Maulana Fazlur Rehman Says He Will Not Accept Laws Contrary to Quran and Sunnah
Islamabad: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has strongly criticized recent legislation by government allies, warning that he would not accept any law that contradicts the Quran and Sunnah.
Addressing a gathering in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that politics has ceased to be the domain of “decent people,” adding that he is often told, “Maulana sahib, you are a decent man—why are you involved in politics?” He stressed that politics is the management of national and collective life and is part of the prophetic tradition.
He stated that imprisonment or even execution would not deter him from his stance. “Jail is a minor thing, and even hanging is a minor thing. If there is anything beyond that, we are ready to accept it,” he said, adding that obedience to laws based on disobedience to the Creator is not permissible.
The JUI-F chief said his party had historically united scholars from across the subcontinent without sectarian discrimination and had played a role in movements for freedom and the caliphate. He criticized electoral malpractice, saying that those who reach power through rigging are often praised as successful politicians, despite politics being the legacy of the prophets.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized that religious scholars are the heirs of the prophets, stating that only scholars can stand on the pulpit of the Prophet, and likewise, only scholars are truly deserving of the seat of politics.
He also criticized opportunism in politics, saying that some individuals remain loyal only as long as they receive personal benefits. He clarified that his criticism was not directed at personal religious practices, such as prayer or fasting, but at the system and laws being imposed on the country.
Reiterating his stance, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that laws passed by majority vote cannot be followed if they violate Quran and Sunnah. “If legislation is made against Quran and Sunnah, I will not accept it,” he said, adding that the Constitution itself requires correct and lawful legislation.
He urged the public not to follow such laws and called for legislation to be reviewed by the Islamic Ideological Council. He concluded by saying that any response would be proportional to the scale of wrongdoing, and that JUI-F would accept any punishment for upholding the supremacy of Quran and Sunnah.
