The orientation of these misgivings and fallacies is to...
The orientation of these misgivings and fallacies is to undermine the theory of wilayah al-faqih . The point it is trying to drive at is that obligatory obedience to the wali al-faqih is against human freedom, and this is contrary to the spirit of Islam which regards man as the noblest of creation and the vicegerent of God on earth.
Let us quote below some verses cited by those expressing the misgivings: While addressing the Prophet ( s ), God says: ﴿فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ ٭ لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ﴾ “So admonish—for you are only an admonisher, and not a taskmaster over them.” [^1] Based on this verse, the Prophet ( s ) who occupies the highest human station has no dominance over the people; the people are free and not required to obey the Prophet ( s ) and he has no right at all to express opinion on the lives of people!
﴿وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ﴾ “We have not made you a caretaker for them, nor is it your duty to watch over them.” [^2] ﴿مَّا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلاَّ الْبَلاَغُ﴾ “The Apostle’s duty is only to communicate.” [^3] ﴿إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَ إِمَّا كَفُورًا﴾ “Indeed We have guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.
” [^4] ﴿وَقُل الْحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاء فَلْيُؤْمِن و مَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ...﴾ “And say, ‘[This is] the truth from your Lord: let anyone who wishes believe it, and let anyone who wishes disbelieve it’...” [^5] Replying to the above skepticism In contrast to the verses cited by the person expressing misgivings with the aim of negating the authority and supremacy of the Messenger of Allah ( s ) and the obligatory obedience to him, there are verses which are contradictory to the above verses, according to the incorrect understanding of the person expressing misgivings.
Let us quote below some of these verses: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلاَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ...
﴾ “A faithful man or woman may not, when Allah and His Apostle have decided on a matter, have any option in their matter...” [^6] The above verse has explicitly mentioned the exigency of obeying and submitting to God and His Messenger ( s ), saying that the faithful have no right to disobey and go against the Messenger of Allah ( s ).
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