"And whoever does not rule by what Allaah revealed.." - A Death Sentence for the Muslim Rulers?
By Aboo Khadeejah 'Abdul-Waahid
"There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do Messenger of Allaah, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the ameer and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey."
Play/Download
Review:
"And whoever does not rule by what Allaah revealed, then these are the disbelievers."
[Sooratul-Maa`idah, 5:44]
A question/condemnation posed regarding some of the Muslim rulers, implying that they are kuffar and that perhaps they should be removed is posed by one of the attendees,
[Q]: ‘Is it allowed to remove (supposed) tyrants from the position of their governments when they apostate from Islaam. For example, if you kill a Muslim, rule by something other than Allaah or assist the kuffar in killing the Muslims, are these people meant to be given three days to repent. Please elaborate, to be more specific please mention with regards to Mushaarif and Mubaarak and the ‘self-proclaimed’ custodian of the two Holy Mosques?
In his reply, Aboo Khadeejah mentions part of the following hadeeth,
It his been narrated through a different chain of transmitters, on the authority of Hudhayfah Ibnul-Yamaan who said: Messenger of Allaah, no doubt, we had an evil time (i.e. the days of jahiliyyah or ignorance) and Allaah brought us a good time (i.e. Islamic period) through which we are now living. Will there be a bad time after this good time? He (the Prophet) said: Yes. I said: Will there be a good time after this bad time? He said: Yes. I said: Will there be a bad time after good time? He said: Yes. I said: How? Whereupon he said: There will be leaders who will not be led by my guidance and who will not adopt my ways? There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings. I said: What should I do Messenger of Allaah, if I (happen) to live in that time? He replied: You will listen to the ameer and carry out his orders; even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should listen and obey.
This hadeeth comes under the following chapter:
”Instruction to stick to the Main Body of the Muslims in the Time of Trials and Warning Against Those Inviting People to Disbelief” The Book of Government, Saheeh Muslim #5444.
A sound clarification against the misinterpretations, charming speech and bedazzling slogans of ahlut-takfeer who round up the ignorant Muslims steering them towards the path of the khawaarij. This is exemplified in the mentioning of ‘al-Istanbulee’, a radical takfeeree who tried to spearhead revolt in Egypt by killing the ruler, causing countless murders on both sides and no change in the condition of the Muslims. A manhaj that never ever brought about any good and one that opposes the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It is clarified that this ayah ("And whoever does not rule by what Allaah revealed, then these are the disbelievers.") is not specific to the rulers, rather ‘Whosoever’, pertaining to the ruler and the ruled. In addition, clarity is brought to the issue of kufr, kufr less than kufr, major sins and who is responsible for determining these serious affairs (the Scholars). An important explanation of the Saddam Husein/Gulf War/Saudi Arabia issue is also made.