Fatwa ID: 07628
Answered by: Maulana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Question:
Any fatwas about following the law of the land you live in?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Wa ʿalaykumu s-salam waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,
As long as the laws of the country a person resides in do not contradict Shariah, it is essential to follow those laws. This is because living in a country implies a contractual agreement to obey its laws, and Allah the Most High states in Surah Al-Maidah, verse 1:
“O you who believe, fulfil your contracts.”
Additionally, in Surah An-Nisa, verse 58, Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.”
However, if the law demands something that goes against Islam and Shariah, it becomes necessary to refrain from following it. As the well-known Hadith states:
It was narrated from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.” [Musnad Ahmad 1095]
Another narration from Ibn ‘Umar states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“A Muslim must listen to and obey (the ruler) whether he likes it or not unless he is commanded to commit a sin. If he is ordered to commit a sin, then he should neither listen nor obey.” [Sahih Muslim 1839a]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Mawlana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
5:1
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ ۚ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى ٱلصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ ١
4:58
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٥٨
«مسند أحمد» (2/ 333 ط الرسالة):
«1095 – حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْقَوَارِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، قَالَ: ” لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ عز وجل “»
«صحيح مسلم» (6/ 15):
38 – (1839) حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ : عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ: « عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ، إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمَرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ، فَإِنْ أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلَا سَمْعَ وَلَا طَاعَةَ .»
