Allah has created every person free, he can do whatever he wants to after thinking freely and willingly. A person can choose a religion of his own will and can walk on any path, according to his own inclination. For better understanding; suppose there is a city and we know that there can't be more than one law - maker and there is Mr. X, Mr. Y and Mr. Z.

Mr. X, carnal soul; Mr. Y: a genius person; Mr. Z: a person practising divine law of Allah.

A person has to choose one of them, as he can not reject all of them and also cannot accept all of them. He cannot reject all because there should be someone to make laws, rules and regulations to maintain order in the state.

Hazrat Ali (‘a) said:

وإنه لابد للناس من أمير بر أو فاجر

It is essential that there should be a leader for the people – whether competent or incompetent.1

He cannot accept all because if there will be more than one, there will be differences and discord between them.

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to Allah, the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him). (21:22).

In the above-supposed situation we have to analyse each of the three choices and find out the most appropriate and logical choice whose laws have to be obeyed by us.

Mr. X i.e. carnal soul, has his own laws, rules and regulations and he expects people to obey only his laws and not of anyone else. His expectations are absolutely justified, because one cannot become disciplined without obeying rules and regulations in every aspect of life.

But a big problem with this carnal soul is that he does not make his own rules and regulations and laws. The only law he has is to make a positive approach into a negative thinking, and to make a constructive and good thinking, in to a destructive, and an evil one.

Mr. Y i.e. a genius person, let’s suppose him as a politician or as a lawyer who make laws, rules and regulations and even constitution. But it is generally observed that how so ever clever and genius a person may be, the rules, regulations made by him are always subject to modifications and adjustments, depending upon the prevailing circumstances.

This is because, even if he is a super genius, in his own field or may be some other field or may be in ten more fields, but there is a limit, he can't have knowledge in each and every field and walk of life. So, the so-called super genius is himself incomplete and needy he needs knowledge of each and every thing but he doesn’t have the sources, which may fulfil his needs.

So, how can a person who himself is incomplete and needy, fulfil the needs of others?!?!

If someone says that he has a source/s which can fulfil his needs for gaining knowledge and make him a complete human being. Than – if we accept that he has a source or sources, then why should a person obey that needy and incomplete human being and why not that complete source which can fulfil his needs and even our needs?!

The source/s, which can fulfil his and our needs, can be either of the two.

First; the source/s is either a human like us or laws written by a human like us.

Second; the source/s is something other than a human like us and the laws of that source/s is perfect and never needs any amendments because there are no mistakes in it. These laws are absolutely complete.

If the source/s of Mr. Y. is a human like himself, then it is not possible, because in the supposition Mr. Y. is the most genius or rather a super genius personality. And due to our assumption, we cannot accept anyone else who can be more genius man him.

So, if the source/s is human like himself, then this cannot be acceptable or laws written other than him, because those laws are also incomplete and need amendments.

Thus, the conclusion is that, he is a needy and an incomplete person and also the source other than him is not acceptable.

That is, the source should be absolutely complete intellectually, rationally and logically in every field of life i.e. individually, socially, ethically, politically etc.

The second source that should be accepted is some source that is immortal, other than human and this source is supreme the magnificent, the super most intellectual, rational, logical, reasonable existence (وجود), who can fulfil every one's need in each and every walk of life. Because this source is not only the supreme power. but it is the Only Power. This source is not only the most knowledgeable, intellect, rational and reasonable, but this is the only knowledgeable, intellectual, rational and reasonable existence (وجود).

If this is the source of Mr. Y in making laws and constitution, then why should a person obey him!? Why not obey the source?! Mr. Y should have been the source of others but he also needs a source a complete and perfect one.

Whatever a person may name this marvellous source, we name this source: Allah, the Almighty. He is the only one who fulfils the needs of each and every human being.

وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ

And Allah is self-sufficient and you have need (of Him). (47:38).

So, Mr. Y doesn't have the capability of being a leader as a law maker, because he is incomplete and needy, his knowledge is limited, his rules and regulations, laws and constitution arc also incomplete and full of mistakes.

Mr. Z i.e. the person who practices the divine laws of Allah, if he feels that he is in complete and needy and his knowledge is insufficient and needs a perfect source, that is Allah, great be his glory, who can grant all his desires. Then this person, Mr. Z, who is extracting his rules and regulations, laws and constitution from that complete and correct source, who himself is sufficient and doesn't need anything else. Then this person is not making decisions and laws with his deficient intelligence and rationality, but this man is using his intelligence and rationality to extract the exact, precise and correct laws and constitution from that complete and unneedy source, that is Allah the Almighty.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

O people! You are they who stand in need of Allah, and Allah is He who is the self-sufficient, the Praised One. (35:15).

The Creator of intelligence, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of a system, which exists since thousands and thousands, millions and billions of years and has remained unchanged. And if we saw changes in Islamic laws and constitution, this is not because the laws of Allah have been changed, but it is the intelligence and rationality of a person, which has changed. If the intelligence of a person increases, he extracts the laws more accurately and if the intelligence of a person decreases, he cannot extract the laws as they are. The more the intelligence, the more accurate will be comprehension of Quranic verses and other Islamic teachings.

Messengers of Allah especially his last prophet Muhammad (S) and his infallible family members had the highest degree of intelligence and rationality and they were/are the most logical human being in the entire universe.

They used to say and do only what Allah asked them to say and do:

وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

Nor does he speak out of desire. (53:3).

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ

It is naught but revelation that is revealed (53:4).

عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ

The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him (53:5).

Because they know to whom they are obedient, they know that Allah is their creator:

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا

He said: So shall it be, your Lord says: It is easy to Me, and indeed I created you before, when you were nothing. (19:9).

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O men! serve your Lord Who created you and those before you so that you may guard (against evil). (2:21).

And the creator of the entire universe:

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ

And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but in truth; and the hour is most surely coming, so turn away with kindly forgiveness. (15:85).

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَائِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ الْخَلْقِ غَافِلِينَ

And certainly We made above you seven heavens; and never are We heedless of creation. (23:17).

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ

Surely your Lord is the Creator of all things, the Knowing. (15:86).

Allah's rules and regulations, laws and constitutions is the only perfect, rational and logical law, which gives the perfect system for individual, social, political … lives.

Persons coming after the Prophet and his infallible family members (peace be upon them) that is, scholars and learned person, those who have knowledge about the teachings and laws of Allah, are to be obeyed.

Because when a common man himself doesn't know much and correctly about the laws, rules and regulations of Allah the Almighty, then he has to acquire knowledge about the laws etc. from Allah's Prophet (S) and if he is no longer in the world then his infallible family members (S) an if they are not easy for you to contact, then from the persons who have learned about Allah's laws, rules and regulations.

So after thinking logically a person comes to this conclusion that Mr. Z is capable of being obeyed, he himself is obeying Allah and making laws etc. by extracting them from the commandments of Allah the Almighty. Moreover, this person – Mr. Z – should work according to the orders of Allah, which he has described in his laws and constitution, that who can be a leader and should be the source of inspiration for a common man, after His Prophet (S) and his infallible family members (‘a).

So, the only law is the law of Allah Great be His glory, and He is the only one who should be obeyed. And if others are to be obeyed, it is just for His command and only according to His laws.

إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Judgment is only Allah's; He has commanded that you shall not serve aught but Him; this is the right religion but most people do not know (12:40).

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the apostle and those in authority from among you. (4:59).

• 1. Nahj al-Balaghah - Sermons of Imam Ali (‘a), part 1, page 91.