وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾
“And whoever does not rule by what Allāh revealed, then these are the disbelievers.”
[al-Maʾidah, 5:44]
A question/condemnation posed regarding some of the Muslim rulers, implying that they are kuffār and that perhaps they should be removed is posed by one of the attendees,
[Q]: ‘Is it allowed to remove (supposed) tyrants from the position of their governments when they apostate from Islām. For example, if you kill a Muslim, rule by something other than Allāh or assist the kuffār in killing the Muslims, are these people meant to be given three days to repent. Please elaborate, to be more specific please mention with regards to Mushaarif and Mubārak and the ‘self-proclaimed’ custodian of the two Holy Mosques?
In his reply, Abū Khadījah mentions part of the following ḥadīth,
It his been narrated through a different chain of transmitters, on the authority of Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yamān who said: Messenger of Allāh, no doubt, we had an evil time (i.e. the days of jahiliyyah or ignorance) and Allāh brought us a good time (i.e. Islamic period) through which we are now living. Will there be a bad time after this good time? He (the Prophet) said: Yes. I said: Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: Yes. I said: Will there be a bad time after good time? He said: Yes. I said: How? Whereupon he said: There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do Messenger of Allāh, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the ameer and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey.
This ḥadīth comes under the following chapter:
”Instruction to stick to the Main Body of the Muslims in the Time of Trials and Warning Against Those Inviting People to Disbelief” The Book of Government, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim #5444.
A sound clarification against the misinterpretations, charming speech and bedazzling slogans of ahlut-takfīr who round up the ignorant Muslims steering them towards the path of the khawārij. This is exemplified in the mentioning of ‘al-Istanbulee’, a raḍīcal takfīree who tried to spearhead revolt in Egypt by killing the ruler, causing countless murders on both sides and no change in the condition of the Muslims. A manhaj that never ever brought about any good and one that opposes the Messenger (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). It is clarified that this āyah (“And whoever does not rule by what Allāh revealed, then these are the disbelievers.”) is not specific to the rulers, rather ‘Whosoever’, pertaining to the ruler and the ruled. In addition, clarity is brought to the issue of kufr, kufr less than kufr, major sins and who is responsible for determining these serious affairs (the Scholars). An important explanation of the Ṣaddam Husein/Gulf War/Saudi al-ʿArabīa issue is also made.
