No Substituting the Words of Allah
(Translated)

One of the insightful sayings regarding the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah) is: "There must be purification before adornment." Opposites cannot coexist simultaneously. Therefore, first comes the negation of divinity from all except Allah, followed by its affirmation for Allah Alone. This is why, for example, we find that Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman would ask the Messenger of Allah (saw) about evil, fearing that he might fall into it, while others were asking about good deeds.

Islam, in both its minor and major details, is clear and firm in rejecting any impurity in its rulings, refining its ideology and methodology from any distortion or corruption. The Holy Qur’an addressed this issue with the utmost precision, as revelation would descend to inform the Messenger of Allah (saw) of the realities of matters, establishing the truth and demolishing falsehood, whether in ideas, rituals, beliefs, or customs.

When Islam emerged, it did not accept the status quo in Makkah but instead sought to radically transform it, turning it into a completely different society through divine revelation. The verses were revealed to the Messenger of Allah (saw) denouncing idol worship and condemning those who practiced it:

[وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللهِ مَا لاَ يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـؤُلاء شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِندَ اللهِ قُلْ أَتُنَبِّئُونَ اللهَ بِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلاَ فِي الأَرْضِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ]

“And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah " Say, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him” [Surat Yunus:18].

The Qur’anic verses were revealed in succession, forming a clear methodology that exposed falsehood and stripped away any superficial justification for it in the minds of the common people. Allah Almighty states:

[وَكَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ] “And thus do We detail the verses, and [thus] the way of the criminals will become evident.” [Surat Al-An’am:55].

Commenting on this verse, Al-Qurtubi says: "Just as We have clarified Our proofs in this chapter in our argument with the polytheists, so too do We explain Our signs in everything you need to know about religion." Az-Zajjaj explains: "The address is to the Messenger, meaning: O Muhammad, so that you and your followers after you may recognize the way of the criminals."

Praise be to Allah, who has detailed our Deen for us and clarified the path of truth, establishing it in the hearts and supporting it with strong proofs that leave no room for doubt. He (swt) has also exposed the falsehood, unveiling its deception and stripping it of its disguises.

Regarding the hypocrites, Allah (swt) says:

[لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُمْ مَا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالاً] “Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you except in confusion,” [Surat At-Tawba:47].

Praise be to Allah, who has honored us with the true Deen, where its establishment is only possible by exposing all that contradicts it. Its followers cannot prevail unless they purify their ranks from all ideological or doctrinal impurities.

Looking at history and reality with insight and contemplation, one sees that a Muslim’s heart cannot be upright unless it is sincerely devoted to Allah, just as Sayyiduna Ibrahim purified his heart for Allah Alone and sacrificed his attachment to his son Isma’il. No man can have two hearts within his chest. Likewise, no Islamic movement can achieve victory unless it adheres firmly to the words of Allah (swt):

[قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ]

“Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.” [Surat Yusuf:108].

Today, as an Ummah, as groups, and as individuals, we are surrounded by confusion. The prevailing public opinion in the Ummah, as we approach the re-establishment of the Second Khilafah Rashidah (Rightly Guided Caliphate), overwhelmingly supports the implementation of Sharia and longs for Islam to govern. However, this opinion is clouded by a lack of clarity among the general masses regarding the true nature of an Islamic state, and it is tainted by compromises with the international system and alliances with oppressors.

Every Muslim desires Paradise and to be saved from Hell, but the path to salvation is surrounded by doubts and falsehoods. You find Muslim women who perform their five daily prayers but dress immodestly. You find Muslim men who pray and fast but ally with tyrants, justifying their actions with flimsy excuses like fear or obedience to orders. You find scholars who issue strong fatwas in all matters except when the truth contradicts the whims of the rulers they serve. You find Muslims who desire justice but mistakenly believe that justice is merely the removal of a tyrant, without caring whether the ruling authority remains based on man-made laws rather than the laws of Allah.

Such corrupted ideas have infiltrated the hearts of Muslims, distorting the Qur’anic meanings of success and salvation. They have distracted minds from the true purpose of divine revelation, which clearly defines success as the establishment of Allah’s rule on earth, through constant struggle and dedicated efforts to implement His Deen. Every Muslim has been assigned a role in safeguarding Islam.

The struggle between the Islamic Aqeedah (doctrine), which draws a clear and straight path for humankind’s true success in both this world (as a place of work) and the Hereafter (as a place of ultimate reward), and the capitalist doctrine, which restricts success to worldly gains and personal gratification, is ongoing. Each side has its supporters, soldiers, and backers. But the outcome is already foretold by the Qur’anic promise that will never fail:

[وَعَدَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْناً يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئاً وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ]

“Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.” [Surat An-Nur:55].

This divine promise will come to pass, no matter how much the people of falsehood rise, no matter how much they conspire, for their schemes are in the hands of Allah (swt). No matter how many sorcerers gather, a Musa will always come forth with his staff to swallow their deceptions.

Decades of media and political propaganda aimed at demonizing jihad and distracting Muslims with worldly pleasures were shattered in an instant. One great wave proved that this Ummah is indeed an Ummah of struggle and leadership, regardless of the deception spread by devils to their allies. No matter how much they spend to entice young Muslims with worldly temptations, portraying success as nothing more than indulgence in desires, wealth, and status, they will fail.

No matter how hard certain ideologues work to remove the hijab from Muslim women, discourage marriage, and dismantle Muslim families, they will not succeed. And no matter how they attempt to lure our youth into materialism, we remain an Ummah whose men have been raised with a love for jihad, honor, and dignity, qualities that the West lacks, as it sees the world only through the lens of pleasure.

There is no substituting the Words of Allah!

[فَذَلِكُمُ اللهُ رَبُّكُمُ الْحَقُّ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلاَّ الضَّلاَلُ فَأَنَّى تُصْرَفُونَ]

“For that is Allah, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?” [Surat Yunus:32]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Bayan Jamal