This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The Duty of a Muslim Ruler
It is the right of the ruler of the time to use his power to support and assist the religion of Islam and the Shariah of Muhammad. Whoever issues fatwas without knowledge, opposes the religion of Islam, permits matters which the Holy Prophet وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ﴿١﴾ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ﴿٢﴾ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ forbade, and strives in vain to extinguish the light of religion—whether out of ignorance or following their own desires—should be stopped, even by force. Allah Almighty has protected His Holy Prophet أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ ﴿٢٣﴾ from these two evils: "ignorance and following carnal desires."
The Divine command is:
"By the star when it descends, your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred. Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed."
Reference: (53-An-Najm:1-4)
Regarding those who oppose the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the Tabi‘in, the Imams of Islam (may Allah have mercy on them), and those who have full knowledge of the Sunnah and its objectives, the Lord’s command is:
"Indeed, they follow assumption and they are but falsifying."
Reference: (53-An-Najm:23)
When the reality of the matter and the truth of the issue become clear before the mighty Sultan, who is the possessor of power and authority, it becomes obligatory upon him to wage jihad in the way of Allah so that the religion of Allah and His word may be exalted, the reality of monotheism may be made clear, and the prophethood and mission of the best of messengers and the Seal of the Prophets may be manifested before the people. The guidance, the true religion, and the divine light revealed to you should be expressed. The pure and immaculate Shariah should be cleansed from the ignorance of the ignorant and the lies and slanders of the liars. Also:
1. The ignorance of the ignorant should be removed.
2. The veil of lies and slanders of the liars should be torn apart.
3. The innovations of the innovators, who commit innovations like the polytheists and belittle the Shariah and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and obstruct the monotheism of Allah, should be ended.
4. Those who belittle the pure Sunnah of the Holy Prophet , and those who argue and slander it, should be punished accordingly.
Therefore, it is the foremost duty of the Muslim ruler to support and assist the Book and Sunnah and to declare jihad in the cause of Allah so that the religion of Allah may be exalted, and the Shariah of His best Prophet, who is the Seal of the Messengers, may prevail. The call to the oneness of Allah and His worship should be proclaimed in such a way that there is no influence of carnal desire or innovation in the worship of Allah. No head of state can deserve the blessings and honors of Allah until he is committed to following the Messenger and supporting the true religion.
