قال الله تعالىٰ: {وَٱخفِض جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلمُؤمِنِينَ} [الشعراء: 215]، وقال تعالىٰ: {إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأمُرُ بِٱلعَدلِ وَٱلإِحسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآيِٕ ذِي ٱلقُربَىٰ وَيَنهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلفَحشَآءِ وَٱلمُنكَرِ وَٱلبَغيِ يَعِظُكُم لَعَلَّكُم تَذَكَّرُونَ} [النحل: 90].
Allah Almighty says: {And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.} [Ash-Shu‘arā’: 215] He also says: {Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you, so that you may take heed.} [An-Nahl: 90]
يجب علىٰ ولاة الأمور ــ القائمون بأمر الشرع ــ الرفق بالرعية، والإحسان إليهم، ودفع الشر عنهم، وغير ذلك مما تقوم به مصالحهم، ويجب علىٰ الرعية السمع والطاعة لهم في غير المعصية، كما ويجب النصح لهم، وعدم إثارة الناس عليهم، وطيّ مساوئهم وبيان محاسنهم؛ لأن نشر مساوئ ولاة الأمور أمام الناس لا يزيد الأمر إلا شدّة، فتحمل صدور الناس الكراهية والبغضاء لهم، وهذا يؤدي إلىٰ تفرّق الأمة وتمزّقها.
Muslim rulers, who apply the Shariah, should be gentle and kind to their subjects and should keep evils away from them and serve their interests. The subjects should also listen to them and obey, unless a sin is involved, and they should render sincere advice to them and not incite people against them. They should also conceal their faults and highlight their good traits and deeds. Indeed, disclosing the faults of the rulers to people only makes things worse and more intense. Thus, people begin to hold grudge and rancor against them, which leads to disunity and dissension within the Muslim nation.
1) علىٰ ولي الأمر الشرعي أن يقيم العدل في رعيته، وأن يكون رحيماً شفوقاً بهم.
1) The legitimate Muslim ruler should establish justice among his subjects and be merciful and compassionate to them.
2) النهي عن كلّ ما يُستفحش من الذنوب شرعاً وعُرفاً، وعن كلّ ما يُنكر، وعن البغي، فالواجب علىٰ أهل الإيمان (العامة وولاة الأمور) رعاية هذه الحقوق.
2) The verses prohibit all the sins that are reprehensible and frowned upon in the Shariah and according to customs and traditions. They also prohibit oppression. The believers – both the rulers and the ruled – must observe these rights.
1/653 ــ وعن ابنِ عُمرَ رضي الله عنهما قال: سمِعْتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «كُلُّكُم رَاعٍ، وكُلُّكُم مَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رعِيَّتِهِ: الإمَامُ راعٍ وَمَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِه، وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ في أَهْلِهِ وَمَسؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَالمَرأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ في بَيْتِ زَوجِهَا وَمَسؤُولةٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهَا، وَالخَادِمُ رَاعٍ في مالِ سَيِّده وَمَسؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَكُلُّكُم رَاعٍ وَمَسؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ». متفقٌ عليه.
653/1 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian of his family and responsible for his subjects; the woman is a guardian in her husband’s house and responsible for her subjects; a servant is guardian of his master’s property and responsible for his subjects. So, all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) بيان مسؤولية الإمام في رعيته؛ بأن يجلب لهم كلّ خير، ويدفع عنهم كلّ شرّ.
1) It shows the responsibility of the ruler towards his subjects. He should bring all good to them and keep every evil away from them.
2) إن تضييع أمر المسلمين فيه تضييعٌ للوصيّة النبوية « كلُّكم راعٍ وكلُّكم مسؤولٌ عن رعيته».
2) Neglecting the affairs and interests of Muslims is deemed non-compliance with the Prophet’s instruction: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects.”
2/654ــ وعن أبي يَعْلىٰ مَعْقِلِ بنِ يَسَارٍ رضي الله عنه قال: سمعتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «ما مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَستَرعِيهِ اللهُ رعِيَّةً، يَمُوتُ يَومَ يَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لِرَعِيَّتِهِ، إلَّا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ الجَنَّةَ». متفقٌ عليه.
654/2 - Abu Ya‘la Ma‘qil ibn Yasār (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “There is no person whom Allah has put in a position of authority and he dies on the day he dies cheating those under his authority except that Allah will forbid Paradise for him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
وفي روايةٍ: «فَلَمْ يَحُطْهَا بِنُصْحِه لَمْ يَجِدْ رَائحَةَ الجَنَّةِ».
In another version: “... and he does not look after his subjects with goodwill and sincerity, he will be deprived [even] of the fragrance of Paradise.”
