“And the king said: 'Bring him to me that I may attach him
to my person.' Then, when he spoke to him, he said: 'Verily, this day,
you are with us high in rank and fully trusted.' (Yoosuf) said: 'Set me
over the storehouses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full
knowledge.' Thus did we give full authority to Yoosuf in the land, to
take possession therein, as when or where he likes.'” [12:54-56]
So those who use the example of Yusuf (as), use this to
show that he became established in the government of the King, and they
conclude on the basis of this that if it is permissible to become a
minister in a non-Muslim government, then surely it is permissible to
vote for the least harmful candidate who will become a Member of
Parliament to act on our behalf.
Those who use this as evidence
must have missed what Yusuf (as) said to his two
companions of the prison prior to his taking of this position:
“The Hukm (i.e. judgment) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that
you worship none but Him, that is the (true) straight religion, but most
men know not.” [12:40]
So how could we say about Yusuf (as) that he would compromise and cooperate in a government
with those who legislate man-made laws while he was the very one who
admonished others about this issue, saying: “The Hukm (i.e. judgment) is
for none but Allah?!”
Firstly, those who use this example are in need of evidence to substantiate their claim that the law of this government was not in accordance with the Sharee'ah of Yusuf (as). And there is nothing to indicate this within the example itself. Rather, it was narrated that the King whose kingdom Yusuf (as) became a minister of, became a Muslim.
Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree narrated that Mujaahid
said, “The King whom Yoosuf was with entered Islaam.” [At-Tafseer Vol.
9/217]. And al-Baghawee said, “Mujaahid and others said, ‘Yoosuf (as)
did not stop calling the King to Islaam while being kind to him, until
he and many of the people entered Islam.”
Also, it is narrated
that Yusuf (as) was the ruler himself and his duties as Minister also
was to govern Egypt. Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree narrated from as-Suddee that
he said, “The King employed Yoosuf over Egypt and he was the person in
authority and he (also) used to supervise the buying and the trade and
all of its matters. So that was His saying: “Thus did we give full
authority to Yoosuf (Joseph) in the land, to take possession therein, as
when or where he likes.”
Also, he narrated from Ibn Zayd
concerning His saying: “…to take possession therein, as when or where he
likes…” He said, “We put in authority over whatever was in it (i.e.
Egypt), wherever he willed from that place. He did in it whatever he
willed. It was granted to him.”
And al-Qurtubee narrated that Ibn
‘Abbaas said about Yoosuf, “So he sat upon his bed and the Kings
approached him. And the King entered his home with his women and the
authority of Egypt was granted to him.” al-Qurtubee said, “And when the
King gave the authority of Egypt to Yoosuf, he was generous to the
people and called them to Islam until they believed in him and he
established the justice amongst them. So the men and the women loved
him. And from what has come from Wahhaab and as-Suddee and Ibn ‘Abbaas
and others is the saying of the King to Yoosuf, when he saw his complete
wisdom in implementing the ruling and spreading the justice: “I give
you the authority, so do whatever you will. And we are merely your
followers and I am not one to refuse being your subject and obeying you
and I am no more than one of your subjects.” [At-Tafseer Vol. 9/215]
Furthermore, the legislation of those before us, is a legislation for
us according to the majority of Usooli (juristic) scholars; but only if
it does not contradict our religion. Furthermore, if Yusuf (as) was
alive today he would have no choice but to follow what has been revealed
upon Muhammad (saws).
No comments:
Post a Comment