Most of the political Islamist jihadi groups' thinking depends on certain ideologically radical concepts that discriminate between citizens on the basis of religion. These concepts do not solely divide humans into Muslims and infidels. They expand the meaning of disbelief and polytheism, proposing, at the same time, the most radical manner of politicizing the religion. This is not only an ideology to restore the Islamic political system. It goes beyond that to urge jihad against tyrants and the establishment of an international caliphate that aims to make Islam rule the world. The most important thing about these concepts, which some people find difficult to understand and are repeated by others without knowing their true meaning, are The Sovereignty of Allah (Al Hakimeya le Allah), Loyalty and Disavowal (Al Wala Wal Bara), and Jihad concepts that it have formed nations' future. The Sovereignty of Allah The sovereignty of Allah means that Islamic law should be the only reference for legislation, whether it be for the constitution or other laws. This concept includes the idea that Allah is the sole ruler and any addition to Islamic law represents disbelief in Allah the creator. This concept is based on the Prophet Mohamed's (peace be upon him) Hadith that says, "Allah is the Judge, and judgment is his." Many books, moreover, deal with monotheism (Al Tawheed) by authors such as Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Al Qayyim, Mohamed Ibn Abd Al Wahhab and his grandchildren, as well as Sayyid Qutb. The concept is dealt with in writings such as Al Zelal, "Shadows," Ma'alim fi Al Tariq, "Milestones," and Khasae's Al Tsawaor "The Properties of Visualization." According to Abul A'la Maududi and Al Ghazali, the ruler, father, or husband must first obey Allah. Ruling regimes in the Arab world, however, have been established by civil law created by humans and not sanctioned by Islam. Therefore the ruling regimes in Muslim countries are referred to as "infidel" by political Islam groups. Loyalty and disavowal (Al Wala Wal Bara) The loyalty and disavowal concept means that the state must be based on Islam not on a nation and its people must be loyal to Islam and not praise non-Muslims. The concept of loyalty and disavowal states that the country must adopt Islamic ideas in its internal policies and then control the important institutions of state, as well as uphold the word of Allah and establish a strong global Islamic state to confront illegal and belligerent systems. According to the Salafist view, citizens are classified in the Islamic state as Muslims or Dhimmis. The latter pay the ‘jizya' tax based on the Hadith that says: "Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: the one to whom Allah and His Apostle become dearer than anything else; the one who loves a person only for Allah's sake; and the one who hates to revert to disbelief as he hates to be thrown into the fire." The Jihad concept The concept of Jihad is aimed against illegitimate regimes, especially the ruling regimes in Islamic countries, as well as against foreign occupiers of countries and their supporters. The Egyptian Jihad organization focused on jihad against puppet systems, while the Saudi Al Qaeda group focused on jihad against foreign occupation and its supporters. They then merged and formed the Al Qaeda jihadi organization. Critique of the three concepts Those concepts have been argued by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. He admitted the concept of "The Sovereignty of Allah", but he denied that ‘sovereignty' means ‘rule,' because in the Holy Quran it refers to Allah's powers as the creator, deserving to be worshiped and obeyed. He added that the principles of Islamic law had nothing to do with the concept of sovereignty because they are purely civil not religious. The development of the ‘loyalty and disavowal' concept led to condemning as infidel the opponents of political Islam and the regimes in Muslim countries that govern according to civil law. It further led to the idea that loyalty to non-Muslims and cultivating good relations with them turned Muslims into infidels. It confused religious relations with non-Muslims and familial, financial, economic, and political relations, expanding the misinterpretation of the loyalty and disavowal concept. With regard to the concept of Jihad, many Islamic thinkers, such as Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Al Qayyim, and Al Fairuzabad, saw that the most important type of jihad was that of the soul--- jihad against lust, jihad against oppressors and aggressive rulers, and finally jihad against infidels and polytheists, and this last is only called for when non-Muslims attack Muslims. It is not permitted to fight non-Muslims if they don't attack Muslims. The truth is that the word ‘jihad,' is misinterpreted today. It never meant armed warfare and murder. It means a resistance of the soul or resisting others by advising them and by prayer. Resistance is not equal to war. War is the last degree of jihad and this is what the followers of political Islam followers do not understand.
