The Nature of Democracy

The Shirk of Voting to Man-Made Law

It has become well established amongst the people what the nature of Democracy is and from where it has been derived from. We will touch briefly on this matter. The word democracy is of Greek construct, emanating from two root words, Demos and cracy. Demos being the Greek word for "people" and cracy being the word for "ruling" or "legislation." Consequently, the complete reading means, "the rule of the people". 

 

In fact amongst the callers towards this thought we hear the oft repeated phrase, "Democracy is the rule of the people, by the people, for the people." Consequently, the sovereignty in democracy is for the people and their desires (hawaa). If the people deem by majority opinion that alcohol should be permitted (in society) and is actually a good thing then this would be accepted as law (qanoon). In addition if people deem that prostitution, gambling, paedophilia, killing Muslims (as in the illegal wars on Afghanistan and Iraq) , homosexuality etc. is beneficial for the people, then through the process of majority voting, these and other motions would be accepted and implemented as law, such that the people can judge and live by them. The question we need to ask is this allowed in Islam? Allah (swt) has said quite clearly,

"Judge between them by what has been revealed by Allah, and do not follow their whims and desires, and beware of them lest they lead you away from the guidance sent down to you by God." [EMQ 5:49]

And we have mentioned numerous clear-cut, non disputable evidences that the law is only for Allah (swt) and that Allah (swt) is the Supreme Legislator (Al-Musharri). How then can Islam be compatible with Democracy? How then can one engage in the process of voting or choosing an MP within such a system? A system that disregards the commandments of Allah (swt); a system that performs istihlaal (making halal what Allah (swt) has declared haram), changing the orders of Allah (swt); Democracy is a system (nizaam) that says to Allah (swt) "Our majority judgement is better and more wiser than what You (the Creator of man life and the universe) have sent to us in your Qur'an and in the Sunnah of Your Prophet (saw).

Allah (swt) also orders us to refer to the Deen of Islam solely in all our matters and not the law of the people,"And if you have a dispute in any matter then refer it to Allah (swt) and the Messenger (saw), if you believe in Allah (swt) and the Last Day. This is better for you and the best of settlements." [EMQ 4:59]

As for those so-called Muslim MPs residing within the parliament and their defense that they only wish to present the Islamic opinion on the matter whilst in the setting of making law and legislating, we say to them, fear Allah (swt), and keep your lies and deceptive poison to yourself. In fact Allah (swt) has ordered the Muslims to leave any place where people mock His ayah (verses). He (swt) has said,

 

"And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with  them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell." [EMQ 4:140]

Is it not a mockery to the Deen of Islam when people gather together and comment over the Hukm (ruling) of Allah (swt)? Is it not a mockery to the Deen when people decide to make pornography legal? Is it not mockery when people gather together to decide that the age of consent of Homosexuality should be decreased from 18 years to 16? Is it not mockery when so-called Muslims arbitrate to the Kufr man-made law in his own discussion whilst neglecting the law of Allah? Indeed this is all mockery to the Deen, to Allah (swt) and to his Messenger (saws).

"..(but if you stayed with them whilst they mocked Allah certainly in that case you would be like them." [EMQ 4:140]

In fact the Ulema of the Deen of Islam, those committed to Tawheed and following the manhaj (method) of the As-Salaf us-Saalih have declared participating in such a process is Shirk Akbar the greatest form of Shirk that takes one outside the fold of Islam. As for the Ulema of the Sultan (state), the Ulema of the Dirham and the Dinaar, they believe that selling the Deen for a few thousand pounds or for a car or for an "Islamic centre" is more important than what Allah (swt) says, then what more can be said, except fear Allah (swt) and await your seat in the fire. As for those who follow these 'everything-goes' fataawa, citing difference of opinion in their justification we remind you of what Allah (swt) has said,

"When those who were followed will disclaim those who followed them, and seeing the torment, all ties between them shall be severed, And the followers will say, "Could we live but once again we would leave them as they have abandoned us now" Allah will show them thus their deeds, and fill them with remorse, but never shall they find release from the Fire" [EMQ 2:166-167].

Source: Voting - The Greater of Two Evils

to be continued . . . .

 

Ruling and Judging by other than Allah's Law

The Shirk of Voting to Man-Made Law

The matter of ruling and judging by other than what Allah (swt) has revealed, is greater than simply one of disobedience in a single action. Rather, Allah (swt) has likened it to following another God besides Him (swt) i.e. Shirk (the association of partners with Allah). Allah (swt) has said,

“They imitate the sayings of the disbelievers, Allah (swt)'s curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth; They took their Rabbis and their Monks to be their Lords and Legislators besides Allah (swt) and took the Messiah, the son of Mary, while they were commanded to worship, obey and follow none but one God/Allah; none has the right to be worshipped or followed and to legislate but he, praise and glory be to him from having the partners they associate with him.” [EMQ 9:30-31]

Although we know that the Jews and Christians do not prostrate, nor bow down to their priests or rabbis, they followed them and agreed with them when matters that Allah (swt) had declared forbidden, they would declare allowed; and matters declared allowed, their priests would declare forbidden. In fact the above ayah was revealed in the following circumstances.

It has been reported by Hudhayfah in Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Jareer that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) was reciting the above verse and Udayy (ra) said to Him (saw), 'Oh Rasool Allah, they do not worship the Rabbis and the Monks' To which He (saw) replied: 'The Rabbis and Monks make that which is lawful unlawful and that which is unlawful lawful and they i.e. the people, follow them, and by doing so they worship them'

Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw) therefore considered that as making them lords and gods besides Allah (swt), because the obedience (taa'ah) in legislation is worship, and must not be for anyone except Allah (swt).  

In addition, Allah (swt) says in another explicit verse that obeying any man-made system knowingly with consent for its source, different to Allah (swt) is an act of apostasy. For Allah (swt) says,

 

”Eat not, Oh believers, of that meat on which Allah (swt)'s name has not been pronounced at the time of slaughtering the animal, for surely it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah) and certainly the evil do inspire their friends to dispute with you and if you were to obey them by making a dead (un-slaughtered) animal lawful and eating it, then you would indeed be Mushrikoun (polytheists)” [EMQ 6:121]

As for the circumstances of this verse, it has been reported in Al-Haakim upon the authority of Ibn Abbas (ra) that this verse was addressing Muslims when a group of Mushriks were debating with them on the issue of legislating. The Mushriks said:

'You call the sheep upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned; dead, who is the one who killed her? 'The Muslims said, 'Allah' So they replied, 'So what Allah has killed or slaughtered by a golden knife is haram and what you have slaughtered with a metal knife is halaal?'

To which Allah (swt) revealed the above ayah. The above ayah and its circumstances are quite explicit in its distinction between committing a prohibited (haram) action and actually following the kuffar when they rule against Allah's (swt) pronouncement on any matter.

Committing any prohibited deed results in sin which will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment. However, when Allah (swt) has declared a particular matter haram or prohibited, if one where to obey and follow those who disregard the ruling and say that it is allowed, then by doing this action it constitutes commiting Shirk (associating partners with Allah) and one becomes a Mushrik. As Allah (swt) says, "and if you were to obey them by making a dead (un-slaughtered) animal lawful and eating it, then you would indeed be Mushrikoun." Shirk being the gravest of sins since Allah (swt) has said about this,

"Allah (swt) does not forgive Shirk (making partners with Allah (swt)) but He (swt) forgives what is less than that to whomever His (swt) wills." [EMQ 4:40]

In another manifest ayah in the Qur'an Allah (swt) says,

“Or have they partners with Allah, who have legislated for them what Allah (swt) has not decreed and had it not been for a decisive word the matter would have been judged between them and verily for the Polytheists and wrongdoers there is a painful torment” [EMQ 42:21]

Moreover we know very well that Allah (swt) says:

”And He made none share in his decision or rule” [EMQ 18:26]

It is well known in Islam that any law different to the law of Allah (swt) is Taghut (anything worshipped followed and obeyed other then Allah (swt)), Allah rejects us to even refer to Taghut,

“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you and that which has been sent down before you and they wish to go for judgement in their dispute to the Taghut i.e. false Judges etc. while they have been ordered to reject them but Shaytaan wishes to lead them far astray” [EMQ 4:60]

In addition, Allah (swt) has ordered us to reject the Kufr openly and declare our enmity towards it (bara'a) as did the Prophet Ibraheem (as) when he (as) said,

"We are through with you and those you worship other than Allah. We reject you. Enmity and hatred have come between you and us forever, unless you believe in Allah the One."  [EMQ 60:4]

Source: Voting - The Greater of Two Evils

to be continued . . . .