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]
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) The legitimate Muslim ruler should establish justice among his subjects and be merciful and compassionate to them.
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.
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) 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) 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.”
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]
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.”
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.”
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1) Rulers are warned against cheating their subjects, betraying them, and neglecting their rights.
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?
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) 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) 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) 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.
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]
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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) 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) 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.
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]
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1) It warns those who assume some authority over Muslims against treating them violently and making things hard for them.
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) The best of subjects are those who adopt an easy lenient approach and can reach their goals without resorting to violence.
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]
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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) 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.