If a disbelieving ruler becomes dominant over an Islamic land and he assumes power the Muslims must cease fighting him
If they do not do this they will seriously harm themselves and their Muslim brothers. For that reason, it is obligatory for them to cease and listen and obey such a disbelieving ruler in everything
. Our
As for interacting with a disbelieving leader who comes into power (in a Muslim land) then this differs depending on the situations. If the Muslims have power and are able to fight him and remove him from power and are able to fight him and remove him from power in a place of a Muslim leader then they must do that. This is from jihad in the cause of Allaah, but if they are unable to remove such a disbelieving leader from power then it is not permissible for them to provoke such oppressors and disbelievers because this will cause harm for the Muslims. The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) lived in Makkah for thirteen years after receiving Prophethood under the kuffaar (who were aggressive to Islaam and the Muslims) at that moment in time. They were not instructed to fight except until after the migration of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) and they had established a state and body of Muslims that was able to fight the kuffaar (who were aggressive to Islaam and the Muslims). This is the manhaj of Islaam, if the Muslims are under the authority of a disbelieving authority and are unable to remove it they adhere to their Islaam and to their ‘aqeedah but do not put themselves in danger and attempt to confront the kuffaar because that will result in harms for them and their the da’wah. If they have the power and are able to wage armed jihaad then they are to make jihaad in the cause of Allaah in accordance with the principles of the Divine Legislation. [2]
I used to say, and I still do, to those who always drone on about
takfeer of the rulers of the Muslims: if they were
kuffaar who have disbelieved and apostatized and it was discovered that they had disbelieved and apostatized, those rulers would have to have the punishment established on them. So now, what do you benefit from this aspect of action if for arguments sake all of the leaders are
kuffaar and apostates? What is possible for them to do? Those
kuffaar who have occupied parts of the Islamic lands, and unfortunately we have been tested with the Jewish occupation of Palestine, so what are we able to do with them along with your thinking that the leaders are
kuffaar? It is better that you leave this aspect and begin with the foundational principle upon which Muslim government is established, which is following the Sunnah of the Messenger (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam), which the companions were cultivated upon. So we do not deny that in such cases that the Muslim groups have to act for the return of the Islamic rule, not only within the Islamic lands, but on the entire earth, in order to achieve the saying of Allaah,
“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions even though the idolators hate (it).”
{at-Tawbah (9): 33}
And it is mentioned in some authentic
hadeeth that these verses will be realized in the later times. So that the Muslims are empowered to realize this Qur’anic text, will the way to it be announcing revolutions against those leaders who they think are
kuffaar who have disbelieved and apostatized?!! Then along with this thought, which is incorrect, they are not able to do anything, so what is the (correct)
manhaj? What is the (correct) path? There is no doubt that the path is: what the Messenger of Allaah (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) was upon and those around him, when he reminded them before every
khutbah “The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam).” So it is upon all the Muslims, and in particular those who attach importance to the return of Islamic rule, to begin from where the Messenger (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) began. This is what we name in two words as being purification and cultivation. As we know the reality yet we are heedless to it, or more correctly we pretend to be. Those extremists who have nothing except for announcing
takfeer of the leaders and then nothing else manifests from them except for tribulation. This is what has occurred in recent years as you know, beginning with the
fitna at the Haram in Makkah to the
fitna in Egypt when Sadat was assassinated and the blood of innocent Muslims was spilled. Then finally the
fitna in Syria and what is unfortunately taking place in Egypt and Algeria. All of this was due to them contradicting many of the texts of the Book (i.e. Qur’aan) and
Sunnah, the most important being,
“There has certainly been for you in the messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allaah often.”
{al-Ahzaab (33): 21}
If we want to establish the rule of Allaah on the earth, do we begin with fighting against the leader whilst we are not able to fight against them? Or do we begin with what the Messenger (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) began with? There is no doubt that the answer is
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allaah often.”
{al-Ahzaab (33): 21}
What did the Messenger of Allaah (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) begin with? You know that he began with
da’wah among the people who he thought were prepared to accept the truth, then whoever responded to him, responded as is well known in the Prophetic
sunnah. Then punishment happened along with torture and hardship which affected the Muslims in Makkah; then the instruction for the first and second migrations, until Allaah established Islaam in Madeenah al-Munawwarah. Establishment began and fighting began between Muslims and
kuffaar from one side and then against the
yahood from another side. Therefore, we have to begin with teaching the people about Islaam just as how the Prophet (
sallAllaahu alayhi wassallam) began. However, we do not now restrict teaching because many alien things have entered Islaam. Indeed, things which have been responsible for destroying the Islamic edifice have entered Islaam. For this reason, the
du’aat have to begin with purifying Islaam from what has entered into it. Secondly, along with this
tasfiyah has to be with
tarbiyyah (education and cultivation) of the Muslim youth arising from this pure Islaam. So if we study the, established Islamic groups today since almost century, we will find that many of them did not benefit at all despite their shouts and agitation for an Islamic government. They split the blood of many innocent Muslims for this reason, without benefiting at all. We still hear from them beliefs which contradicted the Book and the
Sunnah and they do actions which the Book and the
Sunnah oppose. Based on this we say: there are some words which were stated by one of the
du’aat, which I wish his own followers would stick to and practice it: “Establish the Islamic state within your own selves then it will be established in your lands.” Because if a Muslim corrects his creed based upon the Book and the
sunnah, there is no doubt that behind that will be rectification of his worship, manners and character etc. yet this is a good saying, unfortunately, those people do not act by it they merely stay screaming about the establishment of the Muslim government with no benefit whatsoever. The saying of the Poet is truthful regarding them:
You hope for success and do not traverse its path,
The boat does not sail on dry land [3]
Therefore, if there is a disbelieving leader, or if a disbelieving leader comes into power, and the Muslims do not have the ability or power to remove such a leader or remove a disbelieving state then they must halt in order to preserve the blood of the Muslims and the core of Islaam and ease the da’wah to Allaah.
[1] Al-Qahtaanee (ed.), Fataawaa al-A’immah fee Nawaazil al-Mulahumah, 2nd Edition, introduced by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, p.93