Does the verse "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, it is they who are the disbelievers" apply to our rulers today?
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The questioner : I say that a large group of brothers ask, saying: The word of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, [Al-Ma'idah 5:44] Does this apply to the rulers of today?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the rulers of today differ completely. Among them are those whose origin is known to have been non-Muslim, and who only became Muslim when they were imposed as heads of state in some Islamic countries. Others are known to be the sons of Muslims, but they fall short in many of the obligatory acts of worship and obedience required of them. In addition, they do not judge by what Allah has revealed. There is another type of ruler who maintains the prayers and the symbols of Islam, but they are certainly falling short in applying many of the Islamic rulings. Therefore, it is a grave error, both religiously and in reality, to equate the ruling on all these rulers who can be said not to judge by what Allah has revealed. As detailed previously, some of them do not judge by it at all, but have made the disbelieving Western laws their system, constitution, and methodology. Some strive to apply some of the Islamic rulings, and some apply more of them, each according to his capacity. What can be said definitively, and what every Muslim must believe with firm conviction, is that disbelief is not a matter related to action, but rather to the heart. Because the word "kufur" (disbelief) in the language means covering, and covering a thing means denying it. Why? To hide the truth of that matter. Therefore, many scholars have explained this reality. I recall now, as an example, Imam al-Ghazali in his book "Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din" and in his first book, "Kitab al-'Aqaid" (The Book of Beliefs), where he mentioned that the Muslim does not exit Islam except by denying what he entered it with. When does a Muslim become a disbeliever? When he denies something he used to believe from Islam and disbelieves in it. This is a reality that every Muslim must believe: that disbelief is a matter of belief. This belief sometimes remains hidden, known only to our Lord, Mighty and Majestic. But the person holding this disbelieving belief may utter the word of Islam. What does Islam rule regarding this speaker?
And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
ومن لم يحكم بما أنزل الله فأولئك هم الكافرونThe Shaykh : There is no doubt that the rulers of today differ completely. Among them are those whose origin is known to have been non-Muslim, and who only became Muslim when they were imposed as heads of state in some Islamic countries. Others are known to be the sons of Muslims, but they fall short in many of the obligatory acts of worship and obedience required of them. In addition, they do not judge by what Allah has revealed. There is another type of ruler who maintains the prayers and the symbols of Islam, but they are certainly falling short in applying many of the Islamic rulings. Therefore, it is a grave error, both religiously and in reality, to equate the ruling on all these rulers who can be said not to judge by what Allah has revealed. As detailed previously, some of them do not judge by it at all, but have made the disbelieving Western laws their system, constitution, and methodology. Some strive to apply some of the Islamic rulings, and some apply more of them, each according to his capacity. What can be said definitively, and what every Muslim must believe with firm conviction, is that disbelief is not a matter related to action, but rather to the heart. Because the word "kufur" (disbelief) in the language means covering, and covering a thing means denying it. Why? To hide the truth of that matter. Therefore, many scholars have explained this reality. I recall now, as an example, Imam al-Ghazali in his book "Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din" and in his first book, "Kitab al-'Aqaid" (The Book of Beliefs), where he mentioned that the Muslim does not exit Islam except by denying what he entered it with. When does a Muslim become a disbeliever? When he denies something he used to believe from Islam and disbelieves in it. This is a reality that every Muslim must believe: that disbelief is a matter of belief. This belief sometimes remains hidden, known only to our Lord, Mighty and Majestic. But the person holding this disbelieving belief may utter the word of Islam. What does Islam rule regarding this speaker?