruling. 41 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,120 For just as the Exalted said: 42 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,120 “Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.” (18:110) 43 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,120 "So let him do righteous deeds," 44 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,120 “Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.” (18:110) 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,150 and according to the recitation of Ibn 'Amir: 46 00:02:27,150 --> 00:02:30,150 "and do not associate," in the prohibitive form. 47 00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:33,150 Thus, His judgment is like His worship: 48 00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:36,150 worship belongs to Him alone, 49 00:02:36,150 --> 00:02:39,150 and ruling belongs to Him alone. 50 00:02:39,150 --> 00:02:42,150 This is the requirement of His magnificence and supreme greatness 51 00:02:42,150 --> 00:02:45,150 over all of His creation. 52 00:02:45,150 --> 00:02:48,340 “(It is said unto them): This is (your plight) because, when Allah only was invoked, ye disbelieved, but when some partner was ascribed to Him ye were believing. But the command belongeth only to Allah, the Sublime, the Majestic.” (40:12) 53 00:02:48,340 --> 00:02:51,340 And the saying of Allah the Exalted 54 00:02:51,340 --> 00:02:54,340 points to Allah's exclusivity in both 55 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:57,340 the rulings of universal decree and divine legislation. 56 00:02:57,340 --> 00:03:00,340 For His saying, "Unquestionably, His is the creation," 57 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:03,340 means He is the Creator of all created things, 58 00:03:03,340 --> 00:03:06,340 and that encompasses His 59 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:09,409 universal, decreed determinations; 60 00:03:09,409 --> 00:03:12,409 while His saying, "and the command," 61 00:03:12,409 --> 00:03:16,050 encompasses His religious, legislative rulings. 62 00:03:16,050 --> 00:03:19,050 Indeed, Allah is the Supreme Arbiter (Al-Hakam). 63 00:03:19,050 --> 00:03:23,460 Allah's name "Al-Hakam" is mentioned 64 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:26,550 in the Noble Qur'an once. 65 00:03:26,550 --> 00:03:29,550 The Exalted said: 66 00:03:29,550 --> 00:03:32,550 “Shall I seek other than Allah for judge, when He it is Who hath revealed unto you (this) Scripture, fully explained? Those unto whom We gave the Scripture (aforetime) know that it is revealed from thy Lord in truth. So be not thou (O Muhammad) of the waverers.” (6:114) 67 00:03:32,550 --> 00:03:35,580 meaning, "as an arbiter and judge." 68 00:03:35,580 --> 00:03:38,580 Thus, al-hakam and al-hakim 69 00:03:38,580 --> 00:03:41,580 share the same or very close meanings, 70 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:44,580 and its root meaning denotes restraint and prevention; 71 00:03:44,580 --> 00:03:47,580 for a ruler is called hakim because he prevents injustice. 72 00:03:47,580 --> 00:03:50,580 However, the term al-hakam 73 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:53,580 is more profound in describing Allah the Exalted 74 00:03:53,580 --> 00:03:56,580 than the term al-hakim, 75 00:03:56,580 --> 00:03:59,580 because the Arabs hardly ever apply the word al-hakam 76 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:02,580 except to one who is completely equitable and just in his judgment, 77 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:05,580 unlike al-hakim, 78 00:04:05,580 --> 00:04:08,580 whose judgment may be just, 79 00:04:08,580 --> 00:04:11,740 or it may be tyrannical. 80 00:04:11,740 --> 00:04:14,740 The Sunnah has also transmitted the name al-Hakam: 81 00:04:15,740 --> 00:04:18,740 "Indeed, Allah is the Arbiter (Al-Hakam), 82 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:21,899 and to Him belongs all judgment." 83 00:04:21,899 --> 00:04:24,899 Narrated by Abu Dawud and authenticated by al-Albani. 84 00:04:24,899 --> 00:04:28,220 As for the term al-hakim, 85 00:04:28,220 --> 00:04:31,220 it only occurs in the Qur'an in the superlative form. 86 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:34,220 The Exalted said: 87 00:04:34,220 --> 00:04:37,220 "And He is the Best of judges." 88 00:04:37,220 --> 00:04:40,220 And the Exalted said: 89 00:04:40,220 --> 00:04:43,220 "And You are the Most Just of judges." 90 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:46,220 And Allah said: "Is not Allah the Most Just of judges?" 91 00:04:46,220 --> 00:04:49,220 Which corroborates the view that al-hakam 92 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:52,220 is the judge 93 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:55,220 whose judgment entails nothing but absolute justice 94 00:04:55,220 --> 00:04:58,959 and equity. 95 00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:03,980 Opposing Allah's judgment is polytheism (shirk). 96 00:05:03,980 --> 00:05:06,980 Once it becomes evident that ruling by what Allah has revealed 97 00:05:06,980 --> 00:05:09,980 is an indispensable pillar among the pillars of Tawhid, 98 00:05:09,980 --> 00:05:12,980 it follows as a consequence that whoever claims a right 99 00:05:13,980 --> 00:05:16,980 to legislate, permit, and prohibit, 100 00:05:16,980 --> 00:05:19,980 has indeed committed shirk against Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, 101 00:05:19,980 --> 00:05:22,980 in the Tawhid of Lordship (Rububiyyah); 102 00:05:22,980 --> 00:05:25,980 because he has ascribed partners to Allah in His divine actions, 103 00:05:25,980 --> 00:05:28,980 among which are judgment and legislation. 104 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:32,009 It has already been explained that Jewish rabbis 105 00:05:32,009 --> 00:05:35,009 and Christian monks, 106 00:05:35,009 --> 00:05:38,009 by permitting the forbidden and forbidding the lawful, 107 00:05:38,009 --> 00:05:41,009 were effectively setting themselves up as lords, 108 00:05:42,009 --> 00:05:45,009 just as the Exalted said: 109 00:05:45,009 --> 00:05:48,009 "They took their rabbis and monks 110 00:05:48,009 --> 00:05:51,009 as lords besides Allah." 111 00:05:51,009 --> 00:05:54,360 And whoever obeys another besides Allah and concurs with him, 112 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,360 knowingly, in making the forbidden lawful 113 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,360 or making the lawful forbidden, or seeks judgment, 114 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,360 knowingly and willingly, from other than Allah's law, 115 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,360 has committed shirk in Divinity (Uluhiyyah), just like committing shirk 116 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,360 in acts of worship; because he directed 117 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,360 his compliance toward other than Allah, 118 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,389 the sole possessor of all judgment. 