Is applying the systems of the disbelievers (political and economic) in the lands of the Muslims considered open disbelief?

The questioner : Is applying the political and economic systems of disbelief in the lands of the Muslims considered open disbelief? If so, what is the ruling on confronting them with the sword by those who possess strength and power, such as the army? And what is the ruling on those who apply these unbelief-based, man-made systems?

The Shaykh : First, repeat the question, or repeat the questions one by one. What is the first question?

The questioner : Is applying the political and economic systems of disbelief in the lands of the Muslims considered open disbelief?

The Shaykh : This concerns explicit, open disbelief. It does not relate to the action alone, but to the belief that accompanies the action. Otherwise, every one who commits a violation of the Shari'ah would be a disbeliever in open disbelief. The one who consumes riba and deals in riba has committed a major sin without doubt. So why is this traditional question not asked about the one who consumes riba, such as a bank manager or an employee in a bank? Is he a disbeliever? There is no difference between the one who consumes riba and the one who commits it, whether in terms of them being disbelievers in open disbelief, meaning apostasy, or not being disbelievers in apostasy, unless one of them is distinguished by something that is firmly established in his mind and settled in his heart, distinguishing him from the others who participate with him in the sin against Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He. What is this? It is belief. So whoever considers riba permissible in his heart and in his outward conduct is a disbeliever who has apostatized from his religion. And by analogy, this applies to all the sins I have listed, and to the sin you are circling around in your question, which is judging by other than what Allah has revealed. So whoever judges by other than what Allah has revealed, not only the rulers at the top, but also those under their authority, such as judges and employees, including the bank manager and those below him, all of them share in committing the sin of riba. But are they disbelievers? The answer has been given: whoever considers the act permissible in his heart is a disbeliever. Similarly, we say that the head of state who rules by man-made laws, and those below him who enforce them, all of this is a sin and a clear violation of the Shari'ah. But is it open and explicit disbelief? The answer is: whoever among these individuals, from the president to the lowest subordinate, considers this judgment by other than what Allah has revealed permissible in his heart, has apostatized from his religion. This is the answer to your first question. What is the second question?