Aslam

Praise be to Allah.The hadeeth mentioned was narrated by Imaam Ahmad in his

Musnad, al-Tabaraani in

al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer, and

Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh,

with a jayyid isnaad from Abu Umaamah al-Baahili (may Allaah be pleased

with him) from the Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said:

“The bonds of Islam will be undone one by one. Each time one bond

is undone, the people will move to the next one (and adhere to that).

The first bond to be undone will be ruling (al-hukm)

and the last one will be prayer (al-salaah).”

The meaning of this hadeeth is apparent, which is that

the more Islam becomes “strange”, the more people will go against its

teachings and will undo its bonds, which is a reference to its obligations

and commandments. As the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam began as a

stranger and will go back to being a stranger as it started, so give

glad tidings to the strangers.” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh).

The meaning of the phrase “the first bond to be undone

will be ruling (al-hukm)”

is apparent; it refers to the failure to rule according to the sharee’ah

of Allaah. This is what is happening today in most of the so-called

Muslim countries. It is known that what is obligatory upon all is to

rule according to the sharee’ah of Allaah in all things, and to beware

of ruling according to laws and customs which go against the sharee’ah,

because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“But no, by your Lord, they can

have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes

between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions,

and accept (them) with full submission [al-Nisaa’ 4:65]

“And so judge

(you O Muhammad) among them by what Allaah has revealed and follow not

their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad)

far away from some of that which Allaah has sent down to you. And if

they turn away, then know

that Allaah’s Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly,

most of men are Faasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient to Allaah).

Do they then seek the judgement

of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allaah

for a people who have firm Faith [al-Maa’idah 5:49-50]

“And whosoever

does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, such are the Kaafiroon (i.e.

disbelievers — of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allaah’s Laws

[al-Maa’idah 5:44]

“And

whosoever does not judge by that which Allaah has revealed, such are

the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers — of a lesser degree). [al-Maa’idah

5:45]

“And

whosoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed (then) such (people)

are the Faasiqoon [the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree)]

to Allaah [al-Maa’idah 5:47]

The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) explained

that the rulers of the Muslims are obliged to rule according to the

sharee’ah of Allaah in all the Muslims’ affairs and in all the conflicts

that arise among them, in obedience to these verses. They explained

that the one who rules by anything other than that which Allaah revealed,

if he believes that it is permissible for him to do so, is guilty of

major kufr which puts him beyond the pale of Islam… But if he believes

that this is not permissible, but he rules by something other than that

which Allaah revealed for a bribe or for some other purpose, although

he believed that that is not permissible, and that it is obligatory

to rule according to that which Allaah revealed, then he is guilty of

lesser kufr, lesser zulm and lesser fisq.

We ask Allaah, may He be glorified, to make all the

Muslim rulers rule and judge according to the sharee’ah and to make

their people adhere to it, and to cause them to beware of whatever goes

against it, for He is the Most Generous, Most Kind. Undoubtedly ruling

according to sharee’ah and acting in accordance with it is in our best

interests in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be a source of

pride in this world and in the Hereafter. It will keep us safe from

the plots of our enemies and help us to be victorious over them, as

Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

“O you who believe!

If you help (in the cause of) Allaah, He will help you, and make your

foothold firm” [Muhammad 47:7]

“and

(as for) the believers, it was incumbent upon Us to help (them)” [al-Room

30:47]

“Verily, Allaah

will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong,

All-Mighty.

Those (Muslim rulers) who, if

We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqaamat-as-Salaah

[i.e. to perform the five compulsory congregational Salaah (prayers)

(the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakaah and they enjoin Al-Ma‘roof

(i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid

Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden)

[i.e. they make the Qur’aan as the law of their country in all the spheres

of life]. And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures)

[al-Hajj 22:40-41]

“Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers

and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism)

in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth,

(i.e. Day of Resurrection)

The Day when their excuses will

be of no profit to Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers and disbelievers

in the Oneness of Allaah). Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will

be the evil abode (i.e. painful torment in Hell-fire)” [Ghaafir

40:51-52]

And there are many similar aayaat.

With regard to the words of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “and the last one will

be prayer (al-salaah)”,

this refers to large numbers of people who do not pray and who are negligent

with regard to salaah. This is what is happening today in many Muslim

countries. We ask Allaah to put the Muslims’ affairs right and to help

them to adhere strongly to His religion and to be steadfast.