Re: A GREAT Loss (Are you involved)
It is an accepted fact among the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah that to challenge authority is generally not permissible.
Imam al-Tahawi (Allah have mercy on him) states in his famous al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya:
“We do not recognize uprising against our Imam or those in charge of our affairs even if they are unjust, nor do we wish evil on them, nor do we withdraw from following them. We hold that obedience to them is part of obedience to Allah, The Glorified, and is therefore obligatory as long as they do not order us to commit sins. We pray for their guidance and their wrongdoings to be pardoned”. (al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya with the Sharh of al-Ghunaymi, P. 110-111).
The commentators of al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya have mentioned many evidences for this. Allama al-Ghunaymi al-Maydani and other commentators on this work elaborated on this topic by mentioning the relevant evidences.
Allah Most High says:
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“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged
with authority among you” (al-Nisa, 59).
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Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger
of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah,
and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah. And whoever obeys my ruler (amir),
obeys me, and whoever disobeys my ruler, disobeys me” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no.
6718 & Sahih Muslim, no. 1835).
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Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the
Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Listen to and obey
your ruler, even if he is an Abyssinian slave whose head looks like a raisin”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6723 & Sahih Muslim).
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Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger
of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Whoever sees his ruler doing
something he disapproves of, he should be patient, for no one separates from
the (Muslim) group even for a span and then dies, except that he will die a
death of (pre-Islamic) ignorance. (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6724 & Sahih Muslim,
no. 1849).
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Sayyiduna Abd Allah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger
of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “A Muslim must listen to
and obey (the order of his ruler) in things that he likes or dislikes, as long
as he is not ordered to commit a sin. If he is ordered to disobey Allah, then
there is no listening and no obedience. (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6725 & Sahih
Muslim, no. 1839).
The above evidences are clear in establishing the fact that one must obey
the ruler even if he is corrupt or a sinner (fasiq). The reason for this, in
the words of Allama al-Ghunaymi, is that, there have been many corrupt rulers
in Islamic history and never did the predecessors (salaf) rebel against
them, rather they used to submit to their rule and establish Jumu’ah and Eid
prayers with their permission. Also, piety is not a pre-requisite for leadership.
(Sharh al-Ghunaymi, p. 110).
Other scholars emphasize that uprising against corrupt leadership results
in more tribulation and destruction then the initial oppression of the ruler.
With forbearance and tolerance, one’s sins will be forgiven. And in reality,
the corrupt ruler is imposed by Allah due to our own wrongdoings, thus it becomes
necessary that we repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness coupled with good actions,
as Allah Most High says: “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of
the things your hands have wrought” (42:30)…….. And He says: “Thus do we make
the wrongdoers turn to each other, because of what they earn” (6:129). Therefore,
if a nation wants to free themselves from the oppression of their leader, they
must refrain themselves from oppressing others.
**However, if the ruler commands to do something that is a sin, then there **
**is no obedience, as mentioned earlier in light of the many evidences found in **
**the Sunnah. **
**Also, uprising and challenging a corrupt ruler becomes permissible when **
**he openly transgresses in a way that his action is not open to any interpretation, **
provided one has the means to do so.
www.sunnipath.com
know best.
during the Khutba on a maal-e-ghaneemat dispute.(clothing for the shirt)