consulting the books of jurisprudence, and they want the uninformed to extract rulings for themselves directly from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This is a reprehensible kind of extremism, and the harm such people cause the Muslim community is no less—indeed, it may be even greater—than that caused by the first group. The best course is the middle path and moderation: we neither follow the jurists in blind imitation, nor do we belittle their scholarship and abandon the positions of theirs that accord with the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Rather, we profit from their learning and use it to aid our understanding of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, for it is a vast scholarly treasure and a great juristic legacy. From it we take what is supported by proof and we leave what conflicts with proof, just as the righteous predecessors used to do—especially in an age when resolve has dwindled and ignorance has become widespread. The obligation, then, is balanced moderation, without excess or negligence, without extremism or laxity. We ask Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to guide the misguided among the Muslims and to keep their scholars and leaders firm upon the truth; He is indeed All-Hearing, Ever-Responsive.

Just as it is impermissible to obey scholars when they pronounce the unlawful lawful or the lawful unlawful, it is likewise impermissible to obey rulers and leaders who judge among people by anything other than the Islamic sharia. Every dispute, conflict, and affair of life must be referred to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, for this is what servitude to Allah and true monotheism require: legislation is the exclusive right of Allah alone. The Exalted says, “Unquestionably, to Him belongs the creation and the command” ⦗1⦘—that is, judgment and authority are His. He also says, “Whatever you differ about, its judgment rests with Allah” ⦗2⦘; and, “If you disagree about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is best and most fitting for final determination” ⦗3⦘.

Thus referring to Allah’s law is not sought merely for the sake of establishing justice; above all it is an act of worship owed solely to Allah and a matter of creed. Whoever seeks judgment from anything other than Allah’s law—from any human system or man-made code—has, in effect, taken the authors of those laws and those who implement them as partners with Allah in His legislative prerogative. Allah, Exalted is He, says, “Or do they have partners who have prescribed for them a religion that Allah has not sanctioned?” ⦗4⦘, and He says, “And if you obey them…"