[12] Exalt Allah and His Shariah First and Foremost

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ فَٱتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow you that, and do not follow the desires of those who know not. [Al-Jathiyah 18]

Meaning: Then We legislated for you – from Our divine command – a complete (perfect) Shariah that calls to every good and forbids every evil from Our Shariah command. “So follow it” because by following it there is eternal happiness, (sound) rectification and success.

“And do not follow the desires of those who do not know”

Meaning: those whose desires are neither guided by knowledge nor aligned with it. Everyone who opposes the Messenger’s Shariah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, based on his desires and wants is he is from those who do not know.

إِنَّهُمْ لَن يُغْنُوا۟ عَنكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah (if He wants to punish you). Verily, the wrong-doers are Auliya’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allah is the Wali (Helper, Protector, etc.) of the pious. [Al-Jathiyah 19]

Meaning: They will be of no benefit to you in Allah’s Presence – neither bringing you any good nor protecting you from harm if you follow them in their desires.

It is not right for you to agree with them or take them as allies, for you and they are very different, and they are allies of one another.

“But Allah is the Wali (Helper, Protector, etc.) of the pious”. 

He brings them out of darkness into light because of their piety and their obedience to Him.

An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi Said.