Allah Almighty says: {O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you} [Al-Nisā’: 59]
Those in authority fall under two categories: the scholars and the rulers.
- The scholars are in authority over Muslims in terms of explaining the Shariah and conveying it to the Ummah.
- The rulers are in authority in terms of establishing the Shariah and obliging people to adhere to it. The rulers can only be established through the scholars. As they know the Shariah, they apply it to people, thus serving the interests of the individuals and the Ummah, through the guiding Book and the supportive power. {And sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper.}
1) Obedience to those in authority is part of the Shariah, not separate from it. As for obeying Allah and obeying His Messenger, it is something separate; that is why Allah Almighty repeats the verb ‘obey’: {Obey Allah and obey the Messenger}
2. The judgment of Allah Almighty is above those in authority; if they command anything in disobedience to Him, they are not to be obeyed.
663/1 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A Muslim must listen and obey concerning what he likes and hates, unless he is ordered to commit a sin. If he is ordered to commit a sin, then he should neither listen nor obey.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
664/2 - He also reported: “Whenever we gave the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) the pledge of allegiance to listen and obey, he would say to us: ‘To the best of your ability.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) A Muslim should obey those in authority in what he likes or dislikes, unless he is ordered to commit a sin, in which case he should not obey them.
2) Invalidity of the approach of those who say: We only obey those in authority in things commanded by Allah Almighty. This is because the Shariah prescribes that we should obey them to the best of our ability, and because disobedience to them leads to many public evils.
The commands of those in authority fall under three categories:
First: They command what Allah commanded. In such a case, obedience is due to them for two reasons:
because Allah commanded it, and because they commanded it.
Second: They command the commission of a sin. In such a case, they should neither be listened to nor obeyed with regard to that sin, yet obedience is due to them in other than sin.
Third: They command something that does not involve divine commands or prohibitions. In such a case, they are to be obeyed because obedience brings about welfare, unity, and mercy.
665/3 - He also reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever withdraws his hand from obedience without valid reason, when he stands before Allah on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever dies without having sworn allegiance, will die the death of those of the Period of Ignorance.” [Narrated by Muslim]
In another version: “Whoever dies while leaving the community shall die the death of those of the Period of Ignorance.”
1) The obligation to adhere to the Muslim community and give the pledge of allegiance to their leader; and the prohibition of revolting against the legitimate ruler.
2) The immense importance of the pledge of allegiance, given the interests achieved by it; and the warning against breaking it, given the resultant evils.
666/4 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave, whose head is like a raisin, was appointed as a ruler over you.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
667/5 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is obligatory upon you to listen and obey at times of adversity and at times of prosperity, whether you are willing or unwilling, and even when someone else is given undue preference over you.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) A person should listen to the ruler and obey him regardless of his color or race.
2) Continuing to listen and obey the Muslim ruler even if he denies the rights of the subjects. Denial of rights by rulers does not preclude obedience to them.
668/6 - ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “We accompanied the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on a journey. We stopped at a place to rest. Some of us began to fix their tents, others were competing in archery, while others were grazing their animals. The announcer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) announced that people should gather for prayer. We gathered around the Messenger of Allah and he addressed us, saying: ‘Every prophet before me was under obligation to guide his followers to what he knew was good for them and to warn them against what he knew was evil. As for this Ummah of yours, it will have a sound state in its early stage of existence; but the last phase of its existence will be faced with trials and with things you do not recognize. There will be trials, one after another, with the next trial being far more tremendous than the previous one. Whenever a trial comes, the believer will say: “This is going to bring about my destruction.” When this passes, another trial will approach and he will say: “This is it! This is it!” Whosoever wishes to be removed from Hellfire and admitted to Paradise should die believing in Allah and the Last Day, and he should treat others as he wishes to be treated. He who swears allegiance to a ruler and gives him the pledge from his heart should obey him to the best of his ability. If another comes forward to dispute his authority (and take his place), strike that other person’s neck.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Demonstrating the methodology of the prophets and messengers (may Allah exalt their mention) in their keenness to give sincere advice to their peoples and guide them to what is good. Likewise, the scholars and knowledge seekers should clarify what is good to people and urge them to do it and clarify what is evil and warn them against it.
2) A believer should be patient and expect the divine reward for that, and he should turn to Allah Almighty and seek refuge with Him at times of trials.
3) The duty to obey the legitimate ruler and fight any group who rebels against him, so as to maintain the unity of Muslims and prevent disunity.
669/7 - Abu Hunaydah Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Salamah ibn Yazīd al-Ju‘fi asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): ‘O Prophet of Allah, if we have rulers who demand their rights from us but they do not give us our rights, what would you order us to do?’ The Prophet turned his face away (without giving an answer). He repeated the question, so the Prophet said: ‘Listen and obey, for verily, they will be held accountable for what they are responsible for and you will be held accountable for what you are responsible for.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
670/8 - ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘You will see after me favoritism and things which you will disapprove of.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you order us to do then?’ He replied: ‘Fulfill the rights that are upon you and ask Allah for your rights.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) Every person is responsible for their deeds and will be held accountable for their shortcomings. An error should not be corrected with another error. So, a ruler’s negligence in his duties does not give the subjects justification to be negligent in their duties.
2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed of the evils that the leaders and rulers would do with regard to the Shariah, and that Muslims are required to give them advice and endure their harm patiently.
3) The evil done by rulers is only a reflection of the subjects’ deeds. “As you are, so shall be your rulers.” {Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people, until they change what is in themselves.}
671/9 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah; and whoever obeys the leader has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the leader has disobeyed me.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) Obedience to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is part of obedience to Allah Almighty. So, if he commanded something, then it is part of the Shariah.
2) Obedience to Muslim rulers is part of compliance with the Shariah. So, they should be obeyed except for sins. Obeying them in what is good is a pious act for which people are rewarded.
672/10 - Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever disapproves of something done by his ruler should be patient, for he who disobeys the ruler even for a span (a little) will die as those of the Period of Ignorance.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) Whoever departs from the Muslim group is prone to deviance in his heart, until this sin leads to his setback and he dies those of the Period of Ignorance, for the people of ignorance do not have leader to unite them in obedience.
2) It is not permissible to oppose the rulers or speak badly about them among the public in a way that stirs spite and rancor. Evil should not be repelled by evil, but by goodness. Indeed, patience leads to benign consequences.
673/11 - Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Whoever insults the ruler, Allah will insult him.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; and he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
There are lots of authentic Hadīths in this regard.
1) If a person insults the Muslim ruler by defaming him and announces his flaws among the people, he will be subject to insult from Allah Almighty; a punishment similar to what he committed.
2) Insulting a Muslim ruler makes him look weak and undermines respect for the Shariah. Indeed, applying the Shariah honors the legislation.