The Required Legal Position: Detachment from the Desires of the Self
After seeking help from Allah, I would like to summarize the position I see as the required legal stance as follows:
First: The sincere Muslim in serving his religion must detach from the desires of the self and not let the provocation from his opponents in the methodology drive him to victory for himself under the pretense of victory for the truth, knowing that this victory for the self is harmful to the interest of the religion.
I say this because it is expected that debates will increase between those who reject participation in democratic work and its supporters, taking on a dialectical, gloating, and self-victorious character; such as some saying: "Behold, democracy has brought us to power," and the other responding: "What power? It is but an honorary position with no value," or their saying: "You envy us," and the opponent responding: "What do we envy you for? You will not be able to change anything," and thus the debate continues, turning into fertile ground for Satan to sow seeds of hatred and self-victory.
The matter may reach a stage where some wish for the failure of this presidential experiment, not to save people's beliefs from the pollutants of democracy and turn them away from it to the correct methodology, but to prove his intellectual superiority and the correctness of his predictions and to gloat over his opponents in the methodology, while deluding himself that he is victorious for the truth. I advise myself and my brothers to advise each other with sincerity and to prioritize the interest of the religion, which prevents the phenomenon we mentioned, and also prevents its counterpart of concealing the truth and following the general current to appease it or to appear moderate.
Addressing the Ideological Errors Resulting from Democratic Practice
The issue is not about what the president can or cannot achieve in terms of worldly or even religious reforms, but about the illegitimacy of this path according to the Sharia evidence, and the great harms resulting from it, which outweigh any partial reforms.
We have a huge task ahead of us, which is to address the ideas and ideological errors that have taken hold of people's minds as a result of Islamic parties practicing democratic work, especially since the fitnah of democracy is expected to intensify gradually as a result of this illusory victory. However, there are two things that must be considered:
- The first matter: It is necessary to invoke the intention in this work; that we want to correct people's perceptions and understanding of their religion so that they may meet their Lord, the Exalted, with a sound heart, and not that we practice these actions with the intention of overcoming opponents in the methodology. Otherwise, we should not expect Allah, the Exalted, to bless our call.
- The second matter: This mentioned task is part of the duties of the people of the correct methodology - by the permission of Allah - who reject democracy, and they should not limit their role to this alone, but rather, there must be a comprehensive call that organizes beliefs, behavior, and transactions with wisdom and good advice.
The Nature of the Disagreement with the Democratic Path
This was the first point of the proposed position regarding the presidency of Dr. Mohamed Morsi; for the disagreement is not a minor, marginal one. We firmly believe that this path is shirk, and we consider the statements of many of its adherents - regarding referring to ballot boxes, positive constitutions, involving secularists, adopting democracy in legislation, and not overturning its rules - we consider their statements in this regard to be extremely misguided and dangerous to the religion of its owner, and that they demolish the foundations of the religion and waste the issue of servitude.
Although we differentiate between the action and the actor, and the limitation of our scientific merchandise and the concentration of efforts confine us to blaming the actions and emphasizing criticism of them without addressing the ruling of the actor and the ruling of those who followed this path and supported and called for it.
Distinguishing Between Islamic Parties and Enemies of the Sharia
Despite all of this, my brothers, we do not equate these Islamic parties with those who openly, clearly, and directly oppose Allah and His Sharia. This distinction should be reflected in our way of dealing with each of the two groups. Therefore, we call upon our brothers not to put the two groups in one pot, and then use terms of apostasy, disbelief, and enmity of the Sharia.
We do not diminish the serious impact of the errors of Islamic parties on people's perceptions and understanding of their religion, but we consider their errors to have polluted the ideas and beliefs of the common Muslims and their elites. However, we hope that they will return to the pure Islamic project, and that there will be reviews and purifications within them. Addressing the members of these parties with this hope in the hearts is more likely to achieve the desired effect.
A Call to Return to the Fields of Pure Calling
The democratic path has revealed its true nature, and yet its adherents continue to defend it, and many of them will continue to do so no matter what happens. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this is their fear of gloating from their opponents, so they raise their voices to convince themselves and those around them of the usefulness of this path in which they have spent much of their lives.
Our role in addressing these parties is not to abolish them or to marginalize them, but to strengthen the calling aspect of their work, in which they have made commendable efforts and achieved good fruits. Our role is to say to the members of these parties: "This is your field, this is your work; the mosques, Islamic centers, spreading among the people, and calling them with the correct evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah."
You have made commendable efforts in this regard, with good means and a pure heart. Leave this democratic work that has hindered your efforts and diverted much of them to serve the falsehood of democracy. Leave it, distinguish yourselves from falsehood and its people, and let us work under the pure banner. Return to the fields of calling, and we will be with you in it, supporting you. We will open our hearts, arms, and pockets to you, and we will aid you with our time, effort, and advice. We will defend you and not hand you over to your enemy and their enemy. This is our role with the members of the parties.