What is the ruling on one who does not judge by the Shari'ah, while acknowledging that it is the best?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: The Muslim ruler who does not judge by the law of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), but says that the ruling of Allah is the correct ruling, and says, "I judge by the ruling of my ancestors." Many of the students of knowledge in Kuwait have disagreed on this issue: whether he is a ruler or not. Which of the students of knowledge do you advise us to take knowledge from, or the young ones? May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : By Allah, O my dear one, this is a thorny issue, and we do not say anything about it. We say that it is obligatory for every Muslim, when the ruling of Allah and His Messenger becomes clear to him, to follow the ruling of Allah and the Messenger and not to deviate from it with anything. And he should know that none can reform the creation except the Lord of the creation (Mighty and Majestic); none can reform the creation except the Shari'ah of Allah. Laws, whatever they may be, if they contradict the Shari'ah, there is no good in them. Whatever a person may think of their goodness, there is no goodness in them. If they were nothing but a contradiction of the command of Allah and His Messenger, that would be sufficient for their corruption. So all Muslim rulers should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in what Allah has entrusted to them, and not judge except by the Shari'ah of Allah. And whatever of the systems agrees with the Shari'ah is acceptable, not because it is the system of so-and-so, but because it is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
As for his saying, "I do not submit to the Shari'ah following my ancestors and fathers," we say this is the saying of the disbelievers:[Az-Zukhruf 43:22] So he should fear Allah.
As for whom you were advised to ask, I do not know all the scholars in your country. But there are people who were with us taking knowledge, and there is good in them. Perhaps, if you ask about them, you will know them, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Do you remember their names, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : Do you remember one of them?
The Shaykh : Ask, ask. They are well-known.
The questioner : We ask about them, meaning?
The Shaykh : Yes, ask about them. Ask the ones who... these are the ones we know and hear good about, and that they are still on a sound path.
The questioner : Who are they, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : You will know them if you ask about them.
The questioner : Salem ibn Sa'd al-Tawil?
The Shaykh : Ask in Kuwait, yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : By Allah, O my dear one, this is a thorny issue, and we do not say anything about it. We say that it is obligatory for every Muslim, when the ruling of Allah and His Messenger becomes clear to him, to follow the ruling of Allah and the Messenger and not to deviate from it with anything. And he should know that none can reform the creation except the Lord of the creation (Mighty and Majestic); none can reform the creation except the Shari'ah of Allah. Laws, whatever they may be, if they contradict the Shari'ah, there is no good in them. Whatever a person may think of their goodness, there is no goodness in them. If they were nothing but a contradiction of the command of Allah and His Messenger, that would be sufficient for their corruption. So all Muslim rulers should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in what Allah has entrusted to them, and not judge except by the Shari'ah of Allah. And whatever of the systems agrees with the Shari'ah is acceptable, not because it is the system of so-and-so, but because it is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
As for his saying, "I do not submit to the Shari'ah following my ancestors and fathers," we say this is the saying of the disbelievers:
Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."
إنا وجدنا آباءنا على أمة وإنا على آثارهم مهتدونAs for whom you were advised to ask, I do not know all the scholars in your country. But there are people who were with us taking knowledge, and there is good in them. Perhaps, if you ask about them, you will know them, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Do you remember their names, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : Do you remember one of them?
The Shaykh : Ask, ask. They are well-known.
The questioner : We ask about them, meaning?
The Shaykh : Yes, ask about them. Ask the ones who... these are the ones we know and hear good about, and that they are still on a sound path.
The questioner : Who are they, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : You will know them if you ask about them.
The questioner : Salem ibn Sa'd al-Tawil?
The Shaykh : Ask in Kuwait, yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Yes.