Those Who Judge On Allah's Behalf

Or do they have partners who have laid down a religion for them for which Allah has not given any authority? (Surat ash-Shura: 21) 

As discussed earlier, some people make unjust judgments that have nothing in common with Islam, determine what is lawful and unlawful, and proclaim what Allah has declared lawful to be unlawful and vice versa.

Meanwhile, they change religion's originality and essence and devise a "false man-made religion" with its set of beliefs and practices. Many people, who do not know the Qur'an and Islam, fail to recognize this "religion's" unjust nature and thus are deceived into following it unconsciously. This is how those who lay down commands on Allah's behalf lead people into sin and rebellion. The Qur'an describes their condition as follows:

Among them is a group that distorts the Book with their tongues, so that you think it is from the Book when it is not from the Book. They say: "It is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. They tell a lie against Allah, and they know it. (Surah Al 'Imran: 78) 

Some communities who do not embrace Allah's just religion and insist upon their inherited beliefs even go so far as to slander Allah. Since they neither employ their wisdom and conscience nor appreciate the extent of Allah's knowledge, they remain bereft of any understanding that will guide them to the truth. And so they invent many beliefs that are incompatible with the Qur'an and lead ignorant people in the ways of injustice. They make what is lawful unlawful and vice versa, and make ungrounded accusations, as we read in the following verses:

They say: "These animals and crops are sacrosanct. No one may eat them except those we wish," - as they allege - and animals on whose backs it is forbidden to ride, and animals over which they do not mention Allah's name, inventing falsehood against Him. He will repay them for the things they have invented. They say: "What is in the wombs of these animals is exclusively for our men and unlawful for our wives. But if it is stillborn, they can share in it." He (Allah) will repay them for their false depiction. He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. Those who kill their children foolishly without any knowledge and make what Allah has provided for them unlawful, inventing lies against Allah, such people are lost. They are misled. They are not guided. (Surat al-An'am: 138-140) 

Therefore, those who engage in such activities are informed of how they will be punished in the Hereafter and of the fact that they cannot avoid it. In Surat al-An'am, Allah gives the following example regarding the cruelty that these people commit "without any knowledge":

And a pair of camels and a pair of cattle - Say: "Is it the two males He has made unlawful, or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain? Were you then witnesses when Allah gave you this 

instruction?" Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah, thus leading people astray without any knowledge? Allah does not guide the people of the wrongdoers. (Surat al-An'am: 144) 

These verses also make clear that most people tend to judge on Allah's behalf and attribute those things about which they have no knowledge to religion. This being the case, our Lord, Who has the best knowledge of human nature, warns humanity thus: "Do not say about what your lying tongues describe: 'This is lawful and this is unlawful,' inventing lies against Allah" (Surat an-Nahl: 116) In Surat as-Saffat, on the other hand, Allah asks these people:

What is the matter with you? How do you reach your judgment? Will you not pay heed? Or do you have some clear authority? Bring your Book, then, if you are telling the truth! (Surat as-Saffat: 154-157) 

Only Allah judges, and the Qur'an conveys His judgments in the most explicit and comprehensible form. Allah draws an absolute line between what is lawful and unlawful, and explains everything related to these judgments so that nothing is left open to question. People can determine if a judgment is correct or not by referring to the Qur'an and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas). This is a great mercy and ease Allah granted to humanity.

Indeed, our Prophet (saas) states that the Qur'an is the only guide and resource that humanity needs:

I have left with you that which, as long as you uphold it, shall never let you stray after me: Allah's Book, a Rope extending from heavens to Earth, and my Ahl al--Bayt. (Tirmidhi)

The Qur'an addresses people of all times. For this reason, its statements that only Allah judges and that those who claim to judge on His behalf are doomed deserve deep thinking. The Qur'an provides a detailed account of past people's false man-made religions and beliefs. In our own day, some people formulate flawed judgments and irrational reasoning on behalf of religion, since they do not adhere to the Divine guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas). Instead, they tend to base their judgments upon what they hear or see. For example, many people lie in their daily conversations, even though the Qur'an states that such a practice is a sin that will be punished in the Hereafter. Alternatively, they conclude that "white lies" are forgivable. But this is a great delusion, for Allah proclaims any type of lie to be a sin.

Or, someone who urges people to actions that displease Allah may unjustly claim to bear the responsibility for the resulting sin. Yet Allah makes clear that this is not possible: "No burden-bearer can bear another's burden." (Surah Fatir: 18) Consequently, those who claim to live by Allah's judgments must comply with this command and avoid any belief or attitude that contradicts the Qur'an and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas). Furthermore, the Qur'an informs us that those who adhere to their own fabricated religion and abandon Allah's revelation also accuse His Messengers of distorting the religion and being liars. One verse reads as follows:

They are surprised that a Warner should come to them from among themselves. The unbelievers say: "This is a lying magician. Has he turned all the gods into One Allah? That is truly astonishing!" Their leaders went off saying: "Carry on as you are! Hold fast to your gods. This is clearly something planned. We have not heard of this in the old religion. This is merely something contrived. Has the Reminder been sent down to him out of all of us?" They are in doubt about My Reminder. They have yet to taste My punishment. (Surah Sad: 4-8) 

Such people generally assert they act so in the name of religion, for they are not knowledgeable about Islam. Those who disregard Allah's judgments or change them because they conflict with their personal interests disrespect Allah and His Book. Such people fail to appreciate that our Lord, Who created everything from nothing, can do anything He wills, that His Knowledge encompasses everything, and that He knows a person's secrets and what is even more concealed. Their "knowledge," however, is limited to prejudice and superstitions.

Allah shows His True Path in the Qur'an:

Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no god but Him - and turn away from the idolaters. (Surat al-An'am: 106)