Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Abdullah bin Hudhafah radi Allahu anhu was appointed as the commander of a detachment by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He became angry with them over some matter. Then he ordered them to gather wood and light a fire. When the fire was kindled, he said to them, "Enter into it." They began to hesitate regarding this, and meanwhile the fire cooled down and his anger also subsided. The details of this incident are mentioned later. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "If they had entered it, they would have remained in the punishment of that fire until the Day of Resurrection." Therefore, this hadith proves that obedience to leaders and rulers is obligatory only in permissible matters. If they command something wrong or impermissible, then their command is not to be obeyed. Whoever obeys their wrong command will have to bear its consequences. Today, if government employees keep this reality in mind and refuse to carry out the unlawful acts of rulers and their favored ones, then many of our problems could be solved. Since we have neglected the religion and its guidance and teachings, no employee feels that one day he himself will have to bear the consequences of doing such wrong, and none of these rulers will be able to help him. That is why rulers do not hesitate to issue wrongful orders; they have all kinds of wrong acts carried out by government employees, and the employees, for the sake of their own interests, willingly do these acts—except those whom Allah wills otherwise.

And in this incident, the main point is the last part of the relevant verse: that if a dispute arises among you regarding any matter, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger. That is, in the permissibility or impermissibility of anything, the final word is the teaching and guidance of the Book and the Sunnah. Adherence to this is obligatory and decisive for both the government and its employees.

Hadith Commentary:
On the way, they became angry about something and said to their people, "Light a fire." When the fire was kindled, they said, "Enter into it."
Some said that their command should be obeyed, while others said that this command of theirs is against the Shari‘ah (Islamic law).
It is not necessary to obey it.
Eventually, this verse was revealed: ﴿فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ﴾ (an-Nisa: 59)
Hafiz said: The meaning is that when there is a disagreement about any matter, then refer to the Book of Allah and the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and from this, the very root of blind following of individuals (taqlid shakhsi) is cut off.

Hadith Commentary:
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The details of this incident have been mentioned by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah at another place. Thus, it is narrated from Ali radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam dispatched a military detachment and appointed a man as their commander.
On the way, he kindled a fire and ordered them all to enter it.
They all intended to enter it, but some people said, “We have come here fleeing from such a fire.”
Upon their return, they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, so he said to those who were about to enter the fire:
“If you had entered it, you would have remained in it until the Day of Resurrection.”
And to the others he said:
“There is no obedience in matters of sin; obedience is only in good deeds.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Akhbar al-Ahad, Hadith: 7257)

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In any case, from this hadith it is understood that in any dispute, the decision of the Qur’an and Sunnah will be the final word, beyond which the statement of any ruler or imam will not be accepted.
Only the Qur’an and Sunnah should be regarded as the absolute authority. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has also explained this issue in detail.
(Fath al-Bari: 8/320)

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In this noble verse, four foundations of Islamic governance have been mentioned, which are as follows:
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In the Islamic system of governance, the real authority and supreme power does not belong to the people or the parliament, but only to Allah Ta’ala.
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The implementation of Allah’s commands is carried out through the Messenger, therefore, obedience to the Messenger and compliance with his commands is also necessary.
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The third obedience is to those Muslim rulers who are appointed to any responsible position, but this obedience is conditional—that is, their statement must not be contrary to the command of Allah and His Messenger; otherwise, their statement will not be accepted.
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The fourth foundation is that if a dispute arises between the ruler and the subjects in any matter, then such a matter should be referred back to the Book and the Sunnah, and Allah’s Shari’ah will be given the status of “judge.”
If there is any shortcoming in any of these four principles, it means that faith in Allah and the Last Day is not firm.
And Allah knows best.