How to Consider a State an Islamic State

Question:
How do we consider a state that does not rule by the Islamic Shari'ah to be an Islamic state, when the Qur'an says that they are disbelievers, wrongdoers, and open sinners?

Answer:
Look into its affairs. Do not consider it an Islamic state, nor a disbelieving one. Look into its affairs, establish the matters, and supplicate to Allah for its guidance. Strive, and do not worry about whether it is disbelieving or Muslim. What matters to you is its reform, its guidance, the safety of the Muslims, and their righteousness.
So when the students of knowledge and the righteous offer advice, strive against their own selves, and embody Islam in themselves and in their children; the conditions will be rectified, good will increase, and evil will decrease, whether the state is called disbelieving or Muslim, according to its conditions. If it deems the prohibitions of Allah permissible, then it is disbelieving. If it does not deem the prohibitions of Allah permissible, then it is not disbelieving. If disbelief appears from it, then it is disbelieving. It is judged according to its actions. But that is not what matters to you. What matters to you is its reform and the reform of the society before it. If the society is rectified, the conditions are set right, they magnify the religion of Allah, and they proceed in the Shari'ah of Allah; the state will submit to that, and it will adhere to the truth out of fear of being removed from office and out of fear of being destroyed.