Reconciling obedience to those in authority with ruling by law in some countries

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, in some Islamic countries.

The Shaykh:
They follow and rule by law.

The questioner:
By the Shari'ah. How do you reconcile this with the saying of Allah the Exalted: "O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger and those in authority among you," and with some of the issues that exist now, such as inheritance, hijab, free mixing of men and women, including books on sex in schools, and others? So what is the course of action?

The Shaykh:
The course of action is that you do what you can, what you are able to do, to change this matter or leave this matter and stay away from it. You do what you can. Fear Allah as much as you are able. As for what you cannot, but you must stay away from these countries as much as you can and are able to do so. Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.