Allegiance to the Muslim Authorities and its Effect on the Stability of the Ummah

ijk Allegiance to the Muslim Authorities and its Effect on the Stability of the Ummah Khutbah from al-masjid al-haraam delivered by ash-shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan as-sudays 24 Rabee ath-thaanee, 1436h (13 February, 2015) Translated by Aboo Shaybah 1

Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His assistance, and ask His forgiveness. He decreed perfect laws, and His creatures in every place submit to Him. O Allaah, You deserve all praise for creating us, guiding us, providing for us, blessing us with safety, uniting us, and granting us all we ask of You. Thus, You deserve continuous praise and gratitude. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner. He explained to us the rights of the authorities, as well as the responsibility of the general public to obey and remain united with them. I further testify that our Prophet Muhammad is Allaah s worshipping servant and Messenger. He was the most noble of callers to Allaah, and his example is the one to be followed. O Allaah send salaah and abundant salaam upon him, his family and Companions the best of all who emulated him as well as upon all who follow their path. Servants of Allaah, I counsel you all as well as myself to strive to draw nearer to Allaah by being grateful Him for guiding us to Islaam and bestowing His blessings upon us. Observe taqwaa of Him as He rightfully deserves, in private and public. People of eemaan, observe taqwaa of Allaah. Each soul must look to what it has prepared for tomorrow. Observe taqwaa of Allaah, as He is most certainly aware of all you do. When someone observes taqwaa of Allaah in his deeds and opposes the insatiable appetite of his soul, he successfully attains all good in this world and will be granted an elevated rank in Jannah. Dear Muslims, our exemplary Sharee ah (i.e. the system of directives we have in Islaam) seeks to achieve the most admirable objectives and purify our souls from all ills. The laws of Islaam are the last that will be revealed by Allaah and they comprehensively address all matters of life. They comprise the blessed Message that is characterized by flexibility and progress, and has endured throughout the developments and changes that appeared over the course of history. Allaah said, We revealed the Qur aan to you as an explanation of all things, and as guidance, mercy, and glad tidings to those who submit to Allaah in Islaam. Among the virtuous qualities of the Sharee ah is its tireless endeavour to rectify affairs of mankind in this world and the hereafter. It produces the greatest good and guidance for people, placing tremendous emphasis on upholding the undeniable truth and averting all adversities and ills. Among the foundational directives given great importance and precedence by the Sharee ah are the issues of leadership, authority, and governing by the illustrious laws of Islaam and methods used by the rightly-guided Khulafaa. Dear Muslims, if the public does not have a leader in authority, the directives of Islaam would not be upheld, people would be in chaos, rights of the underprivileged would be lost, and Hajj would no longer be performed. Al-Imaam Ahmad? said, Turmoil exists when there is no leader to govern the people. Al-Imaam al-maawardee? said, Imaamah (i.e. leadership) is a foundation upon which the basic principles of Islaam are built. It serves the best interests of the Ummah and brings about order in all matters for individuals and people as a whole. This is why establishing leadership is a primary concern of this religion. The Messenger of Allaah r laid out its principles by saying, If three people set out on a journey, they must choose one as leader. (Collected by Aboo Daawood with a saheeh chain of narration). Our Lord said in His perfect revelation, People of eemaan, obey Allaah, obey His Messenger, and those in authority over you. Al-Imaam ibn Taymiyyah? said, This aayah was revealed addressing the citizens. They must obey authority so long as they are not told to disobey Allaah. This was the sound course tread by the Companions after the Prophet r passed away. The Companions gathered at Saqeefah Banee Saa idah and pledged allegiance to Aboo Bakr as-siddeeq t prior to preparing the body of the Prophet r for burial. Despite the gravity of losing the Prophet r, they did not let even a single night pass without pledging allegiance to a leader. Later on, Aboo Bakr appointed Umar t, and Umar appointed six Companions to determine who his successor would be. The outcome was that the Ummah pledged allegiance to Uthmaan ibn Affaan, and after 2

