What is meant here by “disbelief” is the kind that expels a person from the religion, for the Prophet ﷺ made the prayer the dividing line between believers and unbelievers; and it is self-evident that the creed of disbelief is not the creed of Islam. Consequently, whoever fails to uphold this covenant is counted among the disbelievers.
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Muslim also relates, on the authority of Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There will be rulers whose actions you will approve of in part and disapprove of in part. Whoever recognizes the wrong is absolved, and whoever repudiates it is safe, but whoever is content with it and follows them is blameworthy.” They asked, “Shall we not fight them?” He replied, “No, not as long as they establish the prayer.” 1
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Muslim likewise records, from ʿAwf ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of your leaders are those you love and who love you; they invoke blessings for you and you invoke blessings for them. The worst of your leaders are those you loathe and who loathe you, and whom you curse…"