What is the position of Muslims residing in the West regarding the Hadith: "He who dies without an oath of allegiance (bay'ah) on his neck, dies a death of Jahiliyyah (ignorance)?"

The hadith (definition) "Whoever dies without having a pledge of allegiance on his neck dies a death of Jahiliyyah" means that a Muslim who dies without having given a pledge of allegiance to the Imam dies like the people of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), in misguidance and without an obeyed Imam. It does not mean that he dies as a disbeliever, but rather as a sinner. The pledge of allegiance (bay'ah) is obligatory upon every Muslim. It is given to the people of authority and decision (Ahl al-Hall wal-Aqd) through verbal declaration and direct interaction. As for the general public, their belief in their submission to the Imam's obedience and their listening to and obeying him secretly and openly is sufficient for them. A Muslim living in Western countries, where there is a Muslim Imam—whether Muslims have agreed upon him, or he came to power through succession or by conquest—is obligated to believe in his imamate, obey him, and support him to the best of his ability. If there is no Imam with these characteristics, then Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, while Muslims are continuously obligated to strive for the appointment of a general Caliph.