Losing Sovereignty is Political Suicide
(Translated)

There is no doubt that everyone watched the heated interview between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, at the White House, at the end of last month. It was a tumultuous and eye-catching encounter that captured the attention of all observers.

Now, I am not here to evaluate or discuss that interview. Instead, I would like to shed light on just one issue: what brought the Ukrainian president to this situation?

What made Trump dare to treat Zelensky in this manner, demanding that he sign a contract to hand over his country’s wealth to America worth $500 billion, and on top of that, humiliatingly surrender to Russia?

The answer is Zelensky himself. He is the one who placed his neck in America's hands, who threw himself into its embrace and allowed it to take over. His life and his country are now in the hands of the White House.

Therefore, as soon as Zelensky showed reluctance in that interview, Trump quickly halted military aid, and halted the delivery of much-needed upgrades to the F-16s, spare parts, and weapons.

Elon Musk, Trump’s man, threatened to sever communication networks for the Ukrainian military, on the front lines of the battle, since they relied on his communications network, Starlink.

Thus, Zelensky was presented with the choice between death and defeat, or surrender, betrayal, and abandonment—quite simply. This brings us to the discussion of Shariah legislation for such a dilemma.

Reflect with me over the Speech of Allah (swt),

[وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً] “And Allah (swt) does not allow for the disbelievers to have authority over the believers.” [TMQ Surah An-Nisaa 4:141]. This clearly prohibits us from granting the disbelievers an authority over us, because that would mean a loss of sovereignty and will. This is the trap into which the Ukrainian president has fallen, with respect to America and Europe, leaving him without sovereignty or will.

This principle applies to both Muslims and non-Muslims. If they want to have control over decision-making, then whoever pays money has the authority, and whoever arms themselves has authority. For Muslims, this is obligatory, not optional. Therefore, Allah (swt) forbids Muslims from giving the kuffar (disbelievers) any authority over them.

Similarly, the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (saw) who said, «لَا تَسْتَضِيئُوا بِنَارِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ» “Do not seek light from the fire of the mushrikeen” [An-Nisa’i] as that gives them an authority over us, and makes us lose the will and ability to make decisions. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (saw) forbade us from seeking assistance from the mushrikeen against other mushrikeen, as he (saw) said,

«فَإِنَّا لَا نَسْتَعِينُ بِالْمُشْرِكِينَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ» “We do not seek assistance from the mushrikeen against mushrikeen.” [Ahmed]

How wonderful is the Speech of Allah (swt),

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ]

“O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves.” [TMQ Surah Aali Imran:118] which settles the matter, in a way that leaves us no room for complacency, or resignation. He (swt) also said,

[وَلاَ تَرْكَنُواْ إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاء ثُمَّ لاَ تُنصَرُونَ]

“And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors. Then you would not be supported.” [TMQ Surah Hud:113].

Therefore, we must be fully convinced that the loss of sovereignty, and decision-making authority, means political suicide. This is the trap into which the Ukrainian president has fallen into, and this is, unfortunately, what all the rulers of Muslims have fallen into to.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see the stances of rulers that harm us, our Deen, our countries, and sometimes the rulers themselves, as happened with Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to absorb the people of Gaza, after their displacement. It is not surprising to see this because our rulers have given the kuffar an authority over us, leaving the rulers without sovereignty or authority.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Eng. Baher Saleh
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir