Understanding of scholars about the Ruling System

[Islamic Revival]

The understanding of the scholars about the ruling system


The early Muslims understood the political dimension of Islam.


'Uthman ibn Affan (ra) said: "Allah might influence the people to abide by the rules of Islam by the Sultan more than by the influence of the Quran."


'Umar ibn al Khattab (ra) said: "Islam is a foundation and the Sultan is the guard."



Umayr ibn Sa'd al-Ansari, a Companion of the Prophet (saw), addressed the people of Homs upon being appointed as their Wali (Governor) by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, by saying: "…Islam will remain strong so long as the Sultan or central authority is strong. The strength of the Sultan neither comes from flogging with the whip, nor killing with the sword but from ruling with justice and holding fast to the truth."


When the capital of the Islamic State (Baghdad) was sacked by the Tartars, the Khalifah (Al Musta'sim) was deposed, and the office of Khilafah was removed for a period of three and a half years. During this period of time the Scholars and the Ummah at large worked for the re-establishment of the Islamic State. Imam Taymiyyah lived during this period, and worked feverishly in rallying the Ummah to work for the re-establishment of the Khilafah. Imam Suyuti reported in his book Tareekhul Khulafaa (The History of the Khalifahs), that Imam Taymiyyah was among the first Scholars and Notables who gave the bay'ah to the new Khalifah, Al Mustansir Billah. [see Tareekhul Khulafaa, pg.479]


Imam Taymiyyah, in his book As-Siyaasatu Ash-Shar'iyah Fi Islah Ar-Raa'ee war Ri'ayyah (The Political Divine Rules in Assessing the Caretaker and the Caretaking), states in the first sentence of the last chapter of the book entitled "The Obligation of the Adherence to the Leadership (of the Ummah)": "It is known that the Office of Wilayatul Amri An-Naas (one in charge of the entire Muslim Ummah, i.e. the Khalifah) is of the greatest of obligations of the Deen (Islam). Albeit, there is no establishment of the Deen, except by it." He continues, saying: "This is the opinion of the scholars, such as Al Fadl ibn 'Iyad, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others."


So even though the Muslim Ummah had suffered a great defeat to the Tartars, Imam Taymiyyah, and the Ummah at large, realized the importance of living in a society where all the rules which Muhammad (saaws) brought were implemented. Imam Taymiyyah worked for the re-establishment of the Islamic State under the authority of the Khalifah. In the words of Imam Taymiyyah himself, "The Deen cannot be established except by it".


Imam Taymiyyah never treated the Aqeedah as if it was a set of philosophical ideas, and ever thought that the five pillars were of utmost priority at the expense of the rest of the Islamic rules. Rather, he understood that the Aqeedah was the engine that runs the Islamic State, and he realized that all of the rules that Prophet Muhammad brought had to be implemented simultaneously without discrimination, and he realized that the way of establishing the Deen was by the office of the Khalifah. Nowadays, it is quite unfortunate to find people who claim to follow the example of great Scholars like Imam Taymiyyah, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, claiming that it is allowed to live in societies where kufr is being implemented, and that first priority should be given to purifying the Aqeedah, and learning the five pillars, and that the Islamic State and the Khilafah will be a natural by-product. When we look at the true Salaf, like Imam Taymiyyah, we find them working for the establishment of a Khalifah where the Islamic Aqeedah serves as its basis, in which all the rules of Islam will be implemented, and where the Muslim Ummah, and all of mankind, will be able to live in a harmonious, societal balance.

[Bint Mohammed]

Assalam Alaykum

The above regarding Ibn Taymiyah's position on Islamic ruling system is not entirely accurate. Infact, the quote from his works Siyasah Shariah has been taken out of context. If one was to read the works mentioned it is quiet clear as to where Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyah stood with the term khilafah. He denied the term Khilafah, and used a more general term 'Imamah'... to antitode or put khilafah in brackets to associate with him is contradictory.

However Allamah Mawardi and Imam Ghazali were the first to clarify the issue of Imamah, sultanate and Khilafat. Inshallah over the weekend I will post some excepts from the book 'Iqtisad' of Imam Ghazali and 'Ahkam as-Sultaniyah' of Imam al-Mawardi.