وفي روايةٍ لمسلم: «ما مِن أَمِير يَلِي أُمورَ المُسلِمِينَ، ثُمَّ لا يَجْهَد لَهُم، ويَنْصَحُ لَهُم، إلَّا لَمْ يَدخُل مَعَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ».
In a version by Muslim: “Any ruler who is in charge of the affairs of Muslims then he does not strive diligently for their betterment and does not serve them sincerely will not enter Paradise with them.”
يسترعيه: يفوّض إليه رعاية وسياسة رعيته.
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لا يجهد لهم: يتعب من أجلهم.
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1) التحذير من غش الرعية، وخيانتهم وتضييع حقوقهم.
1) Rulers are warned against cheating their subjects, betraying them, and neglecting their rights.
2) من النصيحة لمن ولَّاهم الله أمر الناس، أن يسلك بهم الطريق التي فيها صلاحهم في معادهم ومعاشهم، ويمنع عنهم كلّ ما يضرّهم في دينهم ودنياهم. فمثلاً: يمنع عنهم الأفكار السيِّئة، وأبواب الشيطان عبر وسائل الإعلام، فهل من متعظ؟!.
2) Part of the sincerity that should be shown by the rulers towards their subjects is that they should take them through the path that serves their worldly and religious interests and keep them away from all that harms them in terms of their religion and worldly affairs. For example, they should prevent evil ideas and the ways of Satan from reaching them through the media outlets. Is there anyone to take heed?
3/655ــ وعن عائشةَ رضي الله عنها قالت: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول في بَيتي هذَا: «اللهمَّ مَن وَلِيَ مِن أَمر أُمَّتي شَيْئاً، فَشَقَّ عَلَيهم، فَاشقُقْ عليه، وَمَن وَلِيَ مِنْ أمرِ أُمَّتي شَيْئاً، فَرَفَقَ بِهِم، فَارفُقْ بِهِ». رواه مسلم.
655/3 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “O Allah, whoever rules over my Ummah and makes things hard for them, make things hard for him; and whoever rules over my Ummah and is compassionate to them, be compassionate to him.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) الجزاء من جنس العمل؛ فمَنْ شقّ علىٰ أمة النَّبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شقّ الله عليه، ومن رفق بهم رفق الله به.
1) Recompense for a deed should be of the same nature of the deed. So, if a person makes things hard for the Prophet’s Ummah, Allah will make things hard for him, and vice versa.
2) حرص الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم علىٰ سلامة أمته من بعده، وإظهار شفقته عليهم.
2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was keen on preserving the safety and welfare of his Ummah after his death, which shows his compassion towards them.
3) الرفق: أن تسير بالناس حسب أمر الله تعالىٰ وأمر رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وأن تسلك بهم أقرب الطرق وأيسرها، ولا تشقّ عليهم في إيجاب شيء ليس واجباً في الشريعة. أو منع أمر قد أذنت به الشريعة.
3) To be compassionate towards people is to direct them according to the commands of Allah and His Messenger, to take them through the easier and shorter way, and to not make things hard for them by ordaining on them what is not obligatory under the Shariah or preventing them from what is sanctioned by the Shariah.
4/656ــ وعن أبي هريرةَ رضي الله عنه قال: قَالَ رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «كَانَت بَنُو إسرائيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ، كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيٌّ خلَفَهُ نَبِيٌّ، وَإنَّهُ لا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي، وَسَيَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ فَيَكْثُرُونَ. قالوا: يَا رسولَ الله، فَمَا تَأْمُرُنا؟ قال: أَوْفُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الأَوَّلِ فالأَوَّلِ، أَعْطُوهُم حَقَّهُم، وَاسأَلوا الله الَّذي لَكُم، فإنَّ اللهَ سَائِلُهُم عَمَّا استَرعاهُم». مُتَّفق عَلَيْه.
656/4 Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Children of Israel were ruled by prophets. Whenever a prophet died, another would succeed him. Verily, there will be no prophet after me, but there will be caliphs (successors) who will increase in number.” The Companions said: “O Messenger of Allah, what do you command us to do?” He said: “Fulfill the pledge of allegiance that is sworn first and then the next. Give them their due rights and ask Allah for what is yours. Allah will call them to account with respect to the subjects whom He had entrusted to them.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
تسوسهم الأنبياء: أي تُبعث فيهم، فيُصلحون أحوالهم ويرعون شؤونهم.
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أوفوا ببيعة الأوّل: الزموا بيعته، وأدّوا حقّ طاعته.
