If the [ruler] happens to be a disbeliever, is it permissible to revolt against him?

[Shehzad Sattar]

If the [ruler] happens to be a disbeliever, is it permissible to revolt against him? Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ibn Baaz Rahimahullah

قال الشيخ عبدالعزيز بن باز رحمه الله:

«ولو كان [الحاكم] كافراً يطاع في الخير ولا يطاع في الشر، لو بلي الناس بأمير كافر ولم يستطيعوا بالطرق الشرعية أن يعيِّنوا غيره؛ أطاعوه في الخير لا الشر.

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ibn Baaz Rahimahullah said:

If the [ruler] happens to be a disbeliever, he is to be obeyed in good and disobeyed in the evil, and if a people were tested with a disbelieving leader and they had no legitimate means to appoint anyone other than him, in such case they obey him in good and leave him in bad.

ويجوز الخروج عليه إذا كانت عندهم قدرة يترتب عليها زواله من دون ضرر أكبر، أما إذا كان يخشى من ضرر أكبر فلا.

it is permissible to revolt against him if they had the ability to remove him without causing a greater harm or destruction, but if a greater destruction is feared then they shouldn't.

يصبرون حتى يأتي الله بالفرج، وإذا أتى بالكفر الصريح يُنصح ويُبيّن له الحق ويُحذر من الكفر والشرك، ويُبيّن له أن هذا يزيل ولايته ويجوز الخروج عليه لعله ينتهي، فإن هداه الله وأسلم فالحمد لله، وإلا نظروا، إن كان عندهم قدرة يعزلونه ويعيِّنون غيره فعلوه، وإلا صبروا حتى يأتي الله بالفرج.

they must be patient until an ease comes from Allah, and if the ruler comes up with a clear kufr (disbelief) he should be advised and the truth should be clarified to him and he should be warned from Kufr and Shirk, and it should be told to him that this act nullifies his governance and revolting becomes permissible, so that he may stop from it, so if Allah guides him and he (returns to) Islam then praise be to Allah, or else (the people) must see, if they are capable of removing him and replacing someone else they may do so, or else they remain patient until an ease comes from Allah.

فلا يتعرضوا لسفك الدماء بغير طائل، الفرقة أعظم، يصبرون على الجماعة ويجتهدون بالصدع، فاجتماعهم على الحق وفي سبيل الدعوة إلى الحق- ولو كان أميرهم يدعو إلى الكفر- خير لهم من أن يتصدعوا على الانتشار والذبح وسفك الدماء وضياع الحق بينهم.

They must not involve in bloodshed without any beneficial outcome, for getting split is worse, better for them is remaining patient all together as a group, striving on truth, for their gathering upon truth and its preaching - even under a ruler calling towards disbelief - is better than falling into separation, slaughtering, bloodshed and loosing the truth.

فقاعدة الشريعة تحصيل المصالح وتكميلها وتعطيل المفاسد وتقليلها، فلا بد من مراعاة المصالح والنظر إلى المصالح والمفاسد.

The principle in our Shareeah is gaining benefit and advantage and fulfilling it, and disabling the harms and minimizing it, so it is a must to consider and look for the advantages and disadvantages.

فإذا كان القيام عليه لا يكون إلا بفساد وقتل المسلمين وإضاعة الحق أكثر لم يجز الخروج، حتى يوجد ما يعين على إزالة الشر وتقليله وتكثير الخير ويكون بتنصيب أهل الحق، مثل ما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: (إلا أن تروا كفراً بواحاً عندكم من الله فيه برهان).

so if the revolt necessitates destruction and killing of the Muslims and a greater loss, it becomes unlawful, until there comes a way to reduce the harm and remove it, while maintaining the goodness and multiplying it, by appointing the people of Haqq in charge of the affairs . As the prophet Sallalahu alaih wasallam mentioned :

"(Obedience shall be accorded to him in all circumstances) except when you have evident signs of his disbelief that could be used as a conscientious justification (for non-compliance with his orders)."

فأباح لهم الخروج إباحة، وليس المعنى قوموا؛ وإنما معناه الإباحة، إباحة الخروج حتى يزيلوا الباطل، حسب المقام».

He made the Khurooj permissible in that situation yet he did not encourage it, so it limits to permissibility, permissibility or removing the falsehood, according to the situation"

التعليقات البازية على شرح الطحاوية (٨٩٨-٩٠٠/٢)
ط .دار ابن الأثير.

Ref: Ta'leeqaat al Baaziyyah ala Sharh at-Tahaawiyyah (898-900 v2)
Dar ibn al-Atheer edition.

(Translated by Abdullah Taha Madani , KSA)