Section 3: Making Laws

Law making is the prerogative of Allah - the Most High-: What is intended by Law making is that Allah sends down for His slaves the methodology upon which they shall base their beliefs, their interactions and so on. Amongst this, is legislating the lawfulness and unlawfulness of a thing. No one has the right to make lawful except that which Allah has made lawful, or make unlawful except that which Allah has made unlawful. Allah - the Most High - said: “And say not concerning that which your tongue put forth falsely: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden, ’ so as to invent lies against Allah...” (Qur’an 16:116) Also, Allah - the Most High - said: “Say [O Muhammad to these polytheistsJ: ‘Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful. ’ Say [O Muhammad,]: ‘Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah?” (Qur’an 10:59) Allah has prohibited making something lawful or unlawful, without evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and He informed that such is tantamount to inventing lies against Allah. He also informed that, whosoever makes anything lawful or unlawful, without evidence (from Qur’an and Sunnah), has set himself up as a partner to Allah regarding a matter that is His sole prerogative, which is legislation. Allah - the Most High - said: “Or have they partners with Allah (false god) who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed?...” (Qur’an 26:21) So, whosoever obeys the one making laws besides Allah, while being aware and agrees with his action, has associated a partner with Allah. Allah - the Most High - said: “And if you obey them /by making Al-Maytatah (the dead animal) legal by eating it], then you would indeed be Mushrikun (polytheists); [because they (the devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allah has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them, and to worship others besides Allah is This means that whosoever obeys those who make dead animals lawful, is a polytheist. Similarly, Allah, glorified is He, informed that whosoever obeys the monks and Rabbis in their making lawful that which Allah has made unlawful, and making unlawful that which Allah has made lawful, has taken them as lords besides Allah. Allah - the Most High - said: “They (Jews and Christians) took their Rabbis and monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as lord) Messiah, the son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded Iin the Taurah (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilah (God - Allah) La ilaha ilia Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with) Him. ” (Qur’an 9:31) When 'Adiyy bin Hatim heard this verse, he said: “" So, the Prophet said: “Were they not making lawful, things which Allah had made unlawful and you accepted them as lawful, and making unlawful, things which Allah had made lawful and accepted them as unlawful? ’ He ('Adiyy) said: ‘Certainly.’ ‘That is how you worshipped them.”' Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahman bin Hasan said: In this hadith, there is evidence that obeying Monks and Rabbis in disobedience to Allah, is servitude (worship) to them besides Allah, and it is o f the Major Shirk (Major polytheism), which Allah does not forgive, as mentioned in His statement at the end of the verse: “While they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurah (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilah (God - Allah) La ilaha ilia Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be 18 Reported by at-Tirmidhi to Hint, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with) Similar to this is His statement: “Eat not (O Believers) of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah). And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them [by making Al-Maytatah (dead animal) legal by eating itj, then you would indeed be Mushrikun (polytheists); [because they (the devils and their friends) made lawful to you to eat that which Allah has made unlawful to eat and you obeyed them by considering it lawful to eat, and by doing so you worshipped them, and to worship others besides Allah is Several people fall into this as a result of those they blindly follow, by not giving regard to the evidence whenever it conflicts with the (opinion of the) one they follow. This is Shirk (polytheism).’ Sticking to the legislations of Allah and abandoning other legislations is part of the implications of the La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and Allah is the Source of Help. ®MNP