Question:

The misconceptions and false beliefs have presently invaded the Muslim Ummah, which is alien to our religion has had an impact of the Islamic faith from all sides; including false democracy. The severe problem that we have is that some Muslims in Indonesia claim that democracy is from Islam. They legitimize this from Shariah evidence; the Quran and Sunnah where they use this as such evidence.

1. What is your opinion, dear Sheikh regarding democracy?
2. How can we rid of this dangerous problem?
3. I want to write a book regarding this topic. What is your opinion, Sheikh? I ask for your opinion regarding this matter.

Answer:

Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Democracy means sovereignty of the people, since it legislates without Allah (swt) i.e. permits and prohibits without Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) says,

((إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ يَقُصُّ الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْفَاصِلِينَ))

"The decision is only for Allah. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders" [Al-An'aam: 57]

The hadith extracted by Tabarani in his Kabeer that 'Adi bin Hatim stated, "I came to the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wassalam while I had a cross from gold around my neck. He said, "يَا عَدِيُّ اطْرَحْ هَذَا الْوَثَنَ مِنْ عُنُقِكَ" "O 'Udai! Remove this idol from yourself!" So I removed it in which I heard him reciting from Surat Bara'ah this ayah ((اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ)) "They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah" [Tauba: 31]
And once He finished reciting this ayah, 'Adi commented, "I said, ‘They did not worship them.'" The Prophet said,
«أَلَيْسَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللهُ فَتُحَرِّمُونُهُ، ويُحِلُّونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللهُ فَتَسْتَحِلُّونَهُ فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَتُهُمْ؟» "Yes they did. They (rabbis and monks) prohibited the allowed for them (Christians and Jews) and allowed the prohibited, and they obeyed them. This is how they worshiped them." I replied, ‘Yes'. He said, «فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَتُهُمْ» "that is their worship"

Therefore, the one who legislates without Allah (swt), his sins are very grave.

• From this aspect, democracy is a Kufr system because it allows for humans to legislate and not from the Lord of mankind.

And from another aspect democracy advocates the four freedoms: belief, opinion, ownership, and personal freedom.

It is allowed for an individual to believe in what he wants, apostate when he wants, and can say his opinion even if it desecrates the sacrosanct. He can also own things through the means of halal or haram and live in adultery as long as it satisfies both parties. This is all forbidden in Islam; apostasy, adultery, ownership through the means of haram, and foul and blasphemous speech are all haram.

• The democratic freedoms are a Kufr system because it aims at the breakdown of the Ahkam Shariah.

Request the book, Democracy is a System of Kufr, from the media office in your country. It contains the details regarding democracy and how it is a system of Kufr.

In conclusion, I bid you Salaam and I pray for good will and guidance for Islam and Muslims.

Your brother,
Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah

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