|
In The Name Of Allah Most
Gracious Most Merciful
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu
OBEYING THE RULERS
Mohamed Uvais
Rulers Must Not Abandon Jihad
Sunan of Abu-Dawood
Hadith 3455 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
I heard the Apostle of Allah, (peace be upon him) say: When you enter
into the inah transaction, hold the tails of oxen, are pleased with
agriculture,
and give up conducting jihad (struggle in the way of Allah). Allah will
make disgrace prevail over you, and will not withdraw it until you
return to your
original religion.
Stay With Main Body Of Muslims
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4553 Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman
People used to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the
good times, but I used to ask him about the bad times fearing lest they
should
overtake me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we were in the midst of
ignorance and evil, and then God brought us this good (time through
Islam). Is there
any bad time after this good one? He said: Yes. I asked: Will there be a
good time again after that bad time? He said: Yes, but in it will be a
hidden evil. I asked: What will be the evil hidden therein? He said:
(That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways
other than
mine and seek guidance other than mine. You will know good points as
well as bad points. I asked: Will there be a bad time after this good
one? He
said: Yes. (A time will come) when there will be people standing and
inviting at the gates of Hell. Whoever responds to their call will be
thrown
into the fire. I said: Messenger of Allah, describe them to us. He said:
All right. They will be a people having the same complexion as ours and
speaking our language. I said: Messenger of Allah, what do you suggest
if I happen to live at that time? He said: You should stay with the main
body of
the Muslims and their leader. I said: If they have no (such thing as
the) main body and have no leader? He said: Separate yourself from all
these
factions, though you may have to eat the roots of trees (in a jungle)
until death comes to you when you are in this state.
The Prophet saws said
Whosoever sees something from his leader of sin, then let him hate
whatever occurs from sin. And let him not remove his hand from
obedience, since whoever removes his hand from disobedience and splits
off from the Jamaa’ah (united body), then he dies the death of
Jaahiliyyah
(pre-Islaamic times of ignorance).’’ Related by al-Bukhaaree (13/5) and
Muslim (no. 1849)
Disobey If They Impose Disobedience To
Allah
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 4.203 Narrated by Ibn Umar
The 'Prophet said, "It is obligatory for one to listen to and obey (the
ruler's orders) unless these orders involve one disobedience (to Allah);
but
if an act of disobedience (to Allah) is imposed, he should not listen to
or obey it."
The Prophet saws said: ‘‘The person must obey in whatever he loves, and
in whatever he hates, in ease and in hardship, in willingness and
un-willingness; except if he is commanded to disobey Allaah. So if he is
commanded to disobey Allaah, then he should not listen, not should he
obey.’’Related by al-Bukhaaree (4/203
The Companions asked him: O Messenger of Allaah! When you mentioned that
there will be rulers, ‘you will approve of some things from them, and
disapprove of others things.’ They said: So what do you command us to
do? He said: ‘‘Give them their right, and invoke Allaah, since He is
with you.’’ ’Ubaadah (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said: ‘‘We gave the oath of
allegiance to the Messenger of Allaah that we would not oppose the
command, not its people.’’ He said: ‘‘Except if you were to see clear
disbelief (kufran bawaahan) about which you have a proof from Allaah.’’
Related by Muslim (6/17)
Obey With Patience If Unable To Prevent Bad Deeds
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4569 Narrated by Umm Salamah
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: In the near future
there will be Amirs and you will like their good deeds and dislike their
bad
deeds. One who sees through their bad deeds (and tries to prevent their
repetition by his hand or through his speech), is absolved from blame,
but
one who hates their bad deeds (in the heart of his heart, being unable
to prevent their recurrence by his hand or his tongue), is (also) safe
(so far
as God"s wrath is concerned). But one who approves of their bad deeds
and imitates them is spiritually ruined. People asked (the Prophet):
Shouldn't
we fight against them? He replied: No, as long as they say their
prayers.
The Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever disapproves of something done by
his ruler then he should be patient, for whoever disobeys the ruler even
a
little will die as those who died in the Pre-Islaamic Period of
Ignorance (i.e. as rebellious Sinners)." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4554
Hudhaifah (radhiAllaahu anhu) narrated in a long hadeeth that the
Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said,
"There will come leaders who will not follow my guidance nor will they
follow my Sunnah. There will be amongst them men who will have the
hearts of
devils in the bodies of humans." He (Hudhaifah) asked, "What should I do
O Messenger of Allaah if I reach that?" He replied, "You should hear and
obey
the ruler. Even if he flogs your back and takes your wealth you should
still hear and obey."
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4573 Narrated by Awf ibn Malik
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The best of your rulers
are those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God's blessings
upon you
and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your rulers are
those whom you hate and who hate you and whom you curse and who curse
you.
It was asked (by those present): Shouldn't we overthrow them with the
help of the sword? He said: No, as long as they establish prayer among
you. If
you then find anything detestable in them, you should hate their
administration, but do not withdraw yourselves from their obedience.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 9.179 Narrated by Usaid bin Hudair
A man came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! You appointed
such-and-such person and you did not appoint me?" The Prophet said,
"After
me you will see rulers not giving you your right (but you should give
them their right) and be patient till you meet me."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
Hadith 9.175 Narrated by Abdullah
Allah's Apostle said to us, "You will see after me, selfishness (on the
part of other people) and other matters that you will disapprove of."
