THE DANGER OF REJECTING ALLĀH’S LAW

 FAJR REMINDER: THE DANGER OF REJECTING ALLĀH’S LAW

By: Umm Affān

Ṣafar 4, 1448 (19-July-2026)

Another aspect of Shirk (associating partners with Allāh) that nullifies one’s Islām and Eemān is preferring to rule by, or willingly accepting, laws other than those revealed by Allāh while believing that His Laws are unsuitable, outdated, or no better than man-made laws that contradict them.

Such a belief reflects a dangerous preference for the rulings of human beings over the perfect Judgment of Allāh. Whoever believes that it is preferred to govern people's affairs, settle disputes, or implement punishments using laws other than the Sharī'ah—even while acknowledging that the Sharī'ah is superior—has declared lawful what Allāh has unanimously forbidden. Such a belief constitutes one of the nullifiers of Islām.” Allāh (ﷻ) says: “...And who is better in judgment than Allāh for a people who have firm faith.” [Sūrah Al-Mā’idah (5): 50]

Sadly, this misconception has become evident among some who identify as Muslims. Ignorantly, they criticize and ridicule aspects of the Sharī'ah, especially on social media. Whoever believes that the Laws prescribed by Allāh—such as cutting off the hand of the thief or stoning the married adulterer—are no longer suitable for today's world has nullified his Islām. Likewise, whoever believes that man-made laws are superior to the legislation of Islām, that the rulings of Islām are incompatible with modern society, that Islām is responsible for the backwardness of the Muslims, or that its guidance is limited only to a person's relationship with his Lord and has no place in social, political, economic, or legal affairs, has nullified his Islām.

Allāh has commanded the believers to refer every matter to His Judgment and to establish His Sharī'ah in their lives. At the same time, He has prohibited seeking judgment from any legislation that opposes His Revelation. Allāh (ﷻ) says: “The command (or the judgment) is for none but Allāh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e., His Monotheism), that is the (true) Straight Religion, but most men know not.” [Sūrah Yūsuf (12): 40]

There should be no doubt that replacing the rulings of Allāh and His Messenger with man-made laws in matters such as bloodshed, honour, inheritance, divorce, wealth, and other aspects of life is an act of Kufr (disbelief). Allāh (ﷻ) says: “Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgment (in their disputes) to the Ṭāġūt (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shayṭān wishes to lead them far astray.” [Sūrah An-Nisā' (4): 61]

How can following legislation that contradicts the Law of Allāh not be an act of disbelief when doing so inevitably results in declaring lawful what Allāh has prohibited and prohibiting what He has made lawful? It also grants human beings the authority to legislate according to their desires, permitting whatever gains the approval of the majority while punishing or criminalizing those who oppose it.

Furthermore, whoever considers lawful what Allāh and His Messenger have prohibited in matters that are necessarily known in the religion—such as adultery, usury, intoxicants, and similar sins—is a disbeliever according to the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. Allāh (ﷻ) says: “…And whatsoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed, such are the Kāfirūn (i.e., disbelievers - of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allāh’s Law).” [Sūrah Al-Mā’idah (5): 44]

Giving absolute supremacy to the Legislation of Allāh is itself an act of worship because it reflects complete submission to Him. On the other hand, giving precedence to legislation that opposes His Revelation is an act of Shirk. Therefore, O Muslims, let us submit wholeheartedly to Allāh, honour His Laws above every other law, obey His Commands, avoid His Prohibitions, and remain firm upon His Guidance.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to keep our hearts steadfast upon His Religion, to make us among those who judge by His Revelation, and to protect us from every belief or action that nullifies our Islām and Eemān. Aameen.