We worship Allaah (swt) by making takfeer – declaring a person to be kaafir. At-Takfeer is an obligation upon all Muslims. Those who do not make takfeer are Mushrikeen as the first pillar of Tawheed requires one to make takfeer by declaring those who Allaah calls kaafir to be kaafir. The individuals who do not make takfeer upon the people whom Allaah (swt) has made takfeer on, have not fulfilled the pillars and conditions of Tawheed, and hence are disbelievers. The one who does not make takfeer is making takdheeb (disbelief) in Allaah. At-Takdheeb (disbelief) is opposite to Tasdeeq, which is to believe in Allaah with certainty.
How does a person disbelieve in Allaah by not declaring the one who Allaah calls a kaafir to be kaafir? Simply because when we believe in Allaah, we do not just believe in his existence, but also his words. If he declares the Jews and the Christians to be kaafir and those who ridicule, mock, implement kufr law to be in the same category, we become disbelievers by not calling them kaafir as the condition for believing in Allaah is to believe in his words (books), names, attributes and actions etc.
We MUST make Takfeer in order to worship Allaah and purify our ‘Aqeedah. To say the rulers of Muslim countries are not kaafir has serious implications. It means that any person can change their deen, kill Muslims, ridicule Allaah, his messenger, the Muslims, the ‘Ulamaa, the Mujaahideen and still remain Muslim; this means there is no boundaries of kufr; a person can do whatever they want and never become kaafir. It also means that we must have Walaa’ (alliance) with them, defend them, protect them and obey them.
Clearly, beyond doubt, all the rulers of Muslim countries are kaafir murtad (apostate). In order to purify our ‘Aqeedah and Tawheed, we must declare them kaafir or we too may fall under the banner of kufr. By studying the situation of the Muslims today, you will find only the Murji-ah making invalid excuses for the rulers and not making takfeer upon them. The Murji-ah are those who separate Eemaan from actions, hence they are not from Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. Here are 6 reasons why the rulers of Muslim counties are kaafir murtad:
They do not fulfil the pillars of Tawheed
They ridicule the deen of Allaah (swt)
They ally with the disbelievers against Muslims
They adopt the deen of Democracy
They direct some of Allaah’s names and attributes to themselves
They legislate kufr constitutions (kufr law)
1. They do not fulfil the Pillars of Tawheed
The two pillars of Tawheed are:
1. Al-Kufr bit Taaghout (Nafie) – To declare kufr on Taaghout (to reject)
2. Al-Eemaanu billaah (Ithbaat) – To believe in Allaah
Any person who does not fulfil both these pillars of Tawheed is not a Muslim. The rulers of Muslim countries do not fulfil either of them (though they claim to do so), especially the first pillar, which is to reject Taaghout. Allaah (swt) says:
لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taaghout and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (EMQ al Baqarah, 2: 256)
Rather than to reject Taghout, they become Taaghout by obeying it i.e. obeying UN resolutions. Their Eemaan is without al-Kufr bit-Taaghout, which is a violation of the first pillar. Anyone who believes in Allaah without to reject kufr or shirk, he or she is not a Muslim.
Their Eemaan is like the Eemaan of the Quraysh, who used to believe in Allaah but did not make Takhallie (give up) before Tahallie (taking up), neither did they reject Taaghout.
The rulers of Muslim countries refer to the Taaghout resolutions of the UN and also make At-Tahaakum (arbitration) to them, seeking their judgment and help, rather than asking Allaah (swt).
Allaah (swt) says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلالا بَعِيدًا
“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taaghout (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitaan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (EMQ an-Nisaa’, 4: 60)
This verse was revealed in relation to a Muslim who was debating with a Jew about a certain issue. Rather than making Tahaakum to Allaah (by referring to Muhammad [saw]), he referred to a Taghout Jewish Sorcerer (al-Ka’ab ibn Ashraf) for judgement and for this he became Kaafir Murtad.
2. They ridicule the deen of Allaah (swt) and his commands
Allaah (swt) says:
يَحْذَرُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ أَن تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا فِي قُلُوبِهِم قُلِ اسْتَهْزِؤُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا تَحْذَرُونَ
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَبِاللّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ
لاَ تَعْتَذِرُواْ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ مُجْرِمِينَ
“The hypocrites fear lest a sourah (chapter of the Qur'aan) should be revealed about them, showing them what is in their hearts. Say: ‘(Go ahead and) mock! But certainly Allaah will bring to light all that you fear.’ (EMQ at-Taubah, 9: 64)
If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allaah (swt), and His Aayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger (SAW) that you were mocking?’ (EMQ at-Taubah, 9: 65)
Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you because they were Mujrimûn (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals, etc.).” (EMQ at-Taubah, 9: 66)
These verses were revealed during a time when certain Muslims were ridiculing the Haafiz of Qur’aan (those who memorise the Book of Allaah) by saying that their Hifz (memorisation) gives them nothing but big stomachs. Ridiculing any Muslim or an aspect of Islaam is apostasy, and whosoever ridicules the deen of Islaam is a kaafir.
The rulers today ridicule the deen of Allaah (swt) by permitting what Allaah forbids and by giving licenses to television companies that mock Islaam via documentaries, dramas, plays and theatre etc. The rulers legislate kufr programs, alcohol advertising, naked women featured in adverts, music and acting etc. An example of this is the program Taash ma Taash, a Saudi TV program which is known for its mockery of wearing Hijaab. Other programs portray polygamy, non free-mixing environments (in schools, colleges etc.), segregation and divine Islaamic rules as oppression!
The Kaafir Murtad rulers also give permission for TV companies to ‘edit’, which in simple terminology is ‘lying’. It is not allowed to edit the words of a Muslim and to fabricate what he or she says. This is all known as permitting what Allaah forbids, and forbidding what Allaah permits.
3. They have alliance with the Mushrikeen and Kuffaar
Allaah (swt) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliyaa' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliyaa' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliyaa', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoun (polytheists and wrong­doers and unjust).” (EMQ al-Maa-idah, 5: 51)
In the Tafseer of Imaam Al-Qurtubie it is narrated that Ibn Abbaas said: ‘Fa innahu minhum (surely he is one of them) means that he takes the same hukm as them.’ i.e. that his wealth is not halaal for him and he is a man of Hell-fire.
Furthermore, Allaah (swt) says:
فَمَا لَكُمْ فِي الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَاللّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُواْ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُواْ مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللّهُ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلاً
وَدُّواْ لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُواْ فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاء فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء حَتَّىَ يُهَاجِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدتَّمُوهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلاَ نَصِيرًا
“Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allaah has cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allaah has made to go astray? And he whom Allaah has made to go astray, you will never find for him any way (of guidance). (EMQ an-Nisaa’, 4: 88)
They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyaa' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allaah (to Muhammad SAW). But if they turn back (from Islaam), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyaa' (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.” (EMQ an-Nisaa’, 4: 89)
These verses were revealed at a time when certain Muslims did not want to participate in Jihaad during the battle of Uhud and made their way back to Madeenah. Allaah called them kaafir for their alliance with the kuffaar and revealed that they should be killed wherever they are seen.
The so-called Muslim governments ally with the disbelievers against the believers and for this they are kaafir. They ally with the US and UK forces in their war against Islaam and Muslims. Israel has a security pact with Turkey, Egypt and Qatar for defence against any Muslims wishing to defend their life and honour.
4. They embrace the deen of Democracy
The deen is what you believe in, live by and die for. Hence Islaam is what you believe in, live by and die for. Democracy too is a deen as the disbelievers believe in, live by and are willing to die for it. The rulers are Murtad for embracing the deen of democracy, by legislating it and calling for it. Allaah (swt) says:
…إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الإسْلامُ
“The only deen Allaah accepts is Islaam…” (EMQ Aali ‘Imraan, 3: 19)
And:
قَالَ لا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمَا ذَلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُمْ بِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ذَلِكَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَشْكُرُونَ
“He said: ‘No food will come to you (in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allaah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter.’” (EMQ Yousuf, 12: 37)
"And I have followed the religion of my fathers - Ibraaheem (Abraham), Is-haaq (Isaac) and Ya'qoub (Jacob), and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allaah. This is from the Grace of Allaah to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allaah, nor worship Him).” (EMQ Yousuf, 12: 38)
Yousuf (as) the great prophet apposed the deen of Democracy and rejected the way of life of his people.
Allaah (swt) also says:
وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإسْلامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“And whoever seeks a deen other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” (EMQ Aali ‘Imraan, 3: 85)
5. They direct some of Allaah’s names and attributes to themselves
The rulers commit shirk by attributing some of Allaah’s names to themselves. Allaah is Al-Hakam (the legislator) but they insist on playing the role of Allaah (swt) by legislating kufr law. Allaah (swt) says:
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِلا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلا تَعْبُدُوا إِلا إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
"You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allaah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allaah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” (EMQ Yousuf, 12: 40)
6. They legislate kufr constitutions (kufr law)
All their constitutions are kufr and declare sovereignty for kufr law and the kuffaar rather than to Allaah (swt).
Arguments against
1. Kufr douna Kufr (Kufr less than Kufr)
Allaah (swt) says in the Qur’aan:
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ فَلا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
“Verily, We did send down the Tauraat (Torah) [to Mousaa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allaah's Will, judged the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests [too judged the Jews by the Tauraat (Torah) after those Prophets] for to them was entrusted the protection of Allaah's Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allaah has revealed, such are the Kaafiroun.” (EMQ al-Maa-idah, 5: 44)
In this verse Allaah (swt) makes it very clear that those who do not rule by what he has revealed i.e. the Sharee’ah, they are Kaafir. In-fact Allaah says: ‘…hum Al-Kaafiroun’ (they are The Disbelievers), in Sharee’ah whenever the term kufr is mentioned in a definite context i.e. ‘Al-Kufr’ as apposed to Kufr without ‘Al’ (indefinite), then this is an indication that the type of kufr mentioned is referring to the greater kufr (kufr akbar) and not the lesser kufr (kufr asghar), until proven otherwise.
Furthermore the Ijmaa’ (consensus) of the Sahabah and the scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah all agree that ruling by kufr law is apostasy – kufr akbar. Despite all of these evidences, the talafies (so-called Salafies) insist that ruling by kufr law is kufr asghar (i.e. doesn’t take you outside the fold of Islaam) and refer to the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer who quotes a hadeeth narrated by Hishaam bin Hajr Al-Makkie who narrates Ibn Abbaas saying ‘kufr douna kufr’ (in commentary of this verse). However, if we study this deeply, we see that this is not the case at all.
Ibn Abbaas did not say ‘kufr douna kufr’ in relation to ruling by kufr law. The hadeeth quoted by Ibn Katheer is da’eef as all ‘Ulema declare the raawie (narrator) Hishaam bin Hajr Al-Makkie to be a weak and an untrustworthy narrator.
Ibn Abbaas never debated this verse at all with anybody. Also no ruler at his time was committing any of the 6 kufr actions mentioned above. To attribute kufr douna kufr to any great sahaabi in relation to ruling by kufr law is a great violation and fabrication, and may Allaah curse those who lie about the companions of Rasulullah (saw) knowingly.
2. ‘This verse was revealed about the Jews’
Another argument of the deviants is that this verse was revealed to the Jews and explains how if the Jews do not rule and judge by what Allaah has revealed, they are the kaafiroun. This argument is a complete contradiction and has many flaws. First of all, how can it be that if the Jews do not rule by what Allaah has revealed they are kaafir, but if Muslims do not rule by what Allaah has revealed they are still Muslims? Secondly, are not the Jews already kaafir, whether they rule by what Allaah has revealed or not? Whosoever doubts that they are kaafir is a kaafir himself.
Another issue that must be understood is the simple fact that the Qur’aan is not any ordinary Arabic book, it was revealed over a period of 23 years, addressing various situations and scenarios of past generations as-well as present. To claim that this verse was revealed only to the Jews is a very shallow argument as one can also say that all the verses related to prayer, fasting, performing Hajj etc. were revealed to the messenger Muhammad (saw) and his companions, therefore we do not need to pray or fast as these verses were revealed to the Sahaabah! Most of the Qur’aan explains and exposes the way of life of the kuffaar, how they used to mock, curse, commit shirk etc. Does this mean that none of the kufr and shirk the kuffaar used to do can apply to us as Allaah revealed those verses to the Jews and Christians? No! The whole Qur’aan was sent to mankind in order to gain lessons and act upon the commandments therein.
