The Ruling on Rising Against a Disbelieving Ruler Through Assassination
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Our lesson yesterday in the Book of Fitnah: That it is not permissible to rise against the ruler or challenge the ruler unless clear disbelief appears from him. If the condition for rising is the equivalence of forces, but this condition is not met, and the rising is through assassinations—for example—or secret groups that carry out operations as is currently done in some societies, is this considered a challenge, and is it permissible or not?
If it is clear disbelief for which there is proof from Allah, and he is able to kill the one who committed this clear disbelief for which there is proof from Allah, then there is no harm; he kills him with what he is able to do. But to challenge him and come out openly without having the capability, this is not permissible.
Also, assassination must be restricted to cases where the one who succeeds him is not like him or worse than him; so that by killing him, greater harms occur than by leaving him, and the benefit is not achieved. Such matters are delicate, and we must consider what has preceded and what has followed in terms of the occurrence of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), evil, and conflict in these actions.
If it is clear disbelief for which there is proof from Allah, and he is able to kill the one who committed this clear disbelief for which there is proof from Allah, then there is no harm; he kills him with what he is able to do. But to challenge him and come out openly without having the capability, this is not permissible.
Also, assassination must be restricted to cases where the one who succeeds him is not like him or worse than him; so that by killing him, greater harms occur than by leaving him, and the benefit is not achieved. Such matters are delicate, and we must consider what has preceded and what has followed in terms of the occurrence of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), evil, and conflict in these actions.