119 00:06:15,389 --> 00:06:18,389 And the Exalted has said: 120 00:06:18,389 --> 00:06:21,389 “And eat not of that whereon Allah's name hath not been mentioned, for lo! it is abomination. Lo! the devils do inspire their minions to dispute with you. But if ye obey them, ye will be in truth idolaters.” (6:121) 121 00:06:21,389 --> 00:06:24,389 And He said: 122 00:06:24,389 --> 00:06:27,389 “But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65) 123 00:06:27,389 --> 00:06:30,389 "in whatever dispute arises among them." 124 00:06:30,389 --> 00:06:33,389 “But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65) 125 00:06:33,389 --> 00:06:36,680 “But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65) 126 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,680 Any leader or ruler who rejects the judgment of Allah 127 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,680 and His legislation and opposes it, 128 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,680 is a taghut (false authority) and a legislator committing shirk with Allah— 129 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,680 whether that legislator be 130 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,680 an individual, a regime, 131 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,680 a constitution, a parliament, 132 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,680 or a national assembly; 133 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,680 wherein they arrogate to themselves supreme sovereignty 134 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,680 and executive authority. 135 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,680 And this is manifest disbelief and major polytheism, 136 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,680 from the perpetrator of which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, accepts 137 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,680 neither obligatory deed nor voluntary ransom. 138 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,839 Ibn 'Abd al-Barr has related 139 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:19,839 a consensus on the disbelief of anyone who rejects anything 140 00:07:19,839 --> 00:07:23,540 that Allah has revealed. 141 00:07:23,540 --> 00:07:26,540 The legislation of usury (riba) and its relation to divine governance. 142 00:07:26,540 --> 00:07:31,240 Permitting usurious banks 143 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,240 is among the general legislations that violate divine law; 144 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,339 for just as nothing is obligatory 145 00:07:38,339 --> 00:07:41,339 except what Allah and His Messenger have made obligatory, 146 00:07:41,339 --> 00:07:44,339 likewise nothing is forbidden except what 147 00:07:44,339 --> 00:07:47,339 Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. 148 00:07:47,339 --> 00:07:50,339 And Allah has prohibited usury, 149 00:07:50,339 --> 00:07:53,430 so no one has the right to make it lawful. 150 00:07:53,430 --> 00:07:56,430 Legalizing what is forbidden is shirk in Lordship 151 00:07:56,430 --> 00:07:59,430 and a fabrication of falsehood against Allah the Exalted; 152 00:07:59,430 --> 00:08:02,430 for fabrication is not restricted to false claims of revelation, 153 00:08:02,430 --> 00:08:05,430 but rather includes declaring lawful that which He did not make lawful. 154 00:08:05,430 --> 00:08:08,430 And the Exalted has said: 155 00:08:08,430 --> 00:08:11,430 “Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin.” (4:48) 156 00:08:11,430 --> 00:08:14,560 "a tremendous sin." 157 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,560 And usury is among the grave sins 158 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,560 that warrant a declaration of war from Allah against its perpetrator; 159 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,560 and all the more so against the one who legislates it. 160 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,560 The Exalted said: 161 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,560 "O you who have believed, fear Allah 162 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,559 “O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up what remaineth (due to you) from usury, if ye are (in truth) believers.” (2:278) 163 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,559 but if you do not do so, 164 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,559 “And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.” (2:279) 165 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,720 then know of a war from Allah and His Messenger." Thus, establishing usurious banks 166 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,720 and granting them operational licenses 167 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,720 is considered an act of shirk in governance and legislation, 168 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,720 and it is not made permissible by deceiving people 169 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,720 with labels such as "Islamic branches" 170 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,720 and the like, unless 171 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,720 the bank is truly free from usury in reality; 172 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,720 for the standard lies in substance, 173 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,879 not in external form. 174 00:09:05,879 --> 00:09:08,879 Among the greatest usurers in the world today 175 00:09:08,879 --> 00:09:11,879 are the World Bank 176 00:09:11,879 --> 00:09:14,879 and the International Monetary Fund; 177 00:09:14,879 --> 00:09:17,879 and none can overlook the consequences of their lending 178 00:09:17,879 --> 00:09:20,879 to impoverished nations with interest, 179 00:09:20,879 --> 00:09:24,580 in compounding their poverty and destroying their economies. 180 00:09:25,580 --> 00:09:28,580 Such institutions do not lose their status as taghut simply by 181 00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:32,860 presenting the ruling of Allah and His Messenger 182 00:09:32,860 --> 00:09:35,860 before legislative assemblies, 183 00:09:35,860 --> 00:09:38,860 while making its enactment contingent upon the approval of these assemblies. 