Argument: "Prophet Yusuf also worked in a disbelieving government!"

Since the Muslims lost their political power in just about every country on earth, many of us have been looking for a way to restore this power and assert our influence. Some of us think that the way in this time to get influence is the way of politics. That Muslims should set up a political party and participate in the elections? When I point out to brothers and sisters that these kinds of ways are un-Islamic, and not the ways for a Muslim to reach our goals, I often hear the answer that has struck many of them: "But the Prophet Yusuf (as) was also in the service of the disbelieving king of Egypt?"

In this short piece will show clearly that this often-heard answer is based on a misunderstanding and an incorrect comparison and interpretation (Ta'wiel); This is the Arabic word described by Abdul-Jabbar as "an error understanding and a wrong comparison and interpretation."

1. The first answer to this is that a Ta’wiel can not be correct when it goes against clear regulations from the Quraan or the Sunnah. Thus it is a known and clear rule in the Quraan that it is Haraam for a Muslim to rule with laws other than the Law of Allah, or to cooperate with it. This is something about which no two Scholars of Islam differ from one another. How can one then make Ta’wiel that a Muslim should take part in a parliament of the Kuffaar who rule with laws other than Allah ?! This Ta’wiel is therefore Baatil (falsehood / incorrect)!

Yusuf (as) ruled with the Shari’ah of his time: the Shari’ah of Ibrahim (as). This is clear from the Words of Allah:
"... He could not have taken his brother within the religion of the king except that Allah willed ..." [12:76]
It does not befit a Prophet of Allah to judge according to laws other than Allah, and Allah also protected him from that.

2. Secondly, we should ask the brothers and sisters who come with this example of Yusuf (as): "Have you not read the Words of Allah:
"And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed." [12:56]
The Scholars of Tafseer (such as Ibn Jarrir at-Tabarie) saw in these Words the evidence that the king of Egypt had given a full license to Yusuf (as), to reign as he himself wished. Even though the king of Egypt was the official head of state; Yusuf had the political power to rule with the laws he wished. Addition by Ahl as-Sunnah Publications: Imaam at-Tabarie says in his Tafseer: "(It is narrated that) as-Soeddie said: "The king appointed him over Egypt, and he was the one with authority over (the land)"." [See Tafseer at-Tabarie, 13/221]

This is also evident from the words of trust that the king of Egypt spoke to Yusuf (as):
"He said, "Indeed, you are today established (in position) and trusted."" [12:54]

So, can this position be compared to the 1 or 2 or 3 Muslims who would take place in the parliament of the Kuffaar !?! Do these individuals have the powerful position in the land as Yusuf had (as)? Do they have a permit from the king to rule as they wish? Even if a Muslim party in a country would get 20 or 30 seats, they would still not have the power to govern as they wish. This is therefore in no way comparable with the political situation of Yusuf (as)!

3. Yusuf (as) completely and openly renounced the Kuffr and error that he saw around him in the land.

For example, we read in the Quraan that he said:
"You worship not besides Him except (mere) names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know." [12:40]

So, is this the attitude of those Muslims who would take place in the Parliament of the Kuffaar? No! Every one of them must swear to be faithful to the Taghout (false gods, laws and judges) and its false laws, which go against the laws of Allah. If they publicly renounced this, they would be removed from parliament.

4. A fourth argument that we can place against the argument of these people is the remark of the great Tabi'ee, Scholar of the Salaf Mujahid ibn Jabr, that the king of Egypt was not an disbeliever at all, but that he had become Muslim after the Da'wah of Yusuf (as). This opinion of Mujahid ibn Jabr is among others, narrated by Ibn Jarrir At-Tabarie in his Tafseer. Addition by Ahl as-Sunnah Publications: Imaam at-Tabarie says in his Tafseer: "Mujahid ibn Jabr said: "The king with whom Yusuf was, has become a Muslim." [Tafseer at-Tabarie, 13/222]

These are just four arguments against this false Ta’wiel that a Muslim should take place in the parliament of the Kuffaar, because Yusuf (as) have done so. Far away was this noble prophet of these deeds.

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