The Issue of Referring to Taghut for Judgment
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There is one of the noble scholars of correct creed and correct methodology—praise be to Allah—who cited verses from Surat al-Nisa. I will present his argument to you, if Allah wills.In His saying, Mighty and Majestic: [Al-Nisa: 60] to the end of the verses,He says: These verses establish a methodology regarding those who refer to other than the law of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, while they offer excuses with their tongues that are merely verbal, whereas the reality in their hearts is the opposite.As for the action: [Al-Nisa: 61] But what is their turning away? When we speak to them, they do not openly declare their corrupt belief, but they change their colors and offer excuses: [Al-Nisa: 62] And these are the ones about whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, and yet He did not command us to kill them. Moreover, if they were disbelievers, the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would apply: "Whoever changes his religion, kill him." He then said: [Al-Nisa: 63] This indicates to us, based on His statement, that one who refers to other than the law of Allah and explicitly declares that the ruling of Allah is the truth and what is below it is false, our position toward him is to turn away from him and advise him, not to declare him a disbeliever or kill him. Is this argument correct based on these verses?
These verses appear, from their context, to have been revealed regarding the hypocrites, who display that they are Muslims but do not believe in Islam, rather they conceal disbelief. So, one who is in this state is undoubtedly among the hypocrites. The reason Allah did not command us to kill them is that a hypocrite is dealt with only according to his outward appearance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when asked about killing the hypocrites: "So that people do not say that Muhammad kills his companions." And if we were to kill everyone we suspected of hypocrisy, there would be great harm in that.And for this he said:[An-Nisa 4:63] So we do not know what is in the hearts, so we judge by the outward appearance.
These hypocrites want to refer to Taghut, but it may not be possible for them to do so, because they are in a state where Islamic rule has taken control.But they love to be judged by the taghut, meaning: To what contradicts the Shari'ah,[An-Nisa 4:60] and he has gained power over them, [An-Nisa 4:61] and they do not say: No.
But they turn away and refuse without explicitly saying the word "No," because if they explicitly said it, they would be open disbelievers.
[An-Nisa 4:62] Meaning: He became aware of them and their hypocrisy, "Then they came swearing by Allah" They came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) swearing by Allah [An-Nisa 4:62] .
The verse is explicit that these people are the ones being judged, not the judges, and for this reason they come to offer excuses to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):[An-Nisa 4:63] .
So this argument is correct, that the call regarding the hypocrites is through admonition and advice. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not find it necessary to confront the rulers except when we see clear disbelief for which we have proof from Allah. We do not know what is in the heart of the one in authority. You know that rulers who rule by other than what Allah has revealed do declare it, but they offer incorrect excuses. Otherwise, they declare it openly.They say: Yes, we say this and we say this law, and we know that it contradicts the Shari'ah, but they bring things that they interpret, but those hypocrites in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do not declare it; they turn away and refuse, but without saying: We do not accept.
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلالاً بَعِيداًAnd when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْكَ صُدُوداًSo how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allah, "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَاءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا إِحْسَاناً وَتَوْفِيقاًThose are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them but admonish them and speak to them a far-reaching word.
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَعِظْهُمْ وَقُلْ لَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَوْلاً بَلِيغاًThese verses appear, from their context, to have been revealed regarding the hypocrites, who display that they are Muslims but do not believe in Islam, rather they conceal disbelief. So, one who is in this state is undoubtedly among the hypocrites. The reason Allah did not command us to kill them is that a hypocrite is dealt with only according to his outward appearance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when asked about killing the hypocrites: "So that people do not say that Muhammad kills his companions." And if we were to kill everyone we suspected of hypocrisy, there would be great harm in that.And for this he said:
Those are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْThese hypocrites want to refer to Taghut, but it may not be possible for them to do so, because they are in a state where Islamic rule has taken control.But they love to be judged by the taghut, meaning: To what contradicts the Shari'ah,
while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلالاً بَعِيداًAnd when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْكَ صُدُوداًBut they turn away and refuse without explicitly saying the word "No," because if they explicitly said it, they would be open disbelievers.
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْWe intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا إِحْسَاناً وَتَوْفِيقاًThe verse is explicit that these people are the ones being judged, not the judges, and for this reason they come to offer excuses to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
Those are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them but admonish them and speak to them a far-reaching word.
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَعِظْهُمْ وَقُلْ لَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَوْلاً بَلِيغاًSo this argument is correct, that the call regarding the hypocrites is through admonition and advice. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not find it necessary to confront the rulers except when we see clear disbelief for which we have proof from Allah. We do not know what is in the heart of the one in authority. You know that rulers who rule by other than what Allah has revealed do declare it, but they offer incorrect excuses. Otherwise, they declare it openly.They say: Yes, we say this and we say this law, and we know that it contradicts the Shari'ah, but they bring things that they interpret, but those hypocrites in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do not declare it; they turn away and refuse, but without saying: We do not accept.