The Ruling on Declaring Disbelievers the Rulers and the People Who Do Not Rule by the Law

The questioner : In the questions present, regarding some of the sects now, meaning, for example, if some governments do not apply anything of the Shari'ah, they declare the government disbelievers.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Then, after that, they declare the people disbelievers for their acceptance of this matter, the entire people. What do I rule regarding these people?

The Shaykh : These are like the Rafidah; a group of the Rafidah says that Abu Bakr and 'Umar are disbelievers, two disbelievers, because they wronged 'Ali by taking the caliphate, and that 'Ali is also a disbeliever because he did not defend himself against the wrong. Yes, these are like that. Are the people, who have oppressive rulers that do not rule by the Shari'ah, are they accepting? They are not accepting, or, by Allah, I do not know. If they declare the people disbelievers and the ruler disbeliever, yes, why do they not declare themselves disbelievers as well?