They asked,"What do you order us to do, O Allah's Apostle (under such
circumstances)?" He said, "Pay their rights to them (to the rulers) and
ask your right from
Allah."
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4524 Narrated by AbuHurayrah
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: It is obligatory for
you to listen to the ruler and obey him in adversity and prosperity, in
pleasure
and displeasure, and even when another person is given (rather undue)
preference over you.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4551 Narrated by Alqamah ibn Wa'il al-Hadrami
It has been narrated on the authority of Alqamah ibn Wa'il al-Hadrami
who learnt the tradition from his father. The latter said: Salamah ibn
Yazid
al-Ju'afi asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): Prophet of
Allah, what do you think if we have rulers who rule over us and demand
that
we discharge our obligations towards them, but they (themselves) do not
discharge their own responsibilities towards us? What do you order us to
do?
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) avoided giving any answer.
Salamah asked him again. He (again) avoided giving any answer. Then he
asked again--it was the second time or the third time-- when Ash'ath ibn
Qays (find that the Holy Prophet was being unnecessarily pressed for
answer)
pulled him aside and said: Listen to them and obey them, for on them
will be their burden and on you will be your burden.
Sahih Muslim Hadith
Hadith 4546 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As
It has been narrated on the authority of AbdurRahman ibn Abdu Rabb al-Ka'ba
who said: I entered the mosque when Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As was
sitting
in the shade of the Ka'bah and the people had gathered around him. I
betook myself to them and sat near him. (Now) Abdullah said: I
accompanied the
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on a journey. We halted at a
place. Some of us began to erect their tents, others began to compete
with one
another in shooting, and others began to graze their beasts, when an
announcer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) announced that
the
people should gather together for prayer. So we gathered around the
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He said: It was the duty of
every
Prophet that has gone before me to guide his followers to what he knew
was good for them and warn them against what he knew was bad for them.
However,this Ummah of yours has its days of peace and (security) at the
beginning of its career, and in the last phase of its existence it will
be afflicted with
trials and with things disagreeable to you. (In this phase of the Ummah),
there will be tremendous trials, one after the other, each making the
previous one dwindle into insignificance. When they are afflicted with a
trial, the believer will say: This is going to bring about my
destruction.When (the trial) is over, they will be afflicted with another trial and
the believer will say: This surely is going to be my end. Whoever wishes
to be
delivered from the Fire and enter the Garden should die with faith in
Allah and the Last Day and should treat the people as he wishes to be
treated by
them. He who swears allegiance to a Caliph should give him the pledge of
his hand and the sincerity of his heart (i.e. submit to him both
outwardly as
well as inwardly). He should obey him to the best of his capacity. If
another man comes forward (as a claimant to Caliphate), disputing his
authority, they (the Muslims) should behead the latter. The narrator
says: I came close to him (Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As) and said to him:
Can you
say on oath that you heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon
him)? He pointed with his hands to his ears and his heart and said: My
ears
heard it and my mind retained it. I said to him:
This cousin of yours, Mu'awiyah, orders us to consume our wealth unjustly among ourselves and
to
kill one another, while Allah says: "O ye who believe, do not consume
your wealth among yourselves unjustly, unless it be trade based on
mutual
agreement, and do not kill yourselves. Verily, God is Merciful to you"
(iv.29). The narrator says that (on hearing this) Abdullah ibn Amr ibn
al-'As kept quiet for a while and then said: Obey him in so far as he is
obedient to God; and disobey him in matters involving disobedience to
God.
’Umar Ibn Yazeed said: I heard al-Hasan al-Basree during the days of
Yazeed Ibnul-Mahlab, and there came to him a group of people. So he
commanded them to stay in their houses and to close their doors. Then he
said: ‘‘By Allaah! If the people had patience when they were being
tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allaah will
make a way out for them. However, they always rush for their swords, so
they are left to their swords. By Allaah! Not even for a single say did
they bring about any good.’’
It is related by Ibn Sa’d in at-Tabaqaat (8/164), and by Ibn Abee Haatim
in his Tafseer (3/178).
Imaam as-Suyootee said in al-Ishbaah wan-Nadhaa‘ir (p. 87): ‘‘Preventing
mafsadah (harm) is given precedence over procuring maslahah (benefit).’’
Guide Rulers
Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (d.241H) – rahimahullaah – said: “Verily I
supplicate for the ruler, for his correctness, success and support –
night and day – and I see this as being obligatory upon me.’’ Refer to
as-Sunnah (no. 14) of Aboo Bakr al-Khallaal.
Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (d.179H) – rahimahullaah – said: “The right of
every Muslim whom Allaah has blessed with something of knowledge and
understanding (fiqh), is that he enters upon the ruler to command him
with goodness, and to prohibit him from evil, and to admonish him.”
