Do those who participate in parliaments become disbelievers?

The questioner : Does participation in parliaments constitute major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that expels everyone who participates in such a parliament?

The Shaykh : No, this is understood from the answer to the previous question. Participation is an action; if it is not accompanied by something indicating that he considers this action permissible in his heart, then it is a sin and a transgression, and it may be a major sin. I say, and I mean what I say, that it may be a major sin because some of those who participate are, in a sense, misguided due to their ignorance of Islam, and they are not, in a sense, intending to disobey Allah (Mighty and Majestic). In any case, regarding participation in parliaments, we believe first that it is not permissible Islamically, because it is considered one of the clearest forms of loyalty to ruling by other than what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has revealed. This is an action, and it is like His saying: . So this loyalty is practical disbelief (kufri 'amali). If it is accompanied by disbelief of the heart, then it is disbelief of the religion (kufri millah) that expels one from Islam. Participation in parliaments is undoubtedly a major transgression, but it is not permissible to say that it is apostasy (riddah) except on a case-by-case basis. If something comes from one of them indicating that he considers ruling by other than what Allah has revealed permissible in his heart, then he is a disbeliever, as we explained in a previous session.