him to Alee ibn Abee Taalib. May Allaah be pleased with them all. Allahu akbar! Allaah is indeed most perfect, as He made Khilaafah a rank of the religion and established Imaamah as a foundation. Allaah made the Companions succeed His Messenger r so that no one who comes after him could ever claim Prophethood. Dear brothers in eemaan, allegiance to the leader in authority means promising to comply with his directives that do not entail disobeying Allaah. This is to be done in times of ease and difficulty, whether prepared or unready. It also includes not rebelling against the legitimate authority. Such allegiance is obligatory based on the Qur aan, Sunnah, and consensus of scholars. Allaah said, Those who pledge allegiance to you have indeed pledged allegiance to Allaah. Scholars have explained that although this aayah was revealed concerning allegiance to the Messenger r, the generality of its ruling also includes the Muslim authorities after him. This aayah establishes the obligation of pledging allegiance and the prohibition of betrayal. Allaah also said, If someone betrays, the consequences of his betrayal will return back to him. However, if someone fulfills his pledge to Allaah, He shall grant that person a tremendous reward. In Saheeh Muslim there is a hadeeth where the Prophet r said, If someone dies without pledging allegiance to the legitimate authority, he dies a death of Jaahiliyyah. Also in Saheeh Muslim, Ubaadah ibn as-saamit t said, Our pledge to the Messenger of Allaah r was that we would comply with his commands in ease and difficulty, prepared or unready, even if we didn t get our full rights, and that we not rebel against the legitimate authorities. Hence, pledging allegiance to the authority is a defining element of Islaam established by the Qur aan and Sunnah. It is a duty that must be loyally fulfilled since it is a foundational belief and obligation prescribed by Islaam. Al-Imaam an-nawawee? stated, Authority is established by pledging allegiance. Also, the well-versed scholar, al-kirmaanee?, stated, Pledging allegiance based on Islaam means promising to uphold it. Allaahu akbar! This is a bond that mandates obedience, love, and respect. It is a bond that is an act of worship directed to Allaah, and it focuses on upholding and elevating the religion as well as governmental regulation of certain activities and transactions. It also seeks to avoid serving solely personal interests, faking love for others, false praise, flattery, and supporting oneself by taking advantage of the circumstances of others. Dear people of eemaan, pledging allegiance brings with it certain responsibilities. The first and foremost of them is obeying the authorities so long as that does not involve disobeying Allaah. The Prophet r said, A Muslim is to listen and obey, whether he finds that favourable or not, unless he is instructed to disobey Allaah. (Collected by al-bukhaaree). He r also said, Listen to the authorities and obey them. They are responsible for fulfilling their duty and you are responsible for fulfilling yours. (Collected by Muslim). Al-Imaam at-tahaawee? said, We hold that it is not right to rebel against our authorities even if they are oppressive. We do not pray against them or revoke our allegiance. He hold that obeying them is part of obeying Allaah, the Almighty and Most Majestic. That is an obligation as long as they do not order that Allaah be disobeyed. Al-Imaam al- Haafith Aboo Zur ah ar-raazee? said, We met scholars in all regions Hijaaz, Iraq, Shaam, and Yemen and they said that we consider it wrong to rebel against the authorities. We obey the authorities Allaah places over us and we do not revoke our allegiance to them. We adhere to the Sunnah, remain with the Jamaa ah, and avoid separation and splitting. The second responsibility that comes with allegiance is recognizing the status held by authorities. Aboo Bakrah t reported that the Prophet r said, If someone humiliates the authority Allaah has placed upon the earth, Allaah will humiliate that person. (Collected by at-tirmithee and Ahmad with a saheeh chain of narration). He r also said, Part of glorifying Allaah is to honour the elderly Muslim, the bearer of the Qur aan who is not excessive or negligent, and to honour the just 3

ruler. (Collected by Aboo Daawood with a hasan chain of narration). Al-Imaam al-qaraafee? stated, Managing the affairs of the general public is an obligation. However, they cannot be managed unless the public has a sense of respect for the authorities. When the public defies or undermines authorities, the best interests of the people cannot be served. Al-Maawardee? stated, It is essential to have much respect for the leader. The third responsibility is to sincerely advise based on the guidelines of Islaam, not defame. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim collected a hadeeth from Tameem ad-daaree t who narrated that the Prophet r said, The religion is naseehah (i.e. sincerity). The Companions inquired, To whom, Messenger of Allaah? He replied, To Allaah, His Book, His Messenger, the Muslim leaders, and the Muslim public. Al-Imaam ash-shawkaanee? said, If it appears to someone that the leader has erred in certain matters, the individual should sincerely advise him, not defame him in public. He should take him by the hand and advise him in private. If someone presumes that criticizing authorities, scholars, or prominent good people involves disparaging them, he is completely wrong. The concept of naseehah (sincerity and sincere advice) entails the opposite of fadeehah (publicly disgracing someone) which destroys the unity of the Ummah and only serves to split people and sow dissent based on various personal inclinations. Those are factors that degrade the people whose rights and status are protected by Islaam. There is a gross misunderstanding among many people and societies that change and reform lie in leaving Islaam, making rash decisions, utilizing compulsion and force, and creating turmoil and unrest, never giving any consideration to the results and consequences. Al-Imaam ibn al-qayyim? said, Public reproval of authorities and rebellion against them are the root of all ills and turmoil until the end of time. Some also have the idea that change comes from setting Islaam aside, not applying its method of governance, giving up one s established values and principles time after time, and seeking complete freedom do absolutely anything, giving no consideration to what distinguishes the Muslim Ummah from others. The fourth responsibility that comes with allegiance is to pray for the authorities. Al-Imaam at-tahaawee? said, We pray for their success and well-being. Al-Imaam Ahmad? said, If I had a prayer that would be answered, I would say it for the leader in authority. The fifth responsibility is to cooperate and foster unity with them, not incite the public against them. In this way, all religious and worldly interests would be served. Furthermore, there is no doubt that leaders must fulfill their obligations to their people, establish justice, govern by the directives of Islaam, secure borders, assist the oppressed, protect the interests of the Muslims, and keep harm away from them. Dear Muslim Ummah, reminding ourselves about this topic is necessary due to misconceptions about it. Maintaining unity requires examining its details, especially in a world heaving with challenges, struggles, and crises; engulfed by ideologies, ascriptions and allegiances to misguided factions and groups who practice various forms of extremism, violence, oppression, and terrorism. They murder, maim, and cause division tragically, in the name of Islaam using measures so brutal that they are beyond what is condoned by Islaam or any religion, set of values, or any sense of humanity. There is a saheeh narration where the Prophet r said, No one punishes with fire except the Lord of the fire. (Collected by al-bukhaaree). Thus, O Allaah, we free ourselves from the savage acts perpetrated by those oppressive khawaarij. Further compounding their atrocities is their support for their acts by using ambiguous texts, seeking evidence from ahaadeeth that are inauthentic or abrogated, and abusing statements of scholars by taking them out of context. Hence, the intelligent young people of this Ummah must not be deceived by these atrocities which tarnish the pure image of Islaam, its sound principles, and its justice and moderation. They must also not fall prey to rumours being spread to accomplish ulterior 4