Refer to Tarteebul-Madaarik (1/207-208) of al-Qaadee ’Iyaad. Ibn Abee
Haatim relates in al-Jarh wat-Ta’deel (1/30) from Imaam Maalik, that it
was said to him: ‘Verily you enter upon the ruler whilst they (the
people) are being oppressed (by the ruler)!’ So Maalik said: “May Allaah
have mercy upon you! So where is the person who will speak with the
truth?! Indeed the Messenger of Allaah said: “The most excellent Jihaad
is a truthful word spoken to an oppressive ruler.”
The hadeeth was related by Ibn Maajah (no. 4012), and Ahmad (5/251)
Imaam
’Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Naasir as-Sa’dee (d.1376H) - rahimahullaah - said:
‘‘As for advice to the imaams of the Muslims - and they are their
leaders; from the main leader to the ministers and judges, to everyone
who is appointed over them with a general or specific type of leadership
- then it is to believe (i’taqad) in their leadership, and to listen to
and obey them. And it entails invoking the people to do likewise, and to
strive according to that which is feasible to guide them. And it is to
inform them of everything that benefits them and benefits the people,
and to the establishment of their obligation.’’ Refer to
Bahjatul-Quloobil-Abraar (p. 19).
Imaam Ibn Abee ’Aasim said in Kitaabus-Sunnah (2/251): ‘‘Chapter: How
are the leaders of the common-folk to be advised?’’ And he related: From
Shurayh Ibn ’Ubayd al-Hadramee and other than him who said: ’Iyaad Ibn
Ghunm was whipping a person of a land which was conquered. So Hishaam
Ibn Hakeem spoke harshly with him, until ’Iyaad became angry. So he
stayed the night (like this) through the night, then he came to Hishaam
Ibn Hakeem and sought an excuse from him. Then Hishaam said to ’Iyaad:
Have you not heard the Prophet saying: “Verily the person who shall
suffer the severest punishment is the one who is most severe in
punishing the people in this world.’’ So ’Iyaad Ibn Ghunm said: “O
Hishaam Ibn Hakeem! Indeed we have heard what you have heard, but you
have not heard the statement of the Messenger of Allaah : “Whosoever
wishes to advise the ruler concerning a matter, then let him not do it
openly. Rather, he should take him by the hand and take him into
seclusion. So if he accepts his advice, then he has achieved his
objective, and if he does not accept from him, then he has still
conveyed that which was a duty upon him.” And verily you – O Hishaam –
are a reckless fool – therefore, you dare to come out against the ruler
of Allaah. So why are you not scared that you may be killed by the
ruler, so you will be one who was killed by the ruler of Allaah the
Blessed and Exalted?!” In addition to Ibn Abee ’Aasim, this hadeeth was
also related by Ahmad (3/403).
Imaam Ibn Abil-’Izz (d.729H) – rahimahullaah – said: “We do not say
about a particular individual from amongst the people of the Qiblah,
that he is from the people of Paradise, or from the people of the Fire,
except about those whom the truthful has informed about, that he is from
amongst the people of Paradise, such as the ten who were given glad
tidings of Paradise, may Allaah be pleased with them. And if we say that
whomsoever Allaah wishes to enter into the Hellfire, from amongst the
people who commit major sins will – by necessity – enter the Hellfire,
and that he will be brought out of the Hellfire by the intercession of
those who are entitled to intercede, then we would refrain from
attributing this to a specific individual. So we do not testify for him
that he will enter Paradise, nor that he will enter the Hellfire, except
due to knowledge, because the reality is hidden, and what an individual
dies upon cannot be encompassed by us. However, we do hope for those who
do good, and we fear for those who do evil.’’ Refer to
Sharhul-’Aqeedatit-Tahaawiyyah (p. 378).
Hudhaifah (ra) reports that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said "There
will come leaders who will not follow my guidance and will not follow my
sunnah. There will be amongst them men who will have the hearts of devil
and bodies of humans." He (Hudhaifah asked) "What shall I do, o
Messenger of Allaah if I reach that?" He replied, "you should hear and
obey the ruler even if he flogs your backs and takes your wealth, then
still hear and obey." Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans Vol 3/1029/34554)
Imam al Barbahaaree (d. 329H) said, "Whoever rebels against a Muslim
ruler is one of the Khawaarij, has caused dissent within the Muslims,
has contradicted the narrations and has died the death of the days of
ignorance." (Sharhus-Sunnah [p.42])
The Khawaarij are a group who first appeared in the time of 'Alee (radiallaahu'anhu).
They split from his army and began the grave innovation of takfeer (i.e.
declaring Muslims, rulers or the ruled who are guilty of major sins, to
be disbelievers). The Prophet MUHAMMAD (salallaahu'alayheewasallam)
warned against them in many authentic Ahaadeeth, "The Khawaarij are the
dogs of Hellfire." (Reported by Ahmad and it is Saheeh.)
Al Barbahaaree (d. 329H) also said, "It is not permissible to fight the
ruler or rebel against him even if he oppresses. This is due to the
saying of the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) to Abu
Dharr al Ghifaaree, "Have patience, even if he (i.e. the Ameer) is an
Abyssinian slave," (Reported by Muslim.)
Allah Knows Best
|