Khilafah, Secular Law
Question:
Many people are using word Khilafat And Its Implementation? Is it mentioned any where In The Book and Sunnah? Can we follow a secular Law (like i do in India)?
Answer:
Khilafah literally means ‘to take over’ and conventionally means the leadership system of the Muslims in the absence of the prophet (pbuh). Khalifah literally means ‘the one who takes over – the deputy) and conventionally means the leader of the Muslims in the absence of the prophet (pbuh).
We do not have any mention of Khilafah in the Qur’an but we do have references to Khalifah and other derivatives of the word in the Qur’an. In my understanding none of the verses that are using the word or its derivatives are referring to the leadership system of Muslims after the demise of the prophet (pbuh). These references are mostly about previous nations and they are not referring to a particular form of state, but are mostly referring to the Sunnah of the Almighty whereby the nation who remains loyal to their messenger and the guidance he has brought will be rewarded by the Almighty and as part of this reward, the nation may dominate and rule over a piece of land on the earth.
The word Khilafah has been used in the Hadith, very few occasions reported from the prophet (pbuh) where according to the Hadith he is referring to those who lead Muslims after him, but mostly reported from the companions to refer to the system of leadership that was in place at the time (after the demise of the prophet – pbuh).
As for following secular law in a non-Muslim country, the answer is that in principle you and any other Muslim is obliged to do so. As a Muslim we have to follow the law of the country that we are living in. This is part of being loyal to contracts which the Qur’an has put much emphasis on it. Everyone who lives in a country has accepted (explicitly or implicitly) to follow the rules of that country. In the case where the law of a country forces a Muslim to commit a sin (e.g. being forced to eat pork or to abandon prayers) then if possible the Muslim needs to migrate from that country.
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August 2013
Many people are using word Khilafat And Its Implementation? Is it mentioned any where In The Book and Sunnah? Can we follow a secular Law (like i do in India)?
Answer:
Khilafah literally means ‘to take over’ and conventionally means the leadership system of the Muslims in the absence of the prophet (pbuh). Khalifah literally means ‘the one who takes over – the deputy) and conventionally means the leader of the Muslims in the absence of the prophet (pbuh).
We do not have any mention of Khilafah in the Qur’an but we do have references to Khalifah and other derivatives of the word in the Qur’an. In my understanding none of the verses that are using the word or its derivatives are referring to the leadership system of Muslims after the demise of the prophet (pbuh). These references are mostly about previous nations and they are not referring to a particular form of state, but are mostly referring to the Sunnah of the Almighty whereby the nation who remains loyal to their messenger and the guidance he has brought will be rewarded by the Almighty and as part of this reward, the nation may dominate and rule over a piece of land on the earth.
The word Khilafah has been used in the Hadith, very few occasions reported from the prophet (pbuh) where according to the Hadith he is referring to those who lead Muslims after him, but mostly reported from the companions to refer to the system of leadership that was in place at the time (after the demise of the prophet – pbuh).
As for following secular law in a non-Muslim country, the answer is that in principle you and any other Muslim is obliged to do so. As a Muslim we have to follow the law of the country that we are living in. This is part of being loyal to contracts which the Qur’an has put much emphasis on it. Everyone who lives in a country has accepted (explicitly or implicitly) to follow the rules of that country. In the case where the law of a country forces a Muslim to commit a sin (e.g. being forced to eat pork or to abandon prayers) then if possible the Muslim needs to migrate from that country.
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August 2013
