and every law besides this is invalid, because it is deficient and inadequate. Even if all the intelligent people of the world were to agree on its legitimacy, it would still be deficient and inadequate. It does not fulfill every purpose; if it fulfills one purpose from one angle, it destroys other purposes from other angles. And even if it were assumed to serve a particular purpose in one respect, it would serve that purpose only for certain people, in a particular place, and at a particular time. As for rulings suitable for every time and place, they are the rulings of Allah, Most High.

From this we recognize the gravity of following such a course: namely, enacting man-made laws that the Shariah has not laid down, judging Allah’s servants by them, and making recourse for judgement to them rather than to the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. Allah, Most High, has drawn attention to the condition of such people, saying: “Have you not seen those who claim that they believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They wish to seek judgement from the ṭāghūt” [Women: 60].

Reflect on the words, “who claim that they believe”: in reality, they are not believers; it is merely a claim. A claim may accord with reality, or it may not. They claim with their tongues that they believe in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you, but their hearts are contrary to that, as indicated by His saying, “They wish”—for the will resides in the heart—“to seek judgement from the ṭāghūt, although they were commanded to reject it.” Had they been sincere in their faith, they would have rejected this ṭāghūt and would not have wished to seek its judgement. “But Satan wishes to lead them far astray.” Thus, they are in agreement with what Satan desires, not with what the Most Merciful desires. “And when they are told, ‘Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger’”—that is, to the Book and the sunnah—they do not openly say, “No,”