What is the criterion for what is called politics in the Shari'ah? What is the limit within which it is permissible to engage in it? And what is your advice to clarify the matter?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you, raise your status, and make Islam and the Muslims benefit through you.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : O Shaykh, among what has spread among many of the youth is what is called the concept of political work. I do not know, O Shaykh, first, what is the prescribed limit of politics, the legal limit that the Shari'ah has mentioned, within which it is permissible to engage in these political matters? And what is the legal criterion for this matter? We need, O Shaykh, advice from you to clarify this matter?
The Shaykh : Politics, may Allah bless you, the entire religion is politics, because politics is derived from the work of the herdsman, and the herdsman is the manager of the animals and the one who takes care of them, like the herdsman of lions and elephants, and the like. It is known that the Shari'ah is entirely politics: politics for the creation regarding the worship of the Creator, politics for the creation regarding the dealings with people, and politics for the creation regarding the management and administration of affairs. It is known that the politics of managing and administering affairs cannot be in the hands of everyone or at the disposal of every person. If it were so, it would be necessary for every member of the Ummah to be a ruler over himself and over others as well. It is known that since the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the politics and management of the Ummah have been in the hands of specific people: the Caliph and those he chooses to be his advisors. Politics is not something to be thrown into the markets and gatherings of the common people, saying, "What do you say about such and such? What do you say about such and such?" There is no doubt that those who stumble in these matters are on a path contrary to the methodology of the Salaf, and that they stir up nothing but confusion and turn people away from what is far more important. Have you seen, for example, secret treaties, the conditions of war, and the affairs of external relations with people? Is it fitting for any rational mind among the minds of the sons of Adam to have these thrown into the markets before the common people? A person in his home cannot let people see what is in his home. How, for example, would a state or government let people see everything it does or inform them of everything it wants? Who said this? By which book, or by which Sunnah, or by which action of the Rightly Guided Caliphs? Did 'Umar, or Abu Bakr before him, or even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he wanted to do something, go to the markets or order someone to go to the markets and say, "I want to do such and such"? Rather, when he wanted to go on an expedition, he would disguise it as another expedition, which the people would prepare for, except at Tabuk. So the affairs of general politics cannot be in the hands of the common people or on their tongues. Whoever seeks that has sought a matter that no rational person would ever say. Is it possible for the common man in the market who sells vegetables, meat, and bread, and the like, to be informed of the secrets of the state and its files? Who said this?
So my advice to those whom Allah the Exalted has tested with such matters is that they should review themselves and know that it is not wise for everything the state does to be in the hands of the people. There are things the state manages that may appear to the simple people to be incorrect, but for those who know the causes and results, they are correct. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, have those who questioned him among the Companions, who were the greatest of minds, not know the outcome? And I do not want to equate the rulers of the Islamic Ummah today with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in terms of advising the Ummah and guiding it to the right path. No, but I say: the matters of the state are specific to certain people, not everyone. Yes, so I advise you, and I ask you to convey this advice to everyone who has spoken about these matters, to engage in what is more important and to ask Allah for success for the state. Yes.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : O Shaykh, among what has spread among many of the youth is what is called the concept of political work. I do not know, O Shaykh, first, what is the prescribed limit of politics, the legal limit that the Shari'ah has mentioned, within which it is permissible to engage in these political matters? And what is the legal criterion for this matter? We need, O Shaykh, advice from you to clarify this matter?
The Shaykh : Politics, may Allah bless you, the entire religion is politics, because politics is derived from the work of the herdsman, and the herdsman is the manager of the animals and the one who takes care of them, like the herdsman of lions and elephants, and the like. It is known that the Shari'ah is entirely politics: politics for the creation regarding the worship of the Creator, politics for the creation regarding the dealings with people, and politics for the creation regarding the management and administration of affairs. It is known that the politics of managing and administering affairs cannot be in the hands of everyone or at the disposal of every person. If it were so, it would be necessary for every member of the Ummah to be a ruler over himself and over others as well. It is known that since the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the politics and management of the Ummah have been in the hands of specific people: the Caliph and those he chooses to be his advisors. Politics is not something to be thrown into the markets and gatherings of the common people, saying, "What do you say about such and such? What do you say about such and such?" There is no doubt that those who stumble in these matters are on a path contrary to the methodology of the Salaf, and that they stir up nothing but confusion and turn people away from what is far more important. Have you seen, for example, secret treaties, the conditions of war, and the affairs of external relations with people? Is it fitting for any rational mind among the minds of the sons of Adam to have these thrown into the markets before the common people? A person in his home cannot let people see what is in his home. How, for example, would a state or government let people see everything it does or inform them of everything it wants? Who said this? By which book, or by which Sunnah, or by which action of the Rightly Guided Caliphs? Did 'Umar, or Abu Bakr before him, or even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he wanted to do something, go to the markets or order someone to go to the markets and say, "I want to do such and such"? Rather, when he wanted to go on an expedition, he would disguise it as another expedition, which the people would prepare for, except at Tabuk. So the affairs of general politics cannot be in the hands of the common people or on their tongues. Whoever seeks that has sought a matter that no rational person would ever say. Is it possible for the common man in the market who sells vegetables, meat, and bread, and the like, to be informed of the secrets of the state and its files? Who said this?
So my advice to those whom Allah the Exalted has tested with such matters is that they should review themselves and know that it is not wise for everything the state does to be in the hands of the people. There are things the state manages that may appear to the simple people to be incorrect, but for those who know the causes and results, they are correct. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, have those who questioned him among the Companions, who were the greatest of minds, not know the outcome? And I do not want to equate the rulers of the Islamic Ummah today with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in terms of advising the Ummah and guiding it to the right path. No, but I say: the matters of the state are specific to certain people, not everyone. Yes, so I advise you, and I ask you to convey this advice to everyone who has spoken about these matters, to engage in what is more important and to ask Allah for success for the state. Yes.