Gaddafi’s demise an omen for other tyrants

Editor,

The recent killing of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has brought relief to those people that he oppressed for so many years. His demise should give a strong warning to any other tyrannical leaders in the Muslim world that their days are numbered. This battle between the Muslims and leaders who are disbelievers is nothing new.

One of the greatest scholars in the history of Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah, famously declared a group of Muslim leaders to be disbelievers and then he fought them. This group, the Tatars, had declared their faith in Islam, prayed five times a day and gave the poor tax. So why did Ibn Taymiyyyah still insist that they were disbelievers despite this?

His evidence for this charge came from the Quran 5:44: If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are indeed the ‘kaaferoon’(disbelievers).

So, as you can see, any leader of the Muslims who rules by other then the shariah is a disbeliever according to the above statement of Allah. This ruling means that as a consequence of his secular rule, Muammar Gaddafi died as a disbeliever.

And as a final warning to the other disbelieving tyrants in the Muslim world who still oppress the Muslims, I will quote a saying of the Prophet Muhammad, which God willing seems to be unfolding before our very eyes. The Prophet Muhammad said: Prophethood (meaning himself) will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain, then Allah will raise it up wherever he wills to raise it up. Afterward, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood remaining with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain.

Then, He will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up.

Afterwards, there will be a reign of violently oppressive(the reign of Muslim kings who are partially unjust) rule and it will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, there will be a reign of tyrannical rule and it will remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, Allah will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Then, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood.

Muhajir Romero
UNM student