Tauhid and Non-Islamic Laws
The most important principle in Islam is tauhid (pure monotheism). As the body is only enlivened by the soul, so the good deeds by Tauhid. Good deeds without tauhid are null in the face of God! Therefore, the good deeds of an unbeliever are not accepted.
And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust. (23) [Sura Furqan (25) Verse 23]
As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing, but he finds Allâh with him, Who will pay him his due (Hell). And Allâh is Swift in taking account. (39) [Sura An-Noor (24) Verse 23]
If good deeds are done for something or someone other than Allah, the good deeds are worth nothing, for they are not accepted by Allah s.w.t..
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad SAW), as it was to those (Allâh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (65) [Sura Zummar (39) Verse 65]
Allah sent his prophets (S.A.W) to the people to teach them Tauhid:
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). (36) [Sura Nahl (16) Verse 36]
The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. taught Tauhid for 13 years in Mekkah, before emigration. For the most important thing in Islam is to realize pure tauhid.
When one day a verse from the Koran was read to a Christian named 'Adi bin Hatim, who later joined Islam, he thought it meant taking someone to God, bowing before him and bowing down. He therefore contradicted the Prophet s.a.w. and said that Christians do not take priests and monks as gods. Then the Prophet explained s.a.w. this verse: "... they took priests as gods beside Allah":
"It is true (Christians do not bow down before their priests), but truly they forbid something that God has allowed and allow something that God has forbidden, after which the people follow their orders. And that's why they worship her!" [Ahmad]
So this means that when a scholar forbids something that God has allowed and vice versa and people follow him in that they worship him or place him next to God. Only God has the absolute right to declare something forbidden or allowed.
Of course, you can and must follow your parents, your teacher and your leaders, but only as long as the orders do not violate God's law. But if the commandments are against God's law, then one must no longer follow them.
The Prophet s.a.w. said: "It is the duty of every Muslim to listen and obey the leader, in things that please him or not, unless the orders are iniquities. If outrageouss are ordered, then one must not listen to them or obey them!" [Bukhari, Muslim]
This means that a Muslim is not allowed to obey any laws that contradict Sharia law.
If a group or an individual legislates contrary to Sharia law, then such individuals have turned against Allah s.w.t.. People may only make laws that were not previously established by Allah s.w.t. or his prophet s.a.w., and only if they are within the given limits. And if people follow them in things that are contrary to divine law, such as the common law of inheritance (boys and girls get the same inheritance), it means that Aqidah has suffered damage. For either they are not sure of God's authority, or they do not take it seriously, or they have placed other authorities beside God's absolute authority:
Abdullah Ibn Mas`ud, Allah's blessing on him, reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessing and glory on him: "What is the most grievous sin before Allah?" He said: "That thou mayest do something equal with Allah, while He is thy Creator. [Bukhârî, Muslim, Tirmîdhî, Nasaî, Abû Dâwûd and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal]
Allah says: Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): "In what (condition) were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed on earth." They (angels) say: "Was not the earth of Allâh spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - What an evil destination! (97) [Sura An-Nasai (4) Verse 97]
Most so-called Muslim leaders, even if they claim to be Muslims and pray, fast, etc., but do not implement Allah's Law in its completeness, but make laws according to their own wishes and according to the example of the unbelievers, by definition do idolatry.
And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn. [Sura Maida (5) Verse 44]
And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn. [Sura Maida (5) Verse 45]
Let the people of the Injeel (Gospel) judge by what Allâh has revealed therein. And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fâsiqûn (the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree) to Allâh. (47) [Sura Maida (5) Verse 47]
Muslims must not follow them, but on the contrary try to realize divine right, the Sharia, as much as possible! Nor should Muslims therefore remain in the land of the unbelievers, if there are no good reasons for this!
Sharia literally means "the way (to the source or to the watering place)". The Shariah is the totality of all commandments and prohibitions which Allah s.w.t. commanded his servants through the Qur'an and the Sunnah. An essential feature of Sharia law is its basically all-encompassing and timeless character. The commandments and guidelines of the Sharia apply to the most diverse areas of life of Muslims. [After Amir Zaidan]
http://kalifat.org/tauhid-and-non-islamic-laws_d1060.html