Back to work for now.

waslaam

[Islamic Revival]

Shukran Sister, for the clarification. I will look forward to reading the posts you planning on submitting regarding this.

One question meanwhile. You say that Ibn Taymiyyah did not talk about Khilafah but Imamah. Was this just a difference in the name or were there other fundamental differences?

JazakAllah khair.

[Bint Mohammed]

Just a quick one on this. Basically lbn Taymiyah was one of the first scholars in history to actually combine the two very developled theories of Islam, which were developed by earlier scholars such as Hanafee, and Shafi', the theories being Siyah (politics) but more concisely Ruling and Shariah (rules). As fas as history of jurisprudence is concerned he was the first. However he was a valliant who was defending the ideas of state against the scholastics, rawafid and the philosophers who attacked the institution of state. Ibn Taymiyah was inspired by aristotle's idea of state whic h he used to refute Palato, but later he realised that his theory of state became too similar to a Godly state which he called Khilafat Allah and somewhat similar to the Rawafid version of state run by infallable men. In turn he denied Khilafat Allah as in a divinely guided state, and claimed it diminshed after the Khulafah Rashideen.

So he came up with the concept of Imamah, which meant there is no specfic ruling system in Islam, however supremacy of shariah is the most important thing. Alot of his thinking was in result of the political atmoshere of state in his time, ie after mongol invasion variosu states operated under various rulers. SO he believed various states can co-exist as long as shariah is supreme.

We can see how this differs from concept of Khilafah. Inshalah I will be off from work last half of Ramadhan so inshalah will contribute more in this section from my reading of classical scholars on Khilafah.

[Islamic Revival]

Some references to the caliphate by renowned ppl


Imam Ali (ra) a well known sahabi, the forth caliph, and a very good scholar said in his book Nahj-ul-Balagha (part1 page 91):

"People must have an amir, either just, or a tyrant (not tyrants of today) where the believer works under his Imara (rule) and under which the unbeliever would also benefit, until his rule ended by the end of his life (ajal), the booty would be gathered, the enemy would be fought, the routes would be made safe, the strong one will return what he took from the weak till the tyrant would be contained, and would not bother anyone."


Al-Imam Al-Mawardi in his book Al-Ahkam AL Sultaniyah, page 9 states:

"It is forbidden for the Ummah to have two Imams at the same time".


Al-Imam Al Joziri in his book Al-Fiqh alal-Mathahib Al-Arba'a(the fiqh of the four schools of thought), volume 5 page 16, says:

"The Imams of the four schools of thought-may Allah be pleased with them, agree that the Imama (Khilafah) is an obligation, and that the Muslims appoint an Imam who would implement the deen's rites, and give the oppressed justice against the oppressors. It is forbidden for Muslims to have two Imams in the world whether in agreement or in discord."

Numerous other classical scholars say that establishing/having a Khilafah is an obligation:
[below I quote the references]

Al-Fasil-fil Milal by Ibnu Hazim
Tarikh of Al-Tabari
Al-Akd Al Farid of Al-Waqidi
Al-Sirah of Ibnu Kathir
Al-Sunan Al-Kubra of Bayhaqi
Sirah ibn Hisham
Al Imam Nawaai in his book Mughni Al-Muhtaj, Vol4, page 132
Al-Imam al Qalqashandi in his book Subhul Al-Asha Vol 9 page 277
Al-Imam Ibnu Hazm in his book Al-Muhalla Vol 9, page 360
Al-Imam Al Sharani in his book Al-Mizan Vol 2, p157
Al-Imam Al Qadhi Abdul Jabbar in his book Al-Mughni fi Abwab Al-Tawheed
Al-Iamam Abu Ya'ala in Al-Ahkam Al Al Sultaniyah page 9 and page 25
Al-Fasil fil Milal Vol4 page 62
The book of Matalib Ulil-Amr
The book of Maqalat Al-Islamiyyin Vol 2, Page 134
The book of Al-Moghni Fi Abwab Al-Tawheed.

[RichardFrers]

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