motives. Islaam is a religion of lenience and mercy, and it has nothing to do with those atrocities. Today, as the Ummah searches for the solution to the adversities it faces, there is an extremely pressing need for it to follow the course of the Prophet Muhammad r in applying this tremendous foundation. The Ummah should do this by sincerely and loyally hastening to pledge allegiance to obey the authority during ease and difficulty, whether prepared or unready, and not rebel against the legitimate authority. In any era, the Ummah cannot do without a leader who repels harm from it and upholds the injunctions of Islaam. Indeed, Allaah commands you to fulfill all trusts, giving them to those who rightfully deserve them, and to be fair whenever you judge between people. Allaah s directives to you are certainly admirable. Indeed, Allaah hears all and sees all. People of eemaan, obey Allaah, obey His Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you ever dispute about something, refer it back to Allaah and the Messenger if you truly have eemaan in Allaah and the Last Day. That is best and would produce the most advantageous outcome. May Allaah allow us all to glean benefit from the Qur aan and guidance of His Messenger. I say this much and ask Allaah, Most Great and Magnificent, to forgive me, you, and all Muslim men and women for every misdeed. Thus, ask His forgiveness as He is certainly Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. * * * * * All praise is due to Allaah alone. May Allaah send salaah, salaam, and blessings upon His final Prophet, Muhammad, as well as upon his family and Companions. Dear Muslim Ummah, observe taqwaa of Allaah. When you protect your country from those who are disloyal to it and harbour hatred towards it, you will achieve unity and affinity. Dear brothers in eemaan, part of gratitude for Allaah s blessings and mentioning His favours includes taking note of the circumstances this blessed country continues to benefit from by Allaah s protection and the guidance of the Sharee ah. There is unparalleled seamless conformity between the influence of Islaam, knowledge, and wisdom, along with the influence of governance and rule. This exists in a setting rare in modern history where the people are united with their leadership, quickly and readily affirming their allegiance to it based on the Qur aan and Sunnah. Moreover, this is occurring in a world beset by much turmoil, change, and instability. That course has been followed since the establishment of this country, giving the qiblah of all Muslims, location of revelation, and source of Allaah s Message the prominence it has in the Muslim world. That has also given it the leadership and significance in the world as a whole, which are qualities the Ummah aspires towards. This makes it a model for safety, stability, balance, moderation, and combining timeless roots with the modern world. It is a country which is known for producing much good, and goodness itself is rooted within it, leaving no consolation for those who are hostile towards it. We say this to remind ourselves of Allaah s blessings, and we also take this occasion to reiterate our allegiance to our authorities may Allaah guide them to every success based on the Qur aan and Sunnah. This is allegiance prescribed by Islaam sincerely and loyally. We pledge to obey all that is obedience to Allaah, during ease or difficulty, whether prepared or unready. We do so in conformity to the command of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger r, and we ask Allaah to guide and assist our authorities, and allow them to accomplish all that is right. Allaah indeed hears our prayers and responds. May Allaah have mercy upon you all. In conclusion, invoke salaah and salaam upon the 5

leader of creation and best of all people who ever governed. Your Lord commanded you with this in His by saying, Indeed, Allaah and His angels send salaah upon the Prophet. People of eemaan, invoke salaah and abundant salaam upon him. [followed by du aa ] 6