Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Sayyiduna Alqamah bin Mujazzar Mudlaji (may Allah be pleased with him) on an expedition, in which I was also included. We set out until, when we reached the place of battle or perhaps somewhere along the way, a group sought permission from him. He granted them permission and appointed Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Hudhafah Sahmi (may Allah be pleased with him) as their leader. He had the honor of participating in the Battle of Badr and had a somewhat playful temperament. I was among those who returned with him. On the way, we camped at a place, and the people lit a fire and used it for their needs. During this, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Hudhafah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: "Is my obedience not obligatory upon you?" The people replied: "Yes." He said: "Will you act upon whatever I command you?" The people replied: "Yes." So he said: "I urge you, regarding my right and your obedience to me, that you jump into this fire." The narrator says: Some people stood up until Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) felt that they would actually jump into it, so he said: "Stop, I was only joking with you." Then, when the people presented themselves before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned this incident to him, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If (a ruler or leader) commands you to commit disobedience (to Allah), do not obey him."

Sayyiduna Fadala bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "There are three people about whom no question will be asked: one is the person who separates himself from the (Muslim) community and disobeys his ruler, and dies in a state of disobedience; one is the slave-girl who runs away from her master and dies in that state; and one is the woman whose husband is not present, the husband fulfills her worldly needs, and she betrays him in his absence. There are three people about whom no question will be asked: one is the person who contends with Allah regarding His cloak, for His cloak is majesty and His lower garment is honor; one is the person who doubts Allah's command; and one is the person who despairs of Allah's mercy."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I command you to do three things and I forbid you from three things. I command you to worship Allah and not associate anything with Him, all of you hold firmly to the rope of Allah and do not become divided, and obey the one whom Allah has appointed as your leader (i.e., the ruler of the time). And I forbid you from useless arguments, excessive (unnecessary) questioning, and wasting wealