Ruling by other than what Allah has revealed?

The questioner : The Exalted says: to the end of the verse. They say that this is disbelief that expels one from the religion, and some say it does not expel one from the religion. Given that today, in most countries, except for those whom Allah has shown mercy, they rule by the *tawaghit* (tyrants), do these people fall under the category of expelling oneself from the religion, refuge with Allah, or do they not fall under it?

The Shaykh : In explaining these three verses you referred to, the Imam of the Mufassir (interpreters), Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, mentioned that the meaning of this verse, "So those are the disbelievers," is when they consider it permissible to rule by other than what Allah has revealed, in which case their status is the status of disbelievers. However, it must be noted here that considering something permissible (*istihlal*) has two types: considering it permissible in the heart and considering it permissible in practice. What expels one from the religion is considering it permissible in the heart, whereas considering it permissible in practice is something in which all sinners are involved: the one who steals, the one who commits unlawful sexual intercourse, the one who cheats, and the one who... to the end of it. All of them commit these sins and consider them permissible in practice. There is no difference between these people and the one who rules by other than what Allah has revealed; all of them are criminals, all of them are sinners. But as it is said, "O my Lord, some evil is milder than some."