we advise our Muslim ummah—beginning with the individual members of its peoples—to hold fast to the glorious Quran. We direct this appeal with even greater emphasis to those who govern its affairs: they must hold fast to the glorious Quran and not be beguiled by the gaudy glitter imported from disbelieving nations into implementing laws that contravene the Sharia, justice, and the true welfare of humanity, only then to cast the Book of Allah Most High and the sunnah of His Messenger—may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace—behind their backs. By Allah, this is the cause of backwardness. I do not think anyone could imagine that an ummah of such vast numbers could fall so far behind that, compared with the disbelieving states, it is as though it were merely an emirate in a village.
The reason for this is undoubtedly known: we have abandoned the source of our might and dignity—holding fast to this glorious Quran—and have gone panting after obsolete, corrupt systems that contravene justice and are founded upon oppression and tyranny. We therefore appeal to all Muslim rulers. I appeal to them to fear Allah—Glorified and Exalted—and to return sincerely to the Book of Allah Most High and the sunnah of His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—so that they may enjoy security and stability, attain might, glory, and eminence, and have their peoples obey them without harboring any resentment toward them. This is because when a person sets right his relationship with his Lord, Allah sets right his relationship with other people.
If rulers want their peoples to submit to them and obey Allah concerning them, they must first obey Allah so that their nations will obey them. Otherwise, it is wholly unreasonable for them to disobey the Sovereign of all dominion—Allah, Glorified and Exalted—and then expect their peoples to obey them. That is exceedingly unlikely. Rather, the farther a heart is from Allah, the more people distance themselves from its possessor; and the closer it is to Allah, the closer people draw to him.
We ask Allah to restore this Muslim ummah to its former glory and dignity, to humble the enemies of the Muslims everywhere, to crush them, and to turn them back upon their heels in utter disappointment. He has power over all things.