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1) دين الله ــ وهو دين الإسلام الصالح لكلِّ مكان وزمان ــ فيه الشريعة المرضية، والسياسة الشرعية، فالإسلام شريعة وسياسة، ومن فرّق بين السياسة النافعة، والشريعة النبوية، لم يفقه نظام التشريع ومقاصده.
1) The religion of Allah is Islam, which is suitable for every age and place. It comprises both the Shariah (legislation) and politics. He who differentiates between sound political leadership and the Prophetic Shariah has no proper understanding of the system and objectives of legislation in Islam.
2) أولو الأمر في هذه الأمة هم العلماء والخلفاء، ولا بد للرعية من قائم يقوم بأمرها، ويحملها علىٰ الطريق المستقيم، ويكفيها شرّ الظالمين.
2) People of authority in this Ummah are the scholars and the rulers. It is necessary for people to have those who manage their affairs, lead them to the right path, and save them from the evil of wrongdoers.
3) عظم مسؤولية الإمام، فإن الله سيسأله عمّا فعل في ولايته وعن رعيته، فَلْينظر أين يضع قدمه؟!.
3) The ruler has a great responsibility, and Allah Almighty will question him as to what he did with regard to his authority and those he ruled. So, he should look before he leaps.
5/657ــ وعن عائِذِ بنِ عمروٍ رضي الله عنه أنّه دَخَلَ عَلىٰ عُبَيْـدِ الله بن زِيَادٍ، فقال له: أَيْ بُنـَيَّ! إنِّي سَمِعْتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «إنَّ شَرَّ الرِّعَاءِ الحُطَمَةُ»، فَإيَّاكَ أن تكُونَ مِنْهُم. متفقٌ عليه.
657/5 - ‘Ā’idh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he visited ‘Ubaydullāh ibn Ziyād and said to him: “Dear son, I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘The worst of rulers are those who treat their subjects harshly.’ So, beware of becoming one of them.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
الرِّعاء: جمع راعٍ.
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الحُطَمة: الذي يحطم الناس ويشقّ عليهم ويؤذيهم.
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1) الحذر من العنف لمن ولاه الله أمراً من أمور المسلمين.
1) It warns those who assume some authority over Muslims against treating them violently and making things hard for them.
2) وجوب رفق الوالي بالرعية، مع كونه يستعمل الحزم والقوة والنشاط،فهو ليِّنٌ من غير ضعف، وحازمٌ من غير عنف.
2) A ruler is required to treat his subjects kindly, along with acting in a firm, strong, and active manner. He should be lenient but not weak and firm but not harsh.
3) خير الرعيّة الليّن السهل، الذي يصل إلىٰ مقصوده دون عنف.
3) The best of subjects are those who adopt an easy lenient approach and can reach their goals without resorting to violence.
6/658ــ وعن أَبي مَريمَ الأزدِيِّ رضي الله عنه أنه قال لِمُعَاوِيَة رضي الله عنه: سَمِعتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «مَنْ وَلَّاه شَيْئاً مِن أمورِ المُسلِمِينَ، فَاحتَجَبَ دُونَ حَاجَتِهِم وخَلَّتِهِم وفَقرِهِم، احتَجَبَ اللهُ دُونَ حَاجَتِه وخَلَّتِهِ وفَقرِهِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ » فَجَعَلَ مُعَاوِية رجُلاً علىٰ حَوَائجِ الناسِ. رواه أبو داود والترمذي.
658/6 - Abu Maryam al-Azdi reported that he said to Mu‘āwiyah (may Allah be pleased with both of them): I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “If Allah puts anyone in the position of authority over the affairs of Muslims and he keeps them away, not meeting their needs, deficiencies, and poverty, Allah will keep him away, not fulfilling his needs, deficiencies, and poverty on the Day of Judgment.” As a consequence, Mu‘āwiyah appointed a man in charge of people’s needs. [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi]
خَلَّتِهم: الحاجة والفقر.
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1) الجزاء من جنس العمل؛ فمن احتجب عن العبادِ، احتجب الله عنه يوم التناد.
1) Recompense for a deed should be of the same nature of the deed. So, if a ruler screens himself from his subjects, Allah Almighty will screen Himself from him on the Day of Resurrection.
2) سرعة استجابة الصحابة رضي الله عنهم للالتزام بسنّة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وتعظيمهم لها، ولنا فيهم أسوة حسنة، فَاحرصْ يا أخي علىٰ الالتزام بهدي النَّبيِّ عليه الصَّلاة والسَّلام، وهدي صحابته رضي الله عنهم.
2) It shows how the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would readily adhere to and respect the Prophet’s Sunnah. We have a good example in them. We should be keen to follow the guidance of the Prophet and his Companions.