The Sixth Evidence

Allāh's statement: ﴿وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا﴾ "and He shares not His legislation with anyone." [Al-Kahf 26] If someone says: Whoever rules by other than what Allāh has revealed makes himself a partner with Allāh in His judgment, and thus he is a disbeliever. The response to this is twofold: 1. It cannot be accepted that anyone who rules by other than what Allāh has revealed is, in all cases, considered a partner with Allāh in His judgment. If the person attributes what they legislate to the religion (i.e., alteration) or believes that it is permissible to rule by other than what Allāh has revealed (i.e., legitimisation), then they are indeed making themselves a partner in Allāh’s judgment. However, those who do not fall into these categories are not included in the meaning of this Āyah. 2. Whoever opposes this and takes this Āyah in its general sense would be forced to declare all instances of ruling by other than Allāh’s law as shirk, since it would imply sharing in Allāh’s judgment. However, the consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah that an unjust ruler is not considered a disbeliever is sufficient to refute this interpretation, as mentioned earlier (p. 49).