A theological review of kufr of the Islamic ruler From the Salafi jihadist perspective, emphasizing the "non-compliance with divine laws" and the "implementation of human laws"

The Jihadi Salafism is an extremist group that believes in Jihad as the only means by which Islam can be spread. To promote their agenda, they fight all hurdles on their way. One of the hurdles are the rulers of Islamic countries who, in their opinion, should be fought against. According to Jihadi Salafism there are two reasons why the rulers of Muslim countries are unbelievers (kafir): First, they do not enjoin what Allah has sent down, second, they act upon self-made (statutory) laws. According to them, any ruler who does not command to what Allah has sent down is a kafir, though he may believe in divine laws in general. As well, according to them any ruler who acts upon statutory (man-made) laws is a kafir and there is no difference between him and a Jew or a Christian. Therefore, Jihad is obligatory against them. They take recourse to the verses 44 to 47 of Chapter al-Maedah to justify their beliefs. They insist on their beliefs when in fact the occasion in which the holy verses were revealed is different from the way Salafi scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim interpret. In the viewpoint of Jihadi Salafism, kufr in these verses refers to greater infidelity whereas early predecessors and prominent Salafists consider the disbelief in these verses as the minor infidelity or something near to disbelief. This research proves through an analytical descriptive method that disbelief in the verse which is used by Takfiris is something close to infidelity, and that acting upon statutory laws is in no way in opposition to monotheism.