Obedience to The Ruler and His Deputies

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Allah said:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّواْ ٱلۡأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُواْ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۤ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡ‌ۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً

Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching that He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer and All-Seer. O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [An-Nisaa. 58-59]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

The first verse, according to the scholars, was revealed in relation to the rulers; it commands them to return trusts to those to whom they are due and to judge justly between the people.

The second verse was revealed in reference to those who are under the ruler’s authority, including the armies and others, that it is obligated to them to obey the rulers who uphold justice in their distributions, rulings, military campaigns, and other matters, with the exception of times when they give one orders to disobey Allah, as there cannot be obedience to the creation in disobedience Allah.

And if they disagree on anything, they should refer back to Allah’s Book and His Messenger’s Sunnah. If the rulers fail to do this, then they will only be obeyed in accordance with obeying Allah and His Messenger, and their rights will be fulfilled in accordance with what Allah and His Messenger instructed, with the result that they will be supported in righteousness and piety but not in sin and transgression. [(1)]

The Main Ruler and His Deputies

Reader: Chapter: Listening to and Obeying the Imām as Long as It Is Not Disobedience.

The Shaikh (i.e. Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin): The author’s statement, “Chapter: Listening to and Obeying the Imām (Leader),” according to the people of knowledge, is that the Imām is the highest authority of the state, and whoever acts on his behalf comes under the same ruling, due to the statement of the Prophet ﷺ mentioned earlier: “Whoever obeys his leader has indeed obeyed me.”

Therefore, the deputies and representatives of the ruler, such as ministers, governors, directors, heads of departments, and those similar to them, are all included in this obedience. Their obedience is included in obedience to the Imām because they act according to his instructions and commands. Whatever they command has the ruling of what the Imām has commanded. Neither is it permissible to rebel against them nor disobey them (i.e. the deputies), but (not to obey them) when they command disobedience to Allah.

However, if they make a mistake or deviate from what is right, we refer the matter to whoever is above them. If he (the deputy) rectifies the matter and corrects them, then that is sufficient. Otherwise, we refer it to whoever is above him, until the matter reaches the Imām. Then one stops there. [2]

None Is Allowed to Make Khuruj, Neither Outsiders Nor Those Within The Government

https://legacy.safeshare.tv/x/idHgIctajq

Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Indeed, you will see Atharatan after me and affairs you’ll disapprove; they [i.e. the people] said, ‘What do you command us O Allah’s Messenger?’ He said, ‘Fulfil their rights [i.e. the rulers] and ask Allah for your rights'”.

Al-Allamah Zaid Bin Hadi Al-Madkhali [may Allah have mercy upon him] said:

This authentic hadith is related to the affair of the rulers- during the end of time – when they will give precedence to themselves through enjoyment of the worldly things and those under their authority will face harm, something of oppression and tyranny; so the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] guided and directed the people to fulfil the rights of the rulers; obey and listen to them in that which is good- whether it is during a time in which one is enthusiastic [to listen and obey them in what is good] or feeling lackadaisical- perform Jihad behind their banner against the enemies of the religion, establish the prayer and behave in a manner obligated by the Islamic legislation. They should not rebel against the ruler just because he is a sinner or an oppressor, nor refrain from giving him the rights obligated on them to give him; rather they should fulfil his rights just as the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] commanded them, saying, “Fulfil their rights”.

Therefore, the ruler has rights that should be fulfilled by his subjects and the subjects also have rights to be fulfilled by the ruler. It is obligated on the ruler to fulfil their rights and it is obligated on them to fulfil his rights. However, if he [i.e. the ruler] falls short in something related to their rights, it is not permissible for them to [deliberately] fall short in fulfilling his rights. And due to the great importance of rulership and the rulers, indeed the Prophet commanded them to fulfil the obligation of As-Sam’i wat-Taa’ah [i.e. to listen and obey the ruler in good], refrain from disobedience [when commanded to do something good], supplicate to Allah to make their affairs easy and change their state of affairs to that which is good, aid them to fulfil their needs and those affairs they cannot do without.

This hadith contains a miracle of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and that is the fact that he clearly stated that during the end of time, the rulers will give precedence to themselves with something of wealth and worldly enjoyment, and others will be deprived of it. Also, there will be affairs which the people of sound judgement will reject. [So], when this era comes, it is obligated on them – those under the rulership of a Muslim ruler – to listen and obey in that which is good, fulfil the rights that have been obligated on them to fulfil and seek their rights from Allah – meaning: they supplicate to Allah to aid them in fulfilling their needs and facilitate them with ease in their affairs. And Allah knows best. [3]

Supplicating For The Rulers

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “I hold that the leader of the believers is to be obeyed (in good) in private and public, in my times of hardship and ease, in my times of enthusiasm and when I dislike doing something (i.e. something that’s not unlawful, but one does not like to do it, however he must do it in obedience to the ruler), and when others are given precedence over me. Indeed, I supplicate to Allah – night and day – for him to be successful and guided”. [4]

Abdus Samad Bin Yazid Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: I heard Al-Fudayl Bin Iyaad, may Allah have mercy upon him, saying, “If I had a supplication that would be accepted, I would not make it except for the leader”. It was said to him, “O father of Ali! Why is that?” He said, “When I make it for myself, it would be only for me, but if I make it for the leader, the rectification (or righteousness) of the leader would consequently result in the rectification of the people and the country”. It was said to him, “O father of Ali! How is that? Explain this to us”. He said, “As for the wellbeing of the land, if the people are safe from the ruler’s tyranny, they will develop abandoned areas and settle in the land. And with regards to the rectification of the people, one observes the affair of a people among the ignoramuses and says, ‘They have been distracted by the pursuit of livelihood rather than seeking what will benefit them with regards to learning the Qur’an and other things’. So, he gathers them together in a house – fifty in number, less or more, and says to a man, ‘You have what will make your affair upright and teach these people their religion’. Then you’ll see what Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, brings forth from among them that would make the land righteous (and prosperous, thrive, flourish, etc) and that would return to them (i.e. they’ll receive its benefits). This would be the rectification of the people and the country”. Imam Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him, kissed Imam Fudayl’s forehead and said, “O teacher of goodness! Who else (i.e. among us) would be able to (say or do) this better than you?!” [5]

[1] An Excerpt from ‘As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah. pages 16-18

[2] Source: https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=51744 paraphrased

[3] at-Taleeqaat Al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. 1/142]

[4] Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah 14/413

[5] Hilyah Al-Awliya 8/91