Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Abd Rabb al-Ka'bah, he says: I presented myself before Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), who was sitting in the shade of the Ka'bah at that time. I heard him saying: Once we were on a journey in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he narrated a long hadith, an excerpt of which was: Whoever gives allegiance to a ruler and makes a covenant with him and gives him the fruit of his heart, then he should obey him as much as he can. If another man comes and disputes with the first ruler, then strike the neck of the latter. Abdur Rahman says: Upon hearing this, I put my head among the people and said: I ask you by Allah, did you yourself hear this hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? He pointed towards his ears with his hands and said: My ears have heard this hadith and my heart has preserved it. Abdur Rahman said: Your cousin, Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), commands us to consume each other's wealth through false and unlawful means and to kill one another, while Allah the Exalted has said: {یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوْا لَا تَأْکُلُوْا أَمْوَالَکُمْ بَیْنَکُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ} ... O you who believe! Do not consume your wealth among yourselves by false means. Upon hearing this, he joined both his hands and placed them on his forehead, then sat for a while with his head bowed, then after some time raised his head and said: If it is a matter of obedience to Allah, then obey them, and if it is a matter of disobedience and sin against Allah, then do not obey them.