T HE O BLIGATION OF R ULING BY I SLAM

This Deen was never revealed to us as a mere religion or a "spiritual booster". It is a divine way of life which Almighty Allah (SWT) sent to His servants, and ordered them to organise and manage the affairs of mankind with complete justice the Sharee'ah. Before the advent of Islam, the Mushrikeen and People of the Book (Jews and Christians) were living in complete darkness, just like how they are today. They had no divine way of life or principles to follow as they had corrupted the divine scriptures which were sent to Moosaa (AS) and 'Eesaa (AS); consequently, they ruled over the people with complete oppression and tyranny (man-made laws). Allah (SWT) then sent His Messenger, Muhammad (SAW), with a divine way of life which would negate and annihilate their false practises, traditions, falsehood, religions and customs; whilst at the same time, introduce to them an alternative system of governance which would be free from oppression and corruption. This was the main purpose of Islam being revealed to take people out from the darkness of worshipping false deities (such as idols and man-made laws), and to organise society with divine laws which were entirely flawless. Therefore, Allah (SWT) never revealed 114 chapters and over 6,000 verses telling us only how to pray and fast. The Qur'aan is a criterion, constitution and book of guidance, informing mankind of how to save themselves from turmoil and chaos in the world, as well attain salvation in the real and permanent life which is to come (in the Hereafter). Allah (SWT) says in His Book: He(Allah)hasordainedforyouthereligion(Islam)whichHeordainedforNooh[Noah],andthatwhichWehave inspiredinyou[Muhammad],andthatwhichWeordainedforIbraaheem[Abraham],Moosaa[Moses]andEesaa [Jesus] saying you should establish [implement] the Deen and make no divisions in it. Intolerable for the Mushrikoon,isthattowhichyoucallthem.AllahchoosesforHimselfwhomHewills,andguidesuntoHimself whoturnstoHiminrepentanceandinobedience.(EMQ,42:13) Surely,WehavesentdowntoyoutheBook[Quraan]intruththatyoumightjudgebetweenmenbythatwhich Allahhasshownyou[theShareeah],sobenotapleaderforthetreacherous.(EMQ,4:105) There are numerous verses and statements in the Qur'aan and the books of Sunnah which highlight the great importance of ruling by Islam, and politically organising the affairs of mankind. In one verse, Allah (SWT) shows us how serious this issue is by calling those who do not rule by His Book kaafiroon 'unbelievers', zaalimoon 'oppressors' and faasiqoon 'evil sinners': AndwhosoeverdoesnotjudgebywhatAllahhasrevealed,sucharethekaafiroon(EMQ5:44);zaalimoon(5:45); faasiqoon(5:47). The only way for us to remove such descriptions and attributes far away from us is by working to establish the Deen collectively (in a Jamaa'ah), and by supporting those from Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah who are fighting in order to establish the Sharee'ah. Verily, those who are not engaging in these two noble duties are not true believers, and may die in a state similar to those who passed away before the arrival of Islam; for the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said: Whoeverwithdrawshishandfromobedience[totheleaderoftheMuslimsi.e.theShareeah]willfindnoexcuse when he stands before Allah on the Day of Judgement. And whoever dies without having bound himself by a pledge of allegiance [to the leader of the Muslims], he will die the death of one belonging to the Days of Ignorance.(SaheehMuslim,Book33:KitaabulImaarah,chapter13,hadeethno.1851) A person who does not pledge allegiance to the Khaleefah 'leader of the Muslims', or at least work to establish an Islamic authority is encouraging disunity and political chaos states which were predominant amongst Arabs in the Days of Ignorance. Therefore, he is in fact behaving similar to these Arabs (by being in a state of disunity), and this is why he will die in a state similar to them. O Muslims! If your concerns are really to please Allah (SWT), as they should be, account yourselves and see how much you are doing to work for Allah's Deen. Are you emulating the Sahaabah or the kuffaar?

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