Hakimiyya: Jihadi Extremists And Their Problem With Democratic Institutions
While violent jihadist groups have many doctrinal differences, one cord connects their ideological foundations.
Although most Jihadi groups emerge independently of one another, they share some theological pillars due to a distinct set of social, economic, and political factors.
Hakimiyya is one of such pillars: it’s about who should govern and on what basis they should govern. Moreover, Jihadi scholars believe that the issue of Hakimiyya is a stepping stone to other Salafi-Jihadi concepts that have gained notoriety, such as Takfir (ex-communication) and Hijrah (migration).
Muhammad Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram, stated in the 168-page Arabic text, Hazihi Aqidatuna Wa Minhaj Daawatuna (This is Our Creed and Method of Proclamation), that those who follow any human-made legal system for judgment or agree with any government authority other than Allah are polytheists.