The status of ruling by that which Allaah has revealed in Islam

What is the status of ruling by that which Allaah has revealed in
Islam? Is the one who rules by something otherthan that which Allaah
has revealed a kaafir?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Ruling by that which Allaah has revealed is part of Tawheed
al-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of the divine Lordship), because it is
implementing the ruling of Allaah as is implied by acceptance of His
Lordship (Ruboobiyyah) and His perfect sovereignty and control. Hence
Allaah calls those who are followed in a manner contrary to what He
has revealed arbaab (lords) of their followers. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be
their lords [arbaab] besides Allaah (by obeying them in things which
they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without
being ordered by Allaah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah,
son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded
[in the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but
One Ilaah (God — Allaah) Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to
be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He)
from having the partners they associate (with Him)"
[al-Tawbah 9:31]
Allaah calls those who are followed "lords" because they are appointed
as lawgivers along with Allaah, and He calls the followers "slaves"
because they submit to them and obeythem in going against the ruling
of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted.
'Adiyy ibn Haatim said tothe Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him): "But they do not worship them." The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Nay, they forbid to
them that which is permissible andthey permit to them thatwhich is
forbidden, and they follow them; that is how they worship them."
Once you understand this, you should realize that with regard to the
one who does not rule by that which Allaah has revealed and wants
rulings to be referred to someone other than Allaah and His Messenger,
there are verses which state that he has no faith, and verses which
state that he is a kaafir, zaalim (wrongdoer) and faasiq (rebellious
evildoer).
As for the first category (i.e. the verses which state that he has no faith):
For example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Have you not seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in
that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down
before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to
the Taaghoot (false judges) while they have been ordered to reject
them. But Shaytaan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.
61. And when it is said tothem: 'Come to what Allaah has sent down and
to the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم),' you (Muhammad صلى
الله عليه وسلم) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad صلى
الله عليه وسلم)with aversion.
62. How then, when a catastrophe befalls thembecause of what their
hands have sent forth, they come to you swearing by Allaah, 'We meant
no more than goodwill and conciliation!'
63. They (hypocrites) arethose of whom Allaah knows what is in their
hearts; so turn aside from them (do not punish them) but admonish
them, and speak to them an effective word (i.e. to believe in Allaah,
worship Him, obey Him, and be afraid of Him) to reach their
innerselves.
64. We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allaah's Leave. If they
(hypocrites), when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you
(Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and begged Allaah's forgiveness, and the
Messenger had begged forgiveness for them, indeed, they would
havefound Allaah All-Forgiving (One Who forgives and accepts
repentance), Most Merciful.
65. But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you
(O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) judge in alldisputes between them, and
find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept
(them) with full submission"
[al-Nisa' 4:60-65]
Allaah ascribes to these people who claim to have faith when they are
hypocrites several characteristics:
1.
They want to refer for judgement to al-taaghoot, which is everything
that goes against the ruling of Allaah and His Messenger(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), because going against the ruling of
Allaah and His Messenger is tughyanand transgression against the
ruling of the One to Whom belongs judgement and all thingsreturn to
Him, namely Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allaah, the
Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!" [al-A'raaf
7:54].
2.
If they are called to that which Allaah revealed tothe Messenger, they
refuse and turn away.
3.
If a calamity befalls thembecause of what their hands sent forth, such
asbeing exposed for their wrongdoing, they come swearing that they
only meant good will and conciliation, as in the case of those who
reject the rule of Islam today and govern according tolaws that go
against it, claiming that this is good and suited to modern
circumstances.
Then Allaah warns these people who claim to be believers but who bear
these characteristics thatHe knows what is in their hearts and what
they are concealing of things that are different from what they say.
And He commands His Prophet to admonish them and speak to them an
effective word. Then He explains the wisdom behind sending the
Messenger to be the onlyone who to be obeyed and followed, and no one
else, no matter how strong their ideas and how vast their
understanding. Then Allaah swears by His Lordship to His Messenger,
which is the most special kind of Lordship and which points to the
truth of His message, confirming that faith cannot be valid except
with three things:
1.
Referral for judgement in all disputes must be made to the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
2.
They should open their hearts to his judgement and there should be no
objection or resistance to it in their hearts.
3.
There must be full submission and acceptance of his ruling and it must
be implemented with no hesitation or deviance.
As for the second category (verse which say that he is a kaafir,
zaalim and faasiq):
For example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And whosoever does not judge by what Allaahhas revealed, such are the
Kaafiroon (i.e. disbelievers — of a lesser degree as they do not act
on Allaah's Laws)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:44]
"And whosoever does not judge by that which Allaah has revealed,
suchare the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers — of a lesser
degree)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:45]
"And whosoever does not judge by what Allaahhas revealed (then) such
(people) are the Faasiqoon [the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a
lesser degree)] to Allaah"
[al-Maa'idah 5:47].
Can these three characteristics be applied to one person, i.e., is the
one who does not rule by what Allaah has revealed a kaafir, zaalim and
faasiq? Because Allaah has described the kaafirs as being wrongdoers
and evildoers, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): "And it is
the disbelievers who are theZaalimoon (wrongdoers)" [al-Baqarah 2:254]
and "Certainly they disbelieved in Allaah andHis Messenger, and died
while they were Faasiqoon (rebellious, —disobedient to Allaah and His
Messenger صلىالله عليه وسلم)" [al-Tawbah 9:84], so every kaafir is a
wrongdoer and evildoer– or do these characteristics apply to those
described only insofar as they do not rule by that which Allaahhas
revealed? The latter is more likely in my view, and Allaah knows best.
We say: The one who does not rule by that which Allaah has revealed
because he regards it as insignificant, or he looksdown on it, or he
believes that something else is better and more beneficial to people,
is a kaafir in the sense of being beyond the pale of Islam. Among
these are those who promulgate for the people legislation that goes
against Islamic lawsto be a way by which people live. They only
promulgated that legislation which goes against Islamic laws because
they believe that it is better for people, because it is wellknown on
the basis of common sense [?] that people do not turn awayfrom one way
to another way that is different unless they believe that the one
theyturned to is better and that the one they turnedaway from is
lacking.
If a person does not rule by that which Allaah has revealed, but he
does not regard it as insignificant, look down on it or believe that
something else is better than it and more beneficial for people,
rather he rules by something else by way of wronging those who are
under his rule and out of vengeance and soon, then he is a wrongdoer
but he is not a kaafir, and the level of his wrongdoing varies
according to the alternative by which he rules and the means of
ruling.
If a person does not rule by that which Allaah has revealed, but he
does not regard it as insignificant, look down on it or believe that
something else is better than it and more beneficial for people,
rather he rules by something else so as to fulfill the wish of those
who are ruled, or because of a bribe or forsome other worldly reason,
then he is a faasiq (rebellious evildoer) but he is not a kaafir, and
the level of his wrongdoing varies according to the alternative by
which he rules and the means of ruling.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said
concerning those who take their rabbis and monks as lords instead of
Allaah that they are oftwo types:
1.
Those who know that they changed the religion of Allaah and they
follow them in those changes, and believe in the permissibility of
what was forbidden and the prohibition of what Allaah has permitted,
following their leaders, even though they know that they have gone
against the religion of the Messengers. This is kufr and Allaah and
His Messenger regard it as shirk.
2.
Those who believe in thepermissibility of what was forbidden and the
prohibition of what Allaah has permitted, butthey obeyed them in
disobeying Allaah, as theMuslim does when he commits sins that he
believes are sins. They come under the same ruling as other sinners.
End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him).
Fataawa al-'Aqeedah (p. 208-212).

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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