(Part 41)
The Eighth Topic
The Importance of Imitation
The Fourth Speech:
Preserving the Islamic System
The Continuation
Obedience to rulers is not merely the verdict of jurists, theologians, and hadith scholars; it is the command of the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which calls for peace and obedience and directs scholars toward intellectual and social reforms. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in an authentic hadith:
«خیار ائمتکم الذین تحبونهم و یحبونکم و تصلون علیهم و یصلون علیکم و شرار ائمتکم الذین تبغونهم و یبغضونکم و تلعونهم و تلعنونهم و یلعنونکم” قالوا : قلنا :یارسول الله افلاننابذهم عند ذالک ؟ قال: لا، ما اقاموا فیکم الصلاة ، لا، ما اقام فیکم الصلوة، الا، من ولی علیه وال، فراه یاتی شیئا من معصیة الله فلیکره ما یاتی من معصیة الله و لان ینزعن یدا من طاعة» (مسلم شریف، 1416ه ،3 /1482).
“The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and you pray for them and they pray for you; and the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you, and whom you curse and who curse you.”
The companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, should we not oppose them in such circumstances?” He replied: “No, as long as they establish prayer among you. No, as long as they establish prayer among you. Whoever is ruled by someone and sees him committing a sin against Allah, let him dislike that act but do not withdraw your obedience.” (Sahih Muslim, 1416 AH, 3/1482). In another hadith, he said:
«من خرج من الطاعة و فارق الجماعة فمات ، مات میتة جاهلیة (مسلم شریف، 1416 ه ، 1476/3)
“Whoever leaves obedience and separates from the congregation and dies in that state, he dies a death of ignorance (not as a Muslim).” (Sahih Muslim, 1416 AH 3/1476).
Regarding obedience to a tyrannical ruler and refraining from rebellion, there are many hadiths recorded in the texts and commentaries which cannot all be mentioned here. The imams of jurisprudence, based on these narrations, instructed their followers in every era to obey Muslim rulers with their actions, words, and behavior. Rebellion against Muslim rulers is the act of insurgents who seek instability and misery in the Islamic society. The Kharijites were among the groups that rebelled against Ali and all the caliphs, causing widespread bloodshed among Muslims. Following the Kharijites and rebelling against Islamic rulers is, in fact, deviating from the path of Islam and the Muslims. The Mu’tazilites, Kharijites, and other extremists, through harshness and extremism, caused harm and division among Muslims and were ultimately eradicated from Islamic history. Their conduct did not cure the pain of the Ummah, but added to the condemned divisions among them. Thus, following and adhering to Islamic jurisprudence is a unifying force for the Ummah and a balanced path for both the Nation and the people.
Imitation in The Present Age
