A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The Khwarij school rested on the equation of hakimiyyah , sovereignty, with sulthan , power, as what yields siyadah , dominion, quite resembling that of modern political thought — that is, a concept of absolute authority.  However, authority yields dominion only in particular times and places.  Certain contemporary Islamist groups have approximated this view, relying for instance on what they understood of the teachings of Sayyid Abu al-A‘ala al-Mawdudi, or the later works of Sayyid Quthb Ibrahim Husayn.   Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib ( k.w. ) was among the first to stridently resist this approach.  Responding to the Kharijite slogan, “No decision save that of Allah,” he said, “A true word, yet they intend falsehood by it.  True, no rulership save that of Allah ( s.w.t. ), yet they claim there is no command save that of Allah ( s.w.t. ), while people require leaders, whether righteous or profligate.”