The leader is a shield

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“Verily, the leader is a shield behind whom they fight and he protects them. If he commands (people to) fear Allah, The Exalted, and justice, then he will have a reward. If he commands something else, then it will be against him”. [ Muslim 1841]

“The leader is a shield”.

Imam An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

He is like a shelter because he prevents the enemy from harming the Muslims, prevents the people from (harming) one another, protects the Muslim nation, and the people fear his authority.

“Behind whom they fight”.

Meaning, alongside him, they fight against the unbelievers (i.e. those at war with his country), the rebels, the kharijites and all the perpetrators of corruption and oppression.

Sharh Sahih Muslim 12/193. Publisher, Dar Al-Kotob al-Ilmiyyah.