184 00:09:38,860 --> 00:09:41,860 For it is human-made positive law that grants them 185 00:09:41,860 --> 00:09:44,860 absolute legislative authority, 186 00:09:44,860 --> 00:09:47,860 and this is precisely what characterizes these councils 187 00:09:47,860 --> 00:09:50,860 with the label of taghut; 188 00:09:50,860 --> 00:09:53,860 because in doing so, they dispute with Allah the Exalted, 189 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:57,860 even if they happen to agree with Allah's law. 190 00:09:57,860 --> 00:10:00,899 For that ruling at that point 191 00:10:00,899 --> 00:10:03,899 derives its legal validity in the state 192 00:10:03,899 --> 00:10:06,899 from the council's approval of it, 193 00:10:06,899 --> 00:10:09,929 not from its conformity with the judgment of Allah. 194 00:10:09,929 --> 00:10:12,929 And if a new legislative council were to emerge 195 00:10:12,929 --> 00:10:15,929 and abrogate the enactment of the preceding council, 196 00:10:15,929 --> 00:10:18,929 legislating something else instead, 197 00:10:18,929 --> 00:10:21,929 then the new law would become the binding statute; 198 00:10:22,929 --> 00:10:25,929 and this is sheer polytheism in Lordship. 199 00:10:25,929 --> 00:10:29,090 For Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, 200 00:10:29,090 --> 00:10:32,090 according to such people, 201 00:10:32,090 --> 00:10:35,090 does not have the inherent right to legislate by Himself, 202 00:10:35,090 --> 00:10:38,090 nor does His judgment inherently deserve 203 00:10:38,090 --> 00:10:41,120 binding authority on its own; 204 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,120 rather, His rulings are merely selected and cherry-picked 205 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,120 based on the endorsement of these assemblies, 206 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,120 which are hailed as the ultimate source of authority 207 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,120 possessing the right to legislate. 208 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,120 Exalted is Allah far above what the wrongdoers say, 209 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,220 high and supreme! 210 00:10:59,220 --> 00:11:02,220 Such is the true reality of these people, 211 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:05,220 regardless of whatever claims they make about loving Allah 212 00:11:05,220 --> 00:11:08,340 and His Messenger. And we say to these 213 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:11,340 misguided people: If we were to assume 214 00:11:11,340 --> 00:11:14,340 that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 215 00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:17,340 were alive among us today, 216 00:11:17,340 --> 00:11:20,340 and he decreed a certain matter, 217 00:11:20,340 --> 00:11:23,340 would we be obligated to obey him outright, 218 00:11:23,340 --> 00:11:26,340 or should we submit his words to those representative councils? 219 00:11:26,340 --> 00:11:29,340 If they claim it is obligatory to refer his word 220 00:11:29,340 --> 00:11:32,340 to their councils, 221 00:11:32,340 --> 00:11:35,340 they have directly opposed the ruling of Allah and His Messenger, 222 00:11:35,340 --> 00:11:38,340 and this constitutes blatant disbelief and polytheism. 223 00:11:38,340 --> 00:11:41,340 And if they reply, 224 00:11:41,340 --> 00:11:44,340 "Rather, we would comply with his command, peace be upon him," 225 00:11:44,340 --> 00:11:47,340 we ask: Is the mere physical absence of His Messenger 226 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:50,340 the reason for your turning away from Allah's law, 227 00:11:50,340 --> 00:11:53,340 even though his religion remains as fresh and pristine 228 00:11:53,340 --> 00:11:56,340 as the day it was revealed to him, peace be upon him? 229 00:11:56,340 --> 00:11:59,440 This is truly astonishing! 230 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,210 How has the Ummah deviated 231 00:12:03,210 --> 00:12:07,419 from the true concept of ruling by divine law? 232 00:12:07,419 --> 00:12:10,419 The Muslims became oblivious to the words of Allah Almighty: 233 00:12:10,419 --> 00:12:13,419 “(Saying): Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow no protecting friends beside Him. Little do ye recollect!” (7:3) 234 00:12:13,419 --> 00:12:16,419 “(Saying): Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow no protecting friends beside Him. Little do ye recollect!” (7:3) 235 00:12:16,419 --> 00:12:19,419 "...allies besides Him; 236 00:12:19,419 --> 00:12:22,419 little do you remember!" 237 00:12:22,419 --> 00:12:25,419 and they neglected the paramount foundation of Tawhid: 238 00:12:25,419 --> 00:12:28,419 "There is no obedience to any created being 239 00:12:28,419 --> 00:12:31,580 in disobedience to the Creator." 240 00:12:31,580 --> 00:12:34,580 Thus, they diverted the worship of obedience and following, 241 00:12:34,580 --> 00:12:37,580 or parts thereof, toward rulers and governors, 242 00:12:37,580 --> 00:12:40,580 and toward biased, sectarian scholars, 243 00:12:41,580 --> 00:12:44,620 in addition to the hypocrites, 244 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:47,620 for whom the atmosphere became ripe 245 00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:50,620 due to the prevailing ignorance across the Ummah 246 00:12:50,620 --> 00:12:53,710 and widespread naivety. 247 00:12:53,710 --> 00:12:56,710 We can point to four major causes 248 00:12:56,710 --> 00:12:59,710 behind this deviation from ruling by divine law. 249 00:12:59,710 --> 00:13:02,710 First: 250 00:13:02,710 --> 00:13:05,710 intellectual stagnation and the closure of the gates of legal ijtihad 251 00:13:05,710 --> 00:13:08,710 since the fourth century of the Hijrah, 252 00:13:08,710 --> 00:13:11,870 which prevented issuing judgments on unprecedented contemporary issues. 253 00:13:11,870 --> 00:13:14,870 Second: the erroneous understanding of worship, 254 00:13:14,870 --> 00:13:17,870 which confines it strictly to ritual acts 255 00:13:17,870 --> 00:13:20,870 of devotion such as prayer, fasting, 256 00:13:20,870 --> 00:13:23,870 and pilgrimage, and the like, 257 00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:26,870 while stripping away the worship of obedience and submission 258 00:13:26,870 --> 00:13:29,870 to all that Allah has revealed. 259 00:13:29,870 --> 00:13:32,870 Consequently, in the minds of most Muslims, the divine law became detached 260 00:13:32,870 --> 00:13:35,870 from the broader affairs of life, 261 00:13:35,870 --> 00:13:38,870 severing religion from life, and religion from the state. 