“I Do Not Accept the Shari‘a”

Question

A man in a marriage matter first said himself, “Whatever the Shari‘a decides, I am ready to accept.” But when, to make sure of his word, he was told, “Put your hand on the Holy Qur’an and say, ‘Whatever the Shar‘i decision is, I will accept it,’” he refused to put his hand on it. Someone said, “Since you do not put your hand on the Qur’an, that amounts to denial of the Shari‘a.” He replied, “I do not accept the Shari‘a.” Three witnesses too are ready to testify to these words of his.

Answer

Since he had already promised to accept the ruling of the Shari‘a, insisting that he place his hand on the Holy Qur’an was wrong and out of place; the initial error lies with those who insisted. Then to say, “Since you do not put your hand on the Qur’an, denial of the Shari‘a follows,” is excessive: it means these people themselves declared him a denier of the Shari‘a and,…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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