“The Hukm (command or judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the only right path, but most men do not know.”

[Surah Yusuf, 12:40]

This verse and many others like it are a confirmation that the right to legislate is for Allah (SWT) alone in all aspects of life and religion. Halaal is what Allah has made Halaal, and Haraam is what Allah has made Haraam. The laws, the regulations and the Deen to follow are all for Allah (SWT) alone to decide.

If the believers disagree on any matter, they should refer the matter back to Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) because the final authority in all matters is with Allah and His Messenger. As Allah says:

“Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you (truly) believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution.”

[Surah An-Nisa, 4:59]

This is reconfirmed in the Saheefat Al-Madeenah where the Prophet (SAW) set down clearly in writing that, “No matter how much you disagree with one another regarding any matter, it comes back to Allah and to Muhammad (SAW) (for judgement).” The purpose behind the article was clear; it was to emphasise the fact that Al-Madeenah was to be ruled according to the Shari’ah and that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was to be the leader of the newly formed state.

From the example of the Prophet (SAW) and from what is mentioned in the verses of the Qur’an above, we learn that it is an obligation to establish Allah’s rule, for doing so is a worship in itself. Allah’s (SWT) saying in the verse, “In il-Hukmu illaa lillaah” (The Command is for none but Allah), is a reality that applies to worship, to beliefs, to dealings, and to all else.

Dear Muslims, you must therefore know that we do not have the right to judge in any matter based on our personal desires or opinions, and we will not have true Imaan until we make the Shari’ah the judge in all disputes and submit to it wholeheartedly.

The rulers of today have transgressed against Allah (SWT) with regards to the right of legislating. They have dared to refute the Creator, rendering Halaal what He has made Haraam, considering Haraam what He has permitted and referring to other than what He (SWT) has revealed for Judgement.

We must work to return the right to legislate to its rightful Owner, to make the Deen Allah’s alone, to rid the Ummah of man-made laws and to make Allah’s Word the highest and the word of kufr the lowest. This will not happen unless people refer to Allah (SWT) alone for Judgement and legislation according to what He has revealed in His Book and in the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAW).

“But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.”

[Surah An-Nisaa’, 4:65]