262 00:13:38,870 --> 00:13:41,940 Third: 263 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:44,940 Western imperialism, 264 00:13:44,940 --> 00:13:47,940 which aggressively promoted governance through its secular systems, 265 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:50,940 claiming they represent advancement 266 00:13:50,940 --> 00:13:53,940 and the sole cause of its alleged civilizational superiority, 267 00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:56,940 and installed over Muslim peoples 268 00:13:56,940 --> 00:14:00,129 puppet regimes subservient to its institutional systems. 269 00:14:00,129 --> 00:14:03,129 Fourth: the lackeys of imperialism, 270 00:14:03,129 --> 00:14:06,129 who aided their foreign masters 271 00:14:06,129 --> 00:14:09,129 by propagating the doctrine of separating religion 272 00:14:09,129 --> 00:14:12,129 from the state, 273 00:14:12,129 --> 00:14:15,129 asserting that worship should be confined strictly to the mosques 274 00:14:15,129 --> 00:14:18,259 and has no place in organizing people's lives 275 00:14:18,259 --> 00:14:21,259 and public affairs. 276 00:14:21,259 --> 00:14:24,259 Three primary empires had partitioned 277 00:14:24,259 --> 00:14:27,259 the Islamic world 278 00:14:27,259 --> 00:14:30,259 during the period spanning the tenth 279 00:14:30,259 --> 00:14:33,259 to the eighteenth centuries CE: 280 00:14:33,259 --> 00:14:36,259 the Safavid Empire in Persia, 281 00:14:36,259 --> 00:14:39,259 the Mughal Empire in India, 282 00:14:39,259 --> 00:14:42,259 and the Ottoman Empire around the Mediterranean basin. 283 00:14:42,259 --> 00:14:45,539 As for the Safavid Empire, 284 00:14:45,539 --> 00:14:48,539 its affiliation with Islam 285 00:14:48,539 --> 00:14:51,539 was merely nominal and superficial, 286 00:14:51,539 --> 00:14:54,539 for it was an extremist Twelver Rafidi state, 287 00:14:54,539 --> 00:14:57,539 governed by the sectarian whims and doctrines of Shi'ite clerics, 288 00:14:57,539 --> 00:15:00,539 whose paramount ambition was waging war against 289 00:15:00,539 --> 00:15:03,539 the Sunni Ottoman Empire. 290 00:15:03,539 --> 00:15:06,700 As for the Mughal Empire, 291 00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:09,700 it arose during a period of acute weakness in the Islamic Ummah 292 00:15:09,700 --> 00:15:12,700 toward the end of the Abbasid era, 293 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,700 an era rife with misguided notions 294 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:18,700 and deviant intellectual sects. 295 00:15:18,700 --> 00:15:21,700 The Mughals did not embrace pure Islam; 296 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:24,700 rather, they entered into it in an adulterated form. 297 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:28,700 This profound ignorance of Islam, 298 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:31,700 coupled with the minority status of Muslims in India 299 00:15:31,700 --> 00:15:34,700 relative to the Hindu population, 300 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:37,700 facilitated the British colonial abolition of governance 301 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:40,700 under Islamic Sharia, 302 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:43,860 without encountering any notable resistance. 303 00:15:43,860 --> 00:15:46,860 As for the Ottoman Empire, 304 00:15:46,860 --> 00:15:49,860 despite its laudable efforts in championing and spreading Sunni Islam 305 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:52,860 in general, 306 00:15:52,860 --> 00:15:55,860 and in addition to its valor in resisting 307 00:15:55,860 --> 00:15:58,860 the Byzantine West and the Mongol-Tatar East, 308 00:15:58,860 --> 00:16:01,860 it was nevertheless unable 309 00:16:01,860 --> 00:16:04,860 to entirely eradicate the intellectual deviation 310 00:16:04,860 --> 00:16:07,860 and backwardness it had inherited from its predecessors. 311 00:16:07,860 --> 00:16:10,860 Furthermore, its rigid partisanship toward the Hanafi school of fiqh 312 00:16:10,860 --> 00:16:13,860 led it to oppose reopening the gate of independent reasoning (ijtihad), 313 00:16:13,860 --> 00:16:16,860 which had remained shuttered since the fourth 314 00:16:16,860 --> 00:16:19,860 century of the Hijrah, 315 00:16:20,860 --> 00:16:23,860 paralyzing the role of legal deduction 316 00:16:23,860 --> 00:16:26,860 from keeping pace with contemporary developments. 317 00:16:26,860 --> 00:16:29,860 Consequently, foreign legal codes were imported, 318 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:32,860 and ruling by other than Allah's law crept gradually 319 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:35,860 into the state through naive intentions 320 00:16:35,860 --> 00:16:38,860 and without heed to its imminent peril, 321 00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:41,860 until the situation culminated in the rise of secularists 322 00:16:41,860 --> 00:16:44,860 who clamored for the separation of religion 323 00:16:44,860 --> 00:16:47,860 from the state, 324 00:16:47,860 --> 00:16:50,860 bolstered by Western colonial powers. 325 00:16:50,860 --> 00:16:53,860 Thus, the majority of the Ummah fell 326 00:16:53,860 --> 00:16:56,860 into the wilderness of ruling by other than what Allah 327 00:16:56,860 --> 00:16:59,990 revealed, and into its deep misguidance. 328 00:16:59,990 --> 00:17:02,990 We may therefore affirm 329 00:17:02,990 --> 00:17:05,990 that the Muslims' deviation due to their ignorance 330 00:17:05,990 --> 00:17:08,990 of the reality of their religion and the Sunnah of Allah in creation, 331 00:17:08,990 --> 00:17:11,990 along with their failure to address emerging realities, 332 00:17:11,990 --> 00:17:14,990 served as the primary conduit for the infiltration of secularism 333 00:17:15,990 --> 00:17:18,990 and for establishing governance upon other than what Allah revealed. 334 00:17:24,470 --> 00:17:28,559 Since ruling by other than what Allah revealed 335 00:17:28,559 --> 00:17:31,559 has become prevalent across most Muslim lands, 336 00:17:31,559 --> 00:17:34,559 elucidating the truth regarding this critical issue 337 00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:37,559 has become of paramount importance, 338 00:17:37,559 --> 00:17:40,559 and it is incumbent upon the scholars and callers of the Ummah 339 00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:43,559 to clarify it plainly. 