On the verse: “Have you not seen those who claim that they have believed in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you, while they desire to take their case to the taghut…”
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The questioner : There is a noble scholar among the people of correct creed and correct methodology, and praise be to Allah, who cited verses from Surat al-Nisa. I will present his reasoning to you, if Allah wills. In the saying of the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:60] up to the end of the verses, he says: These verses establish a methodology regarding those who take their case to other than the law of Allah the Exalted, while they offer excuses with their tongues that are merely verbal, whereas the reality in their hearts is the opposite. As for the action: [An-Nisa 4:61] 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: [An-Nisa 4:62] And these are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts, and yet He did not command us to kill them. Moreover, if they had been disbelievers, the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would apply: Sunan Ibn Majah 2535Sahih (Darussalam) So he said: [An-Nisa 4:63] This indicates to us, based on his statement, that if a person takes his case to other than the law of Allah and openly declares that the ruling of Allah is the truth and what is below it is false, then our position toward him is to turn away from him and advise him, not to declare him a disbeliever and kill him. Is this reasoning correct from these verses? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : As these verses appear from their context, they were revealed concerning the hypocrites, who display that they are Muslims but do not believe in Islam, rather they conceal disbelief. So whoever is in this state is undoubtedly among the hypocrites. Allah did not command their killing because the hypocrite is to be dealt with only according to his outward appearance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when permission was sought to kill the hypocrites:Sahih al-Bukhari 4907 If we were to kill everyone we suspected of hypocrisy, there would be great harm in that. For this reason, He said: [An-Nisa 4:63] We do not know what is in the hearts, so we judge by the outward appearance.
These hypocrites desire to take their case to the taghut, but it may not be possible for them to do so, because they are in a state where Islamic rule has taken control. However, they love to take their case to the taghut, meaning: to that which contradicts the Shari'ah,[An-Nisa 4:60] and it has gained power over them, [An-Nisa 4:61] and they do not say “No,” but they turn away and avert themselves without explicitly saying the word “No,” because if they had said it explicitly, they would have been 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. For this reason, they come to offer excuses to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):[An-Nisa 4:63]
The questioner : This is taken in general terms as well, if there is a Muslim ruler and an Islamic authority, but this ruler is imposed upon them like these people.
The Shaykh : This is because we do not know what is in his heart, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not permit opposing the rulers except if we see clear disbelief for which we have proof from Allah.
The questioner : So, is his reasoning here correct, meaning turning away and advising?
The Shaykh : Yes, but regarding whom? Regarding the hypocrites. As for the hypocrites, and you know that the rulers who rule by other than what Allah revealed today are explicit, but they offer incorrect excuses. Otherwise, they are explicit. They say: Yes, we say this and we say this law, and we know that it contradicts the Shari'ah, but they interpret things in ways they interpret them. So they are explicit. But those hypocrites in the time of the Prophet did not speak explicitly; they turned away and averted themselves, but without saying: “No, we do not accept.”
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : First, first, we said a rule has been broken today, we said that those here do not precede those who come from…
Give the brother, give the brother, he is finished here, give the one at the door, you are from here? From Unaizah?
The questioner : I am coming for a visit.
The Shaykh : Come on, please.
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 وَتَوْفِيقاًWhoever changes his religion, execute him.
من بدل دينه فاقتلوهThose 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 بَلِيغاًThe Shaykh : As these verses appear from their context, they were revealed concerning the hypocrites, who display that they are Muslims but do not believe in Islam, rather they conceal disbelief. So whoever is in this state is undoubtedly among the hypocrites. Allah did not command their killing because the hypocrite is to be dealt with only according to his outward appearance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when permission was sought to kill the hypocrites:
lest the people say Muhammad kills his companions
لا يتحدث الناس أن محمداً يقتل أصحابهThose are the ones of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْThese hypocrites desire to take their case to the taghut, but it may not be possible for them to do so, because they are in a state where Islamic rule has taken control. However, they love to take their case to the taghut, meaning: to that which 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 صُدُوداًSo 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. 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 بَلِيغاًThe questioner : This is taken in general terms as well, if there is a Muslim ruler and an Islamic authority, but this ruler is imposed upon them like these people.
The Shaykh : This is because we do not know what is in his heart, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not permit opposing the rulers except if we see clear disbelief for which we have proof from Allah.
The questioner : So, is his reasoning here correct, meaning turning away and advising?
The Shaykh : Yes, but regarding whom? Regarding the hypocrites. As for the hypocrites, and you know that the rulers who rule by other than what Allah revealed today are explicit, but they offer incorrect excuses. Otherwise, they are explicit. They say: Yes, we say this and we say this law, and we know that it contradicts the Shari'ah, but they interpret things in ways they interpret them. So they are explicit. But those hypocrites in the time of the Prophet did not speak explicitly; they turned away and averted themselves, but without saying: “No, we do not accept.”
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : First, first, we said a rule has been broken today, we said that those here do not precede those who come from…
Give the brother, give the brother, he is finished here, give the one at the door, you are from here? From Unaizah?
The questioner : I am coming for a visit.
The Shaykh : Come on, please.