—up to His words: “But no, by your Lord, they will never believe until they make you the judge in all that arises between them, then find no discomfort within themselves regarding what you have decided and submit in full submission” (al-Nisāʾ 65).

Thus the Exalted, by an emphatic oath, negates faith for anyone who does not refer matters to the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—accept his ruling, and yield to it. He has likewise declared the rulers who do not judge by what Allah has revealed to be unbelievers, wrongdoers, and defiantly disobedient. The Almighty says, “Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—such are the unbelievers … whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—such are the wrongdoers” (al-Māʾidah 44–45), and, “Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—such are the defiantly disobedient” (al-Māʾidah 47).

It is therefore essential to judge by what Allah has revealed and to refer every dispute to it—even those arising from interpretive opinions among scholars—for none of those opinions is acceptable unless it is supported by the Book and the Sunnah, free from partisanship.