340 00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:47,589 For Allah has indeed taken a binding covenant 341 00:17:47,589 --> 00:17:50,589 upon the people of knowledge to make the truth clear 342 00:17:50,589 --> 00:17:53,589 to humankind and not to conceal it. 343 00:17:53,589 --> 00:17:56,779 Allah Almighty said: 344 00:17:56,779 --> 00:17:59,779 “And (remember) when Allah laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture (He said): Ye are to expound it to mankind and not to hide it. But they flung it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain. Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby.” (3:187) 345 00:17:59,779 --> 00:18:02,779 "You must make it clear to the people 346 00:18:02,779 --> 00:18:06,230 and not conceal it." 347 00:18:06,230 --> 00:18:09,230 Disseminating sound knowledge regarding this issue 348 00:18:09,230 --> 00:18:12,230 is an urgent necessity, 349 00:18:12,230 --> 00:18:15,230 so that the Ummah may awaken 350 00:18:15,230 --> 00:18:18,230 after having long succumbed to distorted concepts 351 00:18:18,230 --> 00:18:21,230 which falsely depicted to it, among other fallacies, 352 00:18:21,230 --> 00:18:24,230 that implementing the Sharia is a secondary matter 353 00:18:24,230 --> 00:18:27,230 bearing no connection to the legitimacy of the governing regime. 354 00:18:27,230 --> 00:18:30,299 Rather, according to these corrupted notions, legitimacy 355 00:18:30,299 --> 00:18:33,299 is supposedly attained through 356 00:18:33,299 --> 00:18:36,299 secular elections, parliaments, 357 00:18:36,299 --> 00:18:39,299 and honeyed slogans; 358 00:18:40,299 --> 00:18:43,299 yet in truth, that is sheer polytheism 359 00:18:43,299 --> 00:18:46,549 and disbelief in what Allah has revealed. 360 00:18:46,549 --> 00:18:49,549 And since this proclamation never pleases tyrants, 361 00:18:49,549 --> 00:18:52,549 they invariably—and unsurprisingly— 362 00:18:52,549 --> 00:18:55,549 launch fierce attacks against anyone who proclaims it with strength and resolve, 363 00:18:55,549 --> 00:18:58,549 subjecting them to all manner of tribulation 364 00:18:58,549 --> 00:19:01,549 and persecution, 365 00:19:01,549 --> 00:19:04,549 and smearing, through falsehood and slander, 366 00:19:04,549 --> 00:19:07,549 the reputation of the callers to truth who explain it, 367 00:19:07,549 --> 00:19:10,549 branding them as ignorant terrorists. 368 00:19:10,549 --> 00:19:13,549 Therefore, the callers to truth must 369 00:19:13,549 --> 00:19:16,549 arm themselves with steadfast patience in the face of this falsehood, 370 00:19:16,549 --> 00:19:19,549 and discipline their souls to remain firm upon the truth, 371 00:19:19,549 --> 00:19:22,549 out of sincere counsel to Allah and His Messenger, 372 00:19:22,549 --> 00:19:25,549 and as a warning against the shirk of human legislation and its grave peril. 373 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,410 Two misconceptions are commonly raised against the truth 374 00:19:34,410 --> 00:19:37,410 regarding the issue of ruling by divine law. 375 00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:40,410 First: 376 00:19:40,410 --> 00:19:43,599 some argue that one should keep silent 377 00:19:43,599 --> 00:19:46,599 regarding the exposure of this blatant disbelief, 378 00:19:46,599 --> 00:19:49,599 alleging fear of fitnah (discord) 379 00:19:49,599 --> 00:19:52,599 and citing the supposed harms 380 00:19:52,599 --> 00:19:55,630 that might result from declaring it. 381 00:19:55,630 --> 00:19:58,630 In their view, the best course is patience and silence 382 00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:01,630 until the reformers gain strength 383 00:20:01,630 --> 00:20:04,660 and become capable of speaking out and confronting the tyrants. 384 00:20:04,660 --> 00:20:07,660 To this we reply: 385 00:20:07,660 --> 00:20:10,660 there is an essential difference between clarification and physical change. 386 00:20:10,660 --> 00:20:13,660 What we are calling for at present 387 00:20:13,660 --> 00:20:16,660 is clarification through the tongue and the pen, 388 00:20:16,660 --> 00:20:19,660 not forceful change with the hand and the sword. 389 00:20:19,660 --> 00:20:22,660 For forceful change through armed jihad and confrontation 390 00:20:22,660 --> 00:20:25,660 is what requires prerequisite capability 391 00:20:25,660 --> 00:20:28,660 and takes into account harms and benefits. 392 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:31,660 As for clarifying Tawhid 393 00:20:31,660 --> 00:20:34,660 and exposing major shirk— 394 00:20:34,660 --> 00:20:37,660 this is the fundamental duty with which major shirk must be confronted, 395 00:20:37,660 --> 00:20:40,660 and its delay is impermissible under any circumstance, 396 00:20:40,660 --> 00:20:43,660 because major shirk itself is the supreme fitnah 397 00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:46,660 mentioned in the words of Allah Almighty: 398 00:20:46,660 --> 00:20:49,859 “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) 399 00:20:49,859 --> 00:20:52,859 And the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 400 00:20:52,859 --> 00:20:55,859 when Allah Almighty revealed unto him: 401 00:20:55,859 --> 00:20:58,859 "Arise and warn!" 402 00:20:58,859 --> 00:21:01,859 in Mecca, 403 00:21:01,859 --> 00:21:04,859 while his Companions were still concealing their Islam, 404 00:21:04,859 --> 00:21:07,859 stood up and proclaimed the truth openly, 405 00:21:07,859 --> 00:21:10,859 exposing polytheism and warning against it. 406 00:21:10,859 --> 00:21:13,859 Yet he deferred forceful change 407 00:21:13,859 --> 00:21:16,859 until he possessed the requisite strength to carry it out; 408 00:21:16,859 --> 00:21:19,859 hence, the idols were not removed from around the Ka'bah 409 00:21:19,859 --> 00:21:22,859 until the Conquest of Mecca in the eighth year of the Hijrah. 410 00:21:22,859 --> 00:21:25,859 This means that that evil remained physically standing 411 00:21:25,859 --> 00:21:28,859 for twenty-one years: 412 00:21:28,859 --> 00:21:31,859 the entire Meccan period, 413 00:21:31,859 --> 00:21:34,859 plus eight years of the Medinan period. 414 00:21:34,859 --> 00:21:37,859 Whereas warning against it and clarifying the truth 415 00:21:37,859 --> 00:21:40,859 have been openly proclaimed from the very beginning of the mission of the Messenger, 416 00:21:40,859 --> 00:21:44,299 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 417 00:21:44,299 --> 00:21:47,299 The second misconception 418 00:21:47,299 --> 00:21:50,299 is summarized in what has recently emerged 419 00:21:50,299 --> 00:21:53,299 from some evil callers 420 00:21:53,299 --> 00:21:56,299 who delve into this issue 421 00:21:56,299 --> 00:21:59,299 to downplay its gravity 422 00:21:59,299 --> 00:22:02,299 and defend whichever rulers fall into it, 423 00:22:02,299 --> 00:22:05,299 by claiming that it is merely an act of disobedience 424 00:22:05,299 --> 00:22:08,299 and not major shirk, 425 00:22:08,299 --> 00:22:11,299 as long as the one legislating by other than the law of Allah 426 00:22:11,299 --> 00:22:14,299 does not deny Allah's ruling, 427 00:22:14,299 --> 00:22:17,299 does not deem his own act permissible, 428 00:22:17,299 --> 00:22:20,339 and is among those who say, "There is no god but Allah." 