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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
كتاب الخلافة والإمارةThe Book of Caliphate and Leadership
الْفَضْلُ الْأَوَّلُ فِي الْأَئِمَّةِ الْمُضِلَّيْنَ كَفَانَا اللَّهُ شَرَّهُمْThe First Virtue Regarding Misguided Imams—May Allah Protect Us from Their Evil
Hadith 12074
اُردوEn
وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ”أَنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ الضَّالُّونَ“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) emphatically said to us: “What I fear most for you are misguided rulers.”
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … "People follow the religion of their kings" … People adopt the religion of their rulers. As the ruler is, so will be the subjects. The public is severely affected by oppressive and tyrannical rulers. Those who, out of hypocrisy and flattery, join with them, suffer loss in both religion and worldly life; and those who consider it safer to keep away from them also face many difficulties—either they have to endure the hardships of imprisonment, or they are put to death, or else they have to live their lives according to the restrictions imposed by the rulers.
It is also possible that this hadith refers to misguided religious leaders and shaykhs, who, in order to increase the devotion of their disciples and maintain their reverence, employ thousands of kinds of deceit and trickery, and in order to keep their disciples and followers pleased, remain silent over their actions that are contrary to the Shariah. Curse be upon such clericalism and shaykhdom, who, for the sake of soft morsels, are distorting the Shariah. After all, the pious predecessors (salaf salihin) were also leaders, who earned their own livelihood and, for the pleasure and approval of Allah, would advise people; they had no concern for the fear, danger, regard, or displeasure of the worldly people.
It is also possible that this hadith refers to misguided religious leaders and shaykhs, who, in order to increase the devotion of their disciples and maintain their reverence, employ thousands of kinds of deceit and trickery, and in order to keep their disciples and followers pleased, remain silent over their actions that are contrary to the Shariah. Curse be upon such clericalism and shaykhdom, who, for the sake of soft morsels, are distorting the Shariah. After all, the pious predecessors (salaf salihin) were also leaders, who earned their own livelihood and, for the pleasure and approval of Allah, would advise people; they had no concern for the fear, danger, regard, or displeasure of the worldly people.
