Legislating rulings for the slaves of Allaah to follow in their acts of worship, transactions, settling the disputes, litigation, and in the rest of their affairs is an exclusive right of Allaah, the Exalted, the Rabb of mankind, and the Creator of the creatures.

Allaah says: "Verily the creation and the command belong to Him, and He is the blessing Granter, the Rubb of the Worlds." (7:54)

He knows what suits His slaves, and legislates it for them. By virtue of His Ruboobiyyah, He legislates for them, and by virtue of their servitude to Him, they accept His judgements; whichever case it is in their interest. Allaah, the Exalted, says: "And if you dispute over anything, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger if you really believe in Allaah and the Last Day, that is best in terms of consequences." (4:59)

And He also says: "And in whatever you differ, the decision thereof rests with Allaah. Say: 'This is Allaah, my Rubb:" (42:10) Allaah, Glory be to Him, denies that His slaves should accept a lawmaker other than Himself. He says: "Or do they have partners to Allaah to legislate for them in the deen what Allah does not allow?" (42:21)

Hence, he who accepts a law other than Allah's ascribes a partner to Allaah. Whatever act of worship that is not legislated by Allaah and His Messenger is Bid'ah, and every Bid'ah is a means of deviation. The Prophet said: "He who introduces in our deen, anything which does not belong to it, it shall be rejected." [Bukhari & Muslim]

In another version, he said: "He who practices an act of worship, that is not endorsed by our deen it is to be rejected." [Muslim]

While any other law which is legislated by neither Allaah nor His Messenger in politics, or for judging in people's disputes, it is considered as the law of Taghoot, and Jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic era) Allaah says: "Do they seek the judgment of Jahiliyyah? And who is better than Allaah as a judge for a people who have firm faith?" (5:50)

The right of legalizing and illegalizing, belongs to Allaah too, and no one is permitted to share this right with Him. Allaah says: "And do not eat of that on which the name of Allaah is not pronounced, for surely that is disobedience. And certainly Satans inspire their friends to argue with you. And if you obey them, then you are polytheists." (6:121)

Thus Allaah, the Exalted, considers obeying Satans and their followers, with regard to legalizing what Allaah prohibits as Shirk. Likewise, whoever obeys scholars and rulers in prohibiting what Allaah made lawful, or legalizing what He prohibited, he would be considered as taking them as lords to the exclusion of Allaah. Allaah, the Exalted, says: "They have taken their learned men and their monks, and the Messiah, the son of Maryam for lords aside from Allaah. And they are commanded to worship the One God. There is no true god but He. Far is He removed from what they ascribe to Him!" (9:31)

At-Tirmidhi and others reported that the Prophet recited the above Ayaat to Adi bin Hatim at-Ta'i (just before he accepted Islam) may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "O Messenger of Allaah, we do not worship them! The Prophet said: Do they not make legal for you what Allaah makes illegal? and you deem it as legal, and they illegalize what Allah made legal and you deem it as illegal?' He said: 'Certainly!' Thereupon, the Prophet said: 'That is how you worship them." (Tirmidhi and others)

Hence, the obedience of the Christians to their learned men, with regards to illegalization and legalization is considered as worship and major Shirk, which contradicts the Tawheed, which is signified by the Testimony of Faith, La ilahah illal Allah. [Fath al-Majid p.107] This Testimony which signifies that legalization and illegalization is an exclusive right of Allaah, the Exalted.

If obeying scholars and worshippers in illegal and legal matters that oppose the law of Allaah, is considered as Shirk; even though the scholars and worshippers are religious people whose mistake may be forgiven if it were made after exerting their efforts, and they will be rewarded for that. If obeying such people constitutes major Shirk, then how about those who obey man-made laws that are the work of the unbelievers and the atheists, imported into Muslim countries and applied? They are much worse than the former. There is no altering of one condition into another, nor is there power except through Allaah. For the latter take the unbelievers as lords aside from Allaah to legislate laws for him, and legalize the illegal, and rule people by such laws.