429 00:22:20,339 --> 00:22:23,339 They cite what was reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, 430 00:22:23,339 --> 00:22:26,339 regarding the Tafsir of the words of Allah Almighty: 431 00:22:26,339 --> 00:22:29,339 "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed— 432 00:22:29,339 --> 00:22:32,339 then it is those who are the disbelievers." 433 00:22:32,339 --> 00:22:35,339 He said: "It is disbelief less than disbelief." 434 00:22:35,339 --> 00:22:38,559 Yet this understanding of theirs 435 00:22:38,559 --> 00:22:41,559 is clear misguidance 436 00:22:41,559 --> 00:22:44,559 and an astonishing conflation of matters. 437 00:22:44,559 --> 00:22:47,559 For the mere act of replacing the legislation of Allah 438 00:22:47,559 --> 00:22:50,559 and ruling by other, human-made laws instead 439 00:22:50,559 --> 00:22:53,559 is in itself major disbelief, 440 00:22:53,559 --> 00:22:56,559 whether one deems it permissible (istihlal) or not. 441 00:22:56,559 --> 00:22:59,559 For the texts have never made istihlal a prerequisite— 442 00:22:59,559 --> 00:23:02,559 the texts indicating the disbelief of whoever replaces the Shariah 443 00:23:02,559 --> 00:23:05,559 and rules by other than the law of the Most Merciful— 444 00:23:05,559 --> 00:23:08,559 and this is a baseless claim 445 00:23:08,559 --> 00:23:11,559 fabricated by these people from their own imagination. 446 00:23:11,559 --> 00:23:14,589 Rather, the prerequisite for ruling 447 00:23:14,589 --> 00:23:17,589 contrary to the Shariah being deemed mere disobedience 448 00:23:17,589 --> 00:23:20,589 and not disbelief lies in the following conditions 449 00:23:20,589 --> 00:23:23,779 and constraints: 450 00:23:23,779 --> 00:23:26,779 First: that sovereignty belongs to the Islamic 451 00:23:26,779 --> 00:23:29,779 Shariah, and the foundational basis of judgment 452 00:23:29,779 --> 00:23:32,779 is established upon the Book and the Sunnah 453 00:23:32,779 --> 00:23:35,819 and actively implemented in people's real lives. 454 00:23:35,819 --> 00:23:38,819 Second: that the ruling contrary 455 00:23:38,819 --> 00:23:41,819 to the Shariah be an exception in isolated, individual cases, 456 00:23:42,819 --> 00:23:45,819 and not imposed upon the people as 457 00:23:45,819 --> 00:23:48,819 a general, binding law; 458 00:23:48,819 --> 00:23:51,819 rather, it occurs due to the ruler's personal desire 459 00:23:51,819 --> 00:23:54,819 in a specific case for personal gain 460 00:23:54,819 --> 00:23:57,819 or favoritism toward a relative, for example, of the one 461 00:23:57,819 --> 00:24:00,819 falsely judged in favor of. 462 00:24:00,819 --> 00:24:03,819 Even so, the ruler in this scenario is in grave danger 463 00:24:03,819 --> 00:24:06,819 and has committed a major sin, 464 00:24:06,819 --> 00:24:10,009 even if it does not reach the level of disbelief. 465 00:24:10,009 --> 00:24:13,009 Third: that the judge or ruler does not believe 466 00:24:13,009 --> 00:24:16,009 that what he did was lawful. 467 00:24:16,009 --> 00:24:19,230 For if he believes it to be lawful, he has disbelieved by consensus. 468 00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:22,230 And this is precisely what Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) intended 469 00:24:22,230 --> 00:24:25,230 by his saying: "disbelief less than disbelief." 470 00:24:25,230 --> 00:24:28,230 For he said it in the context of debating 471 00:24:28,230 --> 00:24:31,230 the Kharijites, who declared takfir 472 00:24:31,230 --> 00:24:34,230 on the basis of mere sin and wished 473 00:24:34,230 --> 00:24:37,230 to force the scholars into agreeing with them in declaring takfir upon 474 00:24:37,230 --> 00:24:40,230 those who judged in certain legal disputes 475 00:24:40,230 --> 00:24:43,230 contrary to the Shariah 476 00:24:43,230 --> 00:24:46,230 out of personal desire or ignorance of the ruling, 477 00:24:46,230 --> 00:24:49,230 in order to justify, through that agreement, 478 00:24:49,230 --> 00:24:52,259 their armed rebellion against them with the sword. 479 00:24:52,259 --> 00:24:55,259 What further indicates that this was the intended meaning of 480 00:24:55,259 --> 00:24:58,259 Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) 481 00:24:58,259 --> 00:25:01,259 is that the scenario of universally replacing the Shariah 482 00:25:01,259 --> 00:25:04,259 did not exist at all during the time of Ibn Abbas, 483 00:25:04,259 --> 00:25:07,259 nor did it ever cross anyone's mind. 484 00:25:07,259 --> 00:25:10,259 No one would have even harbored the mere 485 00:25:10,259 --> 00:25:13,259 thought that it was permissible for him to rule over 486 00:25:13,259 --> 00:25:16,259 Muslims by other than the legislation of Allah, 487 00:25:16,259 --> 00:25:19,259 or to enact a law contrary to the Book and the Sunnah 488 00:25:19,259 --> 00:25:22,259 and then compel people to seek arbitration through it. 489 00:25:22,259 --> 00:25:25,259 Rather, this only emerged during the era of the Tatars, 490 00:25:25,259 --> 00:25:28,259 when Genghis Khan compiled 491 00:25:28,259 --> 00:25:31,259 the book al-Yasaq 492 00:25:31,259 --> 00:25:34,259 as the reference point for judgment among the people. 493 00:25:34,259 --> 00:25:37,259 In it, he mixed between rulings of the Muslims, 494 00:25:37,259 --> 00:25:40,259 others from the religions of the People of the Book and others, 495 00:25:40,259 --> 00:25:43,259 some prevailing customs and traditions, 496 00:25:43,259 --> 00:25:46,259 and whatever he himself deemed appropriate of laws 497 00:25:46,259 --> 00:25:49,259 and legislation. 498 00:25:49,259 --> 00:25:52,259 Consequently, Shaykh al-Islam issued a fatwa regarding his disbelief 499 00:25:52,259 --> 00:25:55,259 and that of his supporters who aided him— 500 00:25:55,259 --> 00:25:58,259 a disbelief that expels one from the fold of Islam. 501 00:25:58,259 --> 00:26:02,099 Comprehensive and eloquent sayings regarding governance: 502 00:26:02,099 --> 00:26:06,180 The following are some 503 00:26:06,180 --> 00:26:09,180 comprehensive, wise sayings 504 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:12,500 on the subject of ruling by the Shariah: 505 00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:15,500 First: There is nothing in the rulings of the Shariah 506 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:18,500 except sheer good; 507 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:21,500 thus, one should never feel constrained by any part of it, 508 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:24,500 nor abandon the implementation of some of its rulings 509 00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:27,500 under the pretext of not alienating people from the Shariah 510 00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:30,500 or making them love the religion of Islam, 511 00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:33,569 as some mistakenly imagine. 512 00:26:33,569 --> 00:26:36,569 For that only leads to abandonment 513 00:26:36,569 --> 00:26:39,569 and a lack of divine guidance. 514 00:26:39,569 --> 00:26:42,599 Allah Almighty said to His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: 515 00:26:42,599 --> 00:26:45,599 "A Book revealed to you—so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom." 516 00:26:45,599 --> 00:26:48,599 “(It is) a Scripture that is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) - so let there be no heaviness in thy heart therefrom - that thou mayst warn thereby, and (it is) a Reminder unto believers.” (7:2) 517 00:26:48,599 --> 00:26:52,049 “(It is) a Scripture that is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) - so let there be no heaviness in thy heart therefrom - that thou mayst warn thereby, and (it is) a Reminder unto believers.” (7:2) 518 00:26:52,049 --> 00:26:55,049 Second: To defame 519 00:26:55,049 --> 00:26:58,049 the judgment of Allah 520 00:26:58,049 --> 00:27:01,049 is to defame the Legislator Himself. 521 00:27:01,049 --> 00:27:04,500 Third: 522 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:07,500 Allah has cursed the one who alters the boundary markers of the earth, 523 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:10,500 which are the guideposts along the traveler's road, 524 00:27:10,500 --> 00:27:13,500 in order to preserve people's rights; 525 00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:16,500 so what then of the one who alters the religion 526 00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:19,500 and diverts people from guidance to the path of truth? 527 00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:22,910 Fourth: 528 00:27:22,910 --> 00:27:25,910 Their laws may suit one era 529 00:27:25,910 --> 00:27:28,910 yet fail to suit another, corrupting it instead. 530 00:27:28,910 --> 00:27:31,910 For this reason, Allah took upon Himself the governance of mankind; 531 00:27:31,910 --> 00:27:34,910 His judgment is suited to every era 532 00:27:34,910 --> 00:27:38,140 and every place. 533 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:41,200 Fifth: Resorting to false deities (taghut) 534 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,200 and abandoning the judgment of Allah and His Messenger 535 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,200 is hypocrisy itself. 536 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,200 For Allah Almighty said regarding the hypocrites and the People of the Book: 537 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,200 "They claim they wish to refer for judgment to taghut." 538 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,519 “Hast thou not seen those who pretend that they believe in that which is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, how they would go for judgment (in their disputes) to false deities when they have been ordered to abjure them? Satan would mislead them far astray.” (4:60) 539 00:27:56,519 --> 00:27:59,519 Sixth: Ruling by the Shariah 540 00:27:59,519 --> 00:28:02,519 protects people from the whims of rulers and politicians. 541 00:28:02,519 --> 00:28:05,549 Allah Almighty said: 542 00:28:05,549 --> 00:28:08,549 "So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, 543 00:28:08,549 --> 00:28:11,549 and do not follow their desires 544 00:28:11,549 --> 00:28:14,549 away from what has come to you of the truth." 545 00:28:14,549 --> 00:28:18,380 Comprehensive sayings regarding rulers: 546 00:28:19,380 --> 00:28:23,220 Among the eloquent, comprehensive sayings concerning rulers: 547 00:28:23,220 --> 00:28:26,220 First: 548 00:28:26,220 --> 00:28:29,220 The righteous ruler 549 00:28:29,220 --> 00:28:32,220 is the one who venerates the command of Allah and His Messenger, 550 00:28:32,220 --> 00:28:35,220 protects His Shariah, and submits to it— 551 00:28:35,220 --> 00:28:38,220 not the one who makes obedience to himself a religion 552 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:41,500 prioritized over obedience to Allah and His Messenger. 553 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:44,500 Second: The Ummah that gives precedence to obedience to the sultan 554 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:47,500 over obedience to the Most Merciful 555 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,500 is not a religious Ummah; 556 00:28:50,500 --> 00:28:53,759 it is forsaken and unassisted. 557 00:28:53,759 --> 00:28:56,789 Third: 558 00:28:56,789 --> 00:28:59,789 Advising the ruler is not done secretly or openly 559 00:28:59,789 --> 00:29:02,789 in all circumstances; 560 00:29:02,789 --> 00:29:05,789 rather, it depends on the public interest and what the situation demands, 561 00:29:05,789 --> 00:29:08,819 and moderation in this 562 00:29:08,819 --> 00:29:11,819 is the methodology of the salaf (early generations). 563 00:29:11,819 --> 00:29:14,819 Fourth: The tyrannical ruler seeks validation 564 00:29:14,819 --> 00:29:17,819 or support from his entourage and the people. 565 00:29:17,819 --> 00:29:20,819 Pharaoh said to his people: 566 00:29:20,819 --> 00:29:24,180 "Leave me to kill Moses." 567 00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:27,180 Fifth: 568 00:29:27,180 --> 00:29:30,180 An evil entourage is not what implants wickedness 569 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:33,180 within the tyrannical ruler; 570 00:29:33,180 --> 00:29:36,180 rather, the evil is already rooted within him, 571 00:29:36,180 --> 00:29:39,180 and he is the one who chose this entourage 572 00:29:39,180 --> 00:29:42,180 and banished the righteous companions. 573 00:29:43,180 --> 00:29:46,180 Therefore, Allah punishes the oppressor 574 00:29:46,180 --> 00:29:49,430 and his entourage alike. 575 00:29:49,430 --> 00:29:52,460 Sixth: 576 00:29:52,460 --> 00:29:55,460 The evil entourage is keen to discern the whims of the ruler 577 00:29:55,460 --> 00:29:58,460 and his desires; 578 00:29:58,460 --> 00:30:01,460 thus they incite him toward them, even without personal conviction, 579 00:30:01,460 --> 00:30:04,460 to draw close to him and win his favor. 580 00:30:04,460 --> 00:30:07,460 Allah Almighty said: 581 00:30:07,460 --> 00:30:10,460 “The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: (O King), wilt thou suffer Moses and his people to make mischief in the land, and flout thee and thy gods? He said: We will slay their sons and spare their women, for lo! we are in power over them.” (7:127) 582 00:30:10,460 --> 00:30:13,460 “The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said: (O King), wilt thou suffer Moses and his people to make mischief in the land, and flout thee and thy gods? He said: We will slay their sons and spare their women, for lo! we are in power over them.” (7:127) 583 00:30:13,460 --> 00:30:16,720 Seventh: 584 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,720 Among the signs of ruin for a ruler 585 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,720 is that Allah subjects him to an evil entourage 586 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,819 or an evil companion who makes his bad deeds pleasing to him. 587 00:30:25,819 --> 00:30:28,819 Allah Almighty said: 588 00:30:28,819 --> 00:30:31,819 "And We appointed for them companions 589 00:30:31,819 --> 00:30:35,140 “And We assigned them comrades (in the world), who made their present and their past fairseeming unto them. And the Word concerning nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before them hath effect for them. Lo! they were ever losers.” (41:25) 590 00:30:35,140 --> 00:30:38,170 who made attractive to them what was before them and what was behind them." 591 00:30:38,170 --> 00:30:41,170 For tyranny is produced by the people. 592 00:30:41,170 --> 00:30:44,170 Allah Almighty said regarding Pharaoh and his people: 593 00:30:44,170 --> 00:30:47,170 "So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. 594 00:30:47,170 --> 00:30:50,170 Indeed, they were a defiantly disobedient people." 595 00:30:50,170 --> 00:30:53,230 Ninth: 596 00:30:53,230 --> 00:30:56,230 Whenever a tyrannical ruler wants to crush someone, 597 00:30:56,230 --> 00:30:59,230 he invents false excuses and flimsy accusations 598 00:30:59,230 --> 00:31:02,230 to justify his action. 599 00:31:02,230 --> 00:31:05,230 When Pharaoh wanted to crush the magicians 600 00:31:05,230 --> 00:31:08,230 after their belief in the Lord of Moses and his humiliation before the public, 601 00:31:08,230 --> 00:31:11,259 he said: 602 00:31:11,259 --> 00:31:14,259 "You believed him before I gave you permission. 603 00:31:14,259 --> 00:31:17,259 Indeed, he is your chief who taught you magic. 604 00:31:17,259 --> 00:31:20,259 So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet 605 00:31:20,259 --> 00:31:23,259 on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you 606 00:31:23,259 --> 00:31:26,259 upon the trunks of palm trees, 607 00:31:26,259 --> 00:31:29,259 “(Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.” (20:71) 608 00:31:29,259 --> 00:31:32,460 and you will surely know which of us is more severe in punishment and more enduring." 609 00:31:32,460 --> 00:31:35,460 As if they required his permission to have faith! 610 00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:38,460 And he accused Moses, peace be upon him, 611 00:31:38,460 --> 00:31:41,460 of changing the religion and causing corruption in the land. 612 00:31:41,549 --> 00:31:44,549 Allah Almighty said: 613 00:31:44,549 --> 00:31:47,549 “And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.” (40:26) 614 00:31:47,549 --> 00:31:50,549 "Let him call upon his Lord." 615 00:31:50,549 --> 00:31:53,549 “And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.” (40:26) 616 00:31:53,549 --> 00:31:56,869 “And Pharaoh said: Suffer me to kill Moses, and let him cry unto his Lord. Lo! I fear that he will alter your religion or that he will cause confusion in the land.” (40:26) 617 00:31:56,869 --> 00:31:59,869 Tenth: No era is devoid of corrupt 618 00:31:59,869 --> 00:32:02,869 rulers. 619 00:32:05,869 --> 00:32:09,259 Eleventh: 620 00:32:09,259 --> 00:32:12,259 Whoever disparages the scholars, callers, and mujahideen, 621 00:32:12,259 --> 00:32:15,259 tracking down their missteps, 622 00:32:15,259 --> 00:32:18,259 while turning a blind eye to the grave transgressions of rulers, 623 00:32:18,259 --> 00:32:21,259 is driven purely by whim, not by religion. 624 00:32:21,259 --> 00:32:24,509 Twelfth: 625 00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:27,509 The right that nations have over their rulers is momentous— 626 00:32:27,509 --> 00:32:30,509 taking precedence even over the rights of their own parents. 627 00:32:30,509 --> 00:32:33,509 For Joseph, peace be upon him, did not travel to his parents 628 00:32:33,509 --> 00:32:36,509 after such a prolonged absence; rather, he said: 629 00:32:36,509 --> 00:32:39,509 "And bring to me all your family." 630 00:32:39,509 --> 00:32:42,509 He only did this 631 00:32:42,509 --> 00:32:45,509 out of the obligation he owed to his subjects. 632 00:32:45,509 --> 00:32:48,509 Thus, this duty ought to be made just as clear 633 00:32:48,509 --> 00:32:51,740 as the right of the ruler over his subjects. 634 00:32:51,740 --> 00:32:54,769 Thirteenth: 635 00:32:55,769 --> 00:32:58,769 [A ruler must not] judge among the people according to his personal opinion, 636 00:32:58,769 --> 00:33:01,769 but solely by what his Lord shows him. 637 00:33:01,769 --> 00:33:04,769 Allah the Almighty said: 638 00:33:04,769 --> 00:33:07,769 "Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth [that you may judge between people by that which Allah has shown you]." 639 00:33:07,769 --> 00:33:10,769 “Lo! We reveal unto thee the Scripture with the truth, that thou mayst judge between mankind by that which Allah showeth thee. And be not thou a pleader for the treacherous;” (4:105) 640 00:33:10,769 --> 00:33:13,859 If this applied to the Messenger of Allah, how much more so to those beneath him, 641 00:33:13,859 --> 00:33:16,859 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? 642 00:33:16,859 --> 00:33:20,180 Fourteenth: 643 00:33:20,180 --> 00:33:23,180 Whoever deems the forbidden to be permissible, or declares the permissible to be forbidden, 644 00:33:23,180 --> 00:33:26,180 is not a legitimate ruler, 645 00:33:26,180 --> 00:33:29,220 nor is he an authority over the Muslims. 646 00:33:29,220 --> 00:33:32,220 But as for the one who upholds what is lawful and what is unlawful, 647 00:33:32,220 --> 00:33:35,220 submits to the Sharia of the Most Merciful, 648 00:33:35,220 --> 00:33:38,220 yet contravenes it through his personal actions, 649 00:33:38,220 --> 00:33:41,220 he remains a legitimate ruler 650 00:33:41,220 --> 00:33:45,589 whose rectification is sought, and whose authority is not contested.