Press Release
It is Haram to Appoint a Kafir as a Leader

Early on in 2017, regional elections will be held simultaneously in several cities/districts as well as provinces. In the regional elections, (some) non-Muslim candidates, especially in Greater Jakarta, will run for reelection as the candidates of the head regions. In this regards, Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia states:

1. Leadership is a very important matter. In the view of Islam, the blessings for all or rahmatan lil alamin such as justice, prosperity, security, and peace and holiness and so on, can only be achieved if the leaders govern the society with Islamic Sharia and command what is good and forbid what is evil. Without the application of real Islamic Sharia, there will be no blessings but instead there will be mafsadat or corrupt acts such as what we have seen today.

2. Then, the main requirement for a leader of a Muslim land is that he must be a Muslim. If not, how can he be expected to implement and enforce Sharia and command the good, while he does not believe in Sharia and does not understand the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding the evil? Therefore, in Islamic view, as mentioned in al Quran Surah An Nisa’ verse 41, it is haram (forbidden) to appoint a non-Muslim or a Kafir to be a leader for the Muslims.

[وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا]

“And never will Allah grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumphs) over the believers.” [QS an-Nisa’ [4]: 141]

Although literally the verse contains strong criticism, the real meaning is prohibition, which is the prohibition to give way to the Kuffar to control the believers. The power or leadership is the greatest way to be able to overcome the believers. The wording “lan” in the verse shows that this is a firm prohibition. It means that Allah (swt) forbids the Muslims to hand over the leadership to the Kuffars.

3. It is a consensus or agreement among the Ulema on the illegitimacy to appoint a Kafir to be a leader. Ibnu Hazm in Marâtib al-Ijmâ’, page 208 states that, “They (the Ulema) agreed that the leaders must not be for women, Kuffar (non-believers) and the young”. Ibnu al-Qayim in Ahkâm Ahli adz-Dzimmah (ii/787) quoted Ibnu al-Mundzir who states, “All ahlu al-‘ilmi (knowledgeable people) from whom this religion has been memorized agreed that the Kuffar have no power (leadership) at all against the Muslims”.

4. Call upon all Muslims who historically attach to the struggle of Islam, especially those who live in Greater Jakarta to gather shoulder-to-shoulder and join in the fight against the candidates who are Kafir on this matter. Be steadfast, patient and have istiqamah in the struggle for the realization of Islamic life through the establishment of Sharia law and Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood. Don’t be scared to face any challenges, obstacles and threats until this noble goal is accomplished.

Hasbunallah wa ni’mal wakiil, ni’mal maula wa ni’man nashiir

Muhammad Ismail Yusanto
Official Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir in Indonesia

Mobile: 0811119796 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.