How is the proof established against rulers who do not judge by what Allah has revealed, and who is responsible for doing so?
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The questioner : A final question. How is the proof established against the rulers? I mean, defining the proof and the method of establishing it, and who establishes it?
The Shaykh : First, the scholars of knowledge establish it. Second, they establish it with the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the practice of the righteous predecessors. And I do not know, did you say third? What is the third?
The questioner : Defining the proof?
The Shaykh : As Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Knowledge is what He said, what His Messenger said, and what the Companions said. It is not obfuscation. *** What is knowledge? You have set yourself up for foolish disagreement between the Messenger and the opinion of a jurist..." to the end of it. So the proof is: Allah said, the Messenger of Allah said. It is nothing else.
The questioner : We ask about the method. Is it done directly or indirectly?
The Shaykh : Directness is not necessary. When the Messenger (peace be upon him) invited the kings of disbelief to Islam, he did not invite them directly. He sent them a letter, and sometimes he sent a messenger on his behalf (peace be upon him). So it is not necessary for the proof to be established directly, but rather through intermediaries. Especially now, if we contact the one against whom we want to establish the proof, even if we contact him directly, the proof we present to him is what Allah said and what the Messenger of Allah said. And between the Messenger (peace be upon him), who conveyed the Shari'ah of Allah, and us, there are fourteen centuries. So there are intermediaries here in conveying the proof. Even if we contact directly the one against whom we want to establish the proof, the important thing is conveying the proof to him, either through a person who goes to him, as mentioned in the authentic hadith: But if a letter is sent to him and the issue is explained to him with its evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, then the proof has been established against him.
The Shaykh : First, the scholars of knowledge establish it. Second, they establish it with the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the practice of the righteous predecessors. And I do not know, did you say third? What is the third?
The questioner : Defining the proof?
The Shaykh : As Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Knowledge is what He said, what His Messenger said, and what the Companions said. It is not obfuscation. *** What is knowledge? You have set yourself up for foolish disagreement between the Messenger and the opinion of a jurist..." to the end of it. So the proof is: Allah said, the Messenger of Allah said. It is nothing else.
The questioner : We ask about the method. Is it done directly or indirectly?
The Shaykh : Directness is not necessary. When the Messenger (peace be upon him) invited the kings of disbelief to Islam, he did not invite them directly. He sent them a letter, and sometimes he sent a messenger on his behalf (peace be upon him). So it is not necessary for the proof to be established directly, but rather through intermediaries. Especially now, if we contact the one against whom we want to establish the proof, even if we contact him directly, the proof we present to him is what Allah said and what the Messenger of Allah said. And between the Messenger (peace be upon him), who conveyed the Shari'ah of Allah, and us, there are fourteen centuries. So there are intermediaries here in conveying the proof. Even if we contact directly the one against whom we want to establish the proof, the important thing is conveying the proof to him, either through a person who goes to him, as mentioned in the authentic hadith:
The best jihad is a word of truth spoken in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.
أفضل الجهاد كلمة حقّ تقال أمام سلطان جائر
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.