. JJ É J . (cont.)

Allah says in the Quran, "Whoever does not rule by what Allah has revealed are unbelievers" (al­ Maaidah 44). lbn Abbas, in interpreting this verse, was asked about the rulers of his time who did not always apply the Islamic law to everything. He answered that what they are doing does fall under this verse but it is a kufr that is less than the great kufr. That is, it does not mean that they are no longer to be considered Muslims. Actually, there are different types of rulerssome of them are clearly unbelievers while others cannot be considered such. If a ruler openly performs the practices of Islam and he believes that it is obligatory upon him to apply the shareeah yet he does not do so completely for some reason, then this is what ibn Abbas was describing when he said, "Kufr that is less than kufr." Such a ruler is not to be considered a non-Muslim although he may be considered a faasiq or evildoer. In fact, that ruler is very much similar to a person who Hadith #2: The Hadith of Jibreel (c) Ifraad Allah bi-1-Walaayah (submitting one's loyalties and love to the commands and guidance of the revelation of Allah): Having loyalty for the sake of Allah and basing one's love and hatred on guidance from Allah is an essential condition for one's faith to be sound and correct.1 Allah says in the Quran, (. Ԧtü ž.D ñ  i_, \ %;J$+ \ ê) s/ i)lb ;Jj QJ wđ  y1࠙1 ॷ-' ॸſ:le :ti ԧ J / / / ,,,. ,., / J, ,., ,,,. ,., 1;  I 6j ;T'_Jji JĒI ñ 9 Jji °Lj 7lj Md "You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their auliyaa [friends and protectors]. Evil indeed is that which their own selves have sent forward before them. For that reason, Allah's wrath fell upon them and in torment they will abide. And had they believed in Allah and in the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them [the disbelievers] as auliyaa, but many of them are disobedient to Allah" (al-Maaidah 80-81). According to ibn Taimiya, the last statement, "and had they believed," is a conditional statement implying that those who do such an act do not have any faith whatsoever.2 Allah also says, knows that he must obey Allah yet due to some reason, for example, desire or lust, he commits an act of disobedience towards Allah. Such a person, due to that sin alone, does not become a disbeliever. Other rulers openly deny Islam and say that they prefer some other form of government and economy, like socialism or capitalism. This verse also applies to them as these people prefer some other guidance to the guidance of Allah. This is clearly the greater kufr without any doubt or dispute about it. There are other rulers who do not deny Islam openly yet they do not believe that it is obligatory upon them to enforce the shareeah or they may oppose or refuse to apply the shareeah because they do not believe in its implementation. This is also a type of kufr, the greater kind, and the person becomes a non-Muslim even if he prays and fasts and performs some of the other rites of Islam. Finally, there are those who claim that they want Islam while in reality they do not want to apply the shareeah and they may even have a hatred in their heart for Islam. This person is clearly a hypocrite and hypocrisy is a type of kufr. An excellent discussion of this topic may be found in Abdul Azeez Kaamil, al-Hukum wa al-Tahaakum fl Khitaab al-Wahi (Riyadh: Daar Taiba, 1995), vol. 1, pp. 253-264. 1 It is extremely important to note that, like ruling not in accord with what Allah has revealed, there are different levels of not making loyalty for the sake of Allah. Such loyalty for what is displeasing to Allah may reach the level that the person falls out of the fold of Islam. (This is what some scholars refer to as al-tawali.) However, at other times, the act may be a sinful act but does not take the person out of the fold oflslam. 2 lbn Taimiya, Kitaab al-Imaan, p. 14. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi "Verily, your Protector and Helper is Allah, His Messenger, and the believersthose who establish the prayer, and give zakah, and they bow down [in submission]. And whosoever takes Allah, His Messenger and those who believe as Protectors, then the party of Allah will be the victorious. 0 you who believe! Take not for auliya [protectors and helpers] those who take your religion for a mockery and fun from among those who received the Scripture [Jews and Christians] before you, nor from among the disbelievers. And fear Allah if you indeed are true believers" (al-Maaidah 55-57). In another verse, Allah states, ,,,,. ... J .,. J 0 J 2,., .... "n · ি /T/l"i T ॴ(ॵor\( ; .J.