A speech by Ibrahim Shuqqa on the term al-hakimiyyah.

Abu Malik: I wish to comment on the term al-hakimiyyah. One of the gravest errors committed by those who speak of al-hakimiyyah is that they did not realize that this attribution is incorrect and impermissible, both linguistically and religiously. Because when we say al-hakimiyyah, naturally, Allah the Mighty and Majestic did not name Himself al-Hakim (the Ruler). Is there, O Shaykh, the name al-Hakim?

The Shaykh: The Best of Rulers

The questioner: He did not say al-Hakim. Therefore, when we say that al-hakimiyyah belongs to Allah, it means that we have attributed, invented, or created a name for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, namely al-Hakim, which is not among the beautiful names of Allah, first of all. Also, Allah the Mighty and Majestic did not say in His Book that al-hakimiyyah belongs to Allah alone!! Rather, He said: So if we wish to attribute something, we attribute to Allah the Mighty and Majestic what He said, without distortion or alteration. Because distortion and alteration, even in this attribution which we believe to be a great error, this attribution has led us to make a specific name for Allah or to add a name to Allah the Mighty and Majestic to His beautiful names by which He did not name Himself. For it is known to every student of knowledge that the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: does not necessarily mean that we should extract a name for Allah from the plural form and call Him al-Hakim. This, and Allah knows best, and in the presence of our Shaykh, it is not permissible to overstep in knowledge or to say in the presence of our Shaykh what may be an error, if we have forgotten a matter, and how often we forget. Then, thirdly, may Allah bless you, when we say al-hakimiyyah belongs to Allah, this word, truly, the error of falling into it and the error of attributing it, has led us to deviate from the methodology. Because Allah Blessed and Exalted is He knows our inner secrets, and these inner secrets, when they lean or deviate by an error that is not light, like this error, in my opinion, and Allah knows best, it also becomes easy, following this error, for us to fall into many other errors. And the least of these errors is what our Shaykh, may Allah reward him with good, pointed out, that they have become preoccupied with this word and think of it as the axis of the da'wah, from which one should not deviate in any form. And Allah knows best, and may Allah reward our Shaykh with good, and bless him, and prolong his life, and delight us with his knowledge, and gather us, if Allah wills, with him and all our brothers at the water trough to drink from his hand, a drink from which we shall never thirst thereafter, may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. And I think that our Shaykh is now in need of rest, so I hope we suffice with this amount from this blessed, good session, and that we benefit from what Allah has opened for us of knowledge from it. And may He reward him with good, and reward you, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. ... In any case, if the brothers do not know him, he knows himself; he is our Shaykh, our scholar, and the proof of Islam in this age.The Shaykh : Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, the scholar of the Sunnah and its knowledge in this time.

The Shaykh : Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.