Surah Nisa, ayat 59
O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the messenger and Ulil Amr (those in authority) from among you.
Who can be Ulil Amr and what are its responsibilities?
Can State ba Ulil Amr? If yes, is it necessary to follow it? Any conditions, where Muslim subjects of a state can revolt against state (being Ulil Amr)
Re: Ulil Amr and Its responsibilities
Yes ulil amar is the state but please note that the word 'obey' that comes before Allah and the Messenger is omitted before the 'ulil amr'. It means the word of Allah and sunnah of the prophet are the prime things to follow. One must be a good citizen of the state he is living in and if there are differences between the ruler and ruled, Quran and sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) must be consulted for the resolution of that state.
As to the 2nd question, before opting for revolt, why not follow the sunnah and migrate from that land?
Re: Ulil Amr and Its responsibilities
Uol-ul-Amr - Is the collective entitlement for all of the ameer's of all of the groups. The ones who issue out "instruction". This infers that you have "given" them authority, either by signing a contract/constitution, giving bayah, or being born to them. So it includes parents and teachers here too.
Police and Ulema are included.
The responsibility of the Uol-ul-Amr is to uphold the obedience to RasoolAllah (SAW) and all including RasoolAllah (SAW) are instructed to obey Allah (SWT).
Re: Ulil Amr and Its responsibilities
Peace Muqawwee,
This verse was revealed about 'Abdullah bin Hudhafah bin Qays bin Adi, who the Prophet PBUH sent on a military expedition and he was the inchage i.e., 'one who is in authority', who ordered his group to do this or that but they didn't obeyed them. When our Prophet PBUH came to know about this incident, He PBUH told to the you had to obey the incharge because obedience are only in righteousness.
A Muslim should hear and obey in which he likes and dislikes, unless he was commanded to sin. When he is commanded to sin, then there is no hearing or obeying.
It is also recorded in Sahihs, that "whoever obeys me (Prophet PBUH), obeys Almighty Allah and whoever disobey me, disobey Almighty Allah. Furthermore 'whoever obeys my commander, obeys me, and whoever disobeys my commander, disobeys me". That is why Almighty Allah said: "Obey Allah, adhere to His Book and obey the Messenger PBUH, adhere to his Sunnah.
"And those of you who are in authority" - in the obedience to Almighty Allah which they command you, not what constitutes disobedience of Almighty Allah, for there is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Almighty Allah.
Re: Ulil Amr and Its responsibilities
Yes ulil amar is the state but please note that the word 'obey' that comes before Allah and the Messenger is omitted before the 'ulil amr'. It means the word of Allah and sunnah of the prophet are the prime things to follow. One must be a good citizen of the state he is living in and if there are differences between the ruler and ruled, Quran and sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) must be consulted for the resolution of that state. As to the 2nd question, before opting for revolt, why not follow the sunnah and migrate from that land?
I think following the Messenger is also connected with following Allah, as Prophets don't say to follow anything with their personal choices. By this analogy, if Ulil amr (having authority) make you follow Quran and Sunnah, then they should not be disobeyed.
Yes migration is always an option, but for the weaker ones, after they have tied their best and there remain no option other than migration.
Re: Ulil Amr and Its responsibilities
I think following the Messenger is also connected with following Allah, as Prophets don't say to follow anything with their personal choices. By this analogy, if Ulil amr (having authority) make you follow Quran and Sunnah, then they should not be disobeyed.
Yes agreed. but if you are staying in a state that is not based on Quran and sunnah or a non-muslim state and you have taken oath of loyalty to the state, then you must live as a good and peaceful citizen as long as it is possible or try to bring change through peaceful means. or if nothing works out, better to migrate to a better place to live. Early muslims did migrate to Ethiopia (non-muslim state) and they stayed there as peaceful subjects. The point is that to be a good practicing muslim, you don't need to have a mullah at the top. A state is a machinery whose responsibility is to provide peace to its citizens, social and judicial justice, and space for them so that they can live according to their faith. A huge number of contemporary muslims have opted to live in Americas, Europe etc where the state is not Islamic but perhaps for the reason that these states are better than current muslim states wrt state functions as I highlighted above.