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Dharul Islam and Dharul Kufr

Question

Which of the 57 so-called Muslim countries can be rightfully called Dharul Islam which also must be defined as per Allah's Original Idea as presented in the Qur'an.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The jurists  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them have given Daarul Islam (the Muslim land) and Daarul Kufr (the non-Muslim land) different definitions and different characteristics that could be summarized as follows:

Daarul Islam (the Muslim land) is the country where Islamic rulings are applied and it is ruled by a Muslim ruler, and the predominance, strength and rule in it are for the Muslims.

Daarul Kufr (the non-Muslim land) is the place where non-Muslims rulings are applied and the power and predominance in it is not in the hands of the Muslims.

Imaam Abu Yoosuf  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him who was Abu Haneefah's disciple, said: "A place is considered Daarul Islam when there is a manifestation of the Islamic law in it even if most of its dwellers are not Muslims. And a place is considered Daarul Kufr when there is a manifestation of non-Islamic laws in it even if most of its dwellers are Muslims." [Al-Mabsoot written by As-Sarkhasy: 10/144]

Moreover, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: "Daarul Islam is the place where Muslims have settled down and where the rulings of Islam are applied. And any place where the Islamic rulings are not applied is not considered Daarul Islam even if it is adjacent to it." [Ahkaam Ahludh-Dhimma: 1/266] Besides, Imaam Ibn Al-Muflih  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: "Any place where Islamic rulings are predominant is Daarul Islam. Opposingly, any place where non-Muslim laws are predominant in it is Daarul Kufr and there is no third place." [Al-Aadaab Ash-Shar'iyah: 1/313]

So, from the above, you could easily differentiate between Daarul Islam and Daarul Kufr.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 131579.

Allaah Knows best.

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