THE RIGHT TO JUDGE
by SAYYID QUTB
It is not the function of Islam to compromise with the
concepts of Jahiliyya which are current in the world or to co-exist in the
same land together with a jahili system. This was not the case when it first
appeared in the world, nor will it be today or in the future. Jahiliyyah, to
whatever period it belongs, is Jahiliyyah; that is, deviation from the worship
of One Allah and the way of life prescribed by Allah.
It derives its system and laws and regulations and habits and
standards and values from a source other than Allah. On the other hand, Islam
is submission to Allah, and its function is to bring people away from
Jahiliyyah towards Islam. Jahiliyyah is the worship of some people by others;
that is to say, some people become dominant and make laws for others,
regardless of whether these laws are against Allah's injunctions and without
caring for the use or misuse of their authority.
Islam, on the other hand, is people's worshipping Allah alone,
and deriving concepts and beliefs, laws and regulations from the authority of
Allah, and freeing themselves from the servitude to Allah's servants. This is
the very nature of Islam and the nature of its role on earth.
Islam cannot accept any mixing with Jahiliyyah. Either Islam
will remain, or Jahiliyyah; no half-half situation is possible. Command
belongs to Allah, or otherwise to Jahiliyyah; Allah's Shari'ah will prevail,
or else people's desires: "And if they do not respond to you, then know that
they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows
his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the
people who are disobedient."[28:50]; "Do they then seek the judgement of (the
Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who
have firm faith"[5:50].
The foremost duty of Islam is to depose Jahiliyyah from the
leadership of man, with the intention of raising human beings to that high
position which Allah has chosen for him. This purpose is explained by Raba'i
Bin 'Amer, when he replied to the Commander in Chief of the Persian army,
Rustum. Rustum asked, "For what purpose have you come?" Raba'i answered,"
Allah has sent us to bring anyone who wishes from servitude to men into the
service of Allah alone, from the narrowness of this world into the vastness of
this world and the Hereafter, from the tyranny of religions into the justice
of Islam."