Nasai

(1) The relevance of the hadith to the chapter is absolutely clear: whoever, blinded by group and partisan prejudice, fights and dies under a blind and ambiguous banner, dies a forbidden (haram) death.

(2) This noble hadith demands that all Muslims, according to the Shariah, should appoint an authoritative ruler and leader, strengthen his hand, and, following his directives, engage in combat against the enemies of Islam.

(3) Obedience to an authoritative Shariah ruler and leader is obligatory, and adherence to the Muslim community is also necessary.

(4) Whomever the Muslims appoint as their imam and ruler, according to the requirements of the Shariah, following him is obligatory, and opposing the path of the believers is forbidden.

(5) Whoever does not obey a Shariah leader possessing the aforementioned qualities resembles the people of ignorance (jahiliyyah), and if he dies in such a state, he dies the death of jahiliyyah.

(6) Opposing such a Shariah ruler and not obeying him is a major sin (kabirah).

(7) This hadith also proves that one who commits immorality, wickedness, or major sins does not leave the fold of the Muslim community unless he commits clear disbelief (kufr) or becomes an apostate and withdraws from the religion of Islam. May Allah protect us from that.

(8) “Accepted leader” here refers to a Muslim ruler who is either elected or whom the people have agreed upon, who establishes security, punishes criminals (whether through Shariah-prescribed punishments or other penalties), and fulfills the duty of defending the Muslim community. It does not refer to those paper leaders whom locust-like organizations appoint as their leaders, while at the same time they oppose each other. Such leaders can do nothing except use office facilities. They have no role in the administration of the country or its defense. Neither does society benefit from obeying them, nor is there any harm in disobeying them. Whether these organizations are political or religious, they are found in abundance in every city. Even a police officer has more authority than their leaders. Such leaders and organizations are not intended here. One may remain in these organizations as long as one wishes, and leave whenever one wishes. There is no punishment for joining them, except that if one has made a pledge or promise, it must be fulfilled, provided that the promise or pledge is not against the Shariah.

(9) “Separates from the community”—the community here refers to the community of Muslims who are united under one imam and ruler, or the majority is united upon him. In such a case, even the minority must obey the ruler. If someone leaves such a community, i.e., rebels against the leader and tries to create division within the community, then whether he dies a natural death or is killed by the government as punishment for rebellion, his death will be un-Islamic.

(10) “Death of jahiliyyah”—that is, in the time of ignorance (jahiliyyah), people lived without any leadership or order; no one was subordinate to anyone. Similarly, this person died outside of order and community, as if he died the death of disbelievers, even though he is not a disbeliever. This is the case if he does not rebel or cause discord. If he does rebel, cause discord, or create division within the Muslim community, then he is liable to be killed.

(11) “He has nothing to do with me”—because he is in the ruling of a rebel. He will be treated like the Khawarij. (See hadith: 4104, 4106, 4108)

(12) “Ambiguous and blind banners”—ambiguous means whose truth or falsehood is not clear, and blind means that the fighting is for the sake of a sect, group, or race, and is based on prejudice. Whoever is killed in such a war dies a forbidden (haram) death, just as people in the time of jahiliyyah fought for their tribe, group, companion, or friend, without distinguishing between right and wrong, and died a forbidden death. Only the one who fights for the sake of raising the word of Allah will die the death of martyrdom, not the one who fights against Muslims, no matter how attractive the slogan he raises, such as “love of Ahl al-Bayt” or “love of the Companions,” etc. This is because mutual fighting is, in any case, forbidden. And Allah knows best.