QUESTION:
If a Muslim ruler does not rule according to Shariah, rather he chooses to rule according to the laws of the Kuffaar, does he still remain a Muslim?
ANSWER:
Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif, “Whoever does not rule according to what Allah has revealed then they are surely Kaafiroon.” This means that if one judges or rules against the Quraan Sharif due to rejecting the Quraan and the words of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, then he is a Kaafir. Hadrat Abdullah Bin Abbas Radiallahu Anhu and Mujahid Rahimahullah state that the verse is general in this regard. Hadrat Abdullah Bin Masood Radiallahu Anhu and Hassan Rahimahullah state, “The verse is general in regard to every person who does not rule according to what Allah Ta’ala has revealed whether they are Muslim, Jews, Kuffar, who have conviction (in their ruling) and regard it as Halaal. Yes, if one rules against Shariah but regards it as Haraam, then he will be considered as Faasiq and sinner, but will remain a Muslim. In conclusion, if the ruler gives preference to Kuffar law as he regards the laws of Shariah to be insignificant or he rejects it, then he will lose his Imaan.
وقيل في الآية إضمار، تقديره: ومن لم يحكم بما أنزل الله رادًّا للقرآن، وجحدا لقول الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فهو كافر، قاله ابن عباس، ومجاهد … فالآية عامة على هذا.
وقال ابن مسعود والحسن: هي عامة في كل من لم يحكم بما أنزل الله من المسلمين واليهود والكفار، معتقدا ذلك، مستحلا له.
وأَما مَن فعل ذلك وهو معتقد أنه مرتكب محرما، فهو من فُسَّاق المسلمين وعُصَاتِهِم (1). (قرطبي ص190 ج6 – التفسير الوسيط ص1080 ج2)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 06 Dhul Qa’dah 1445 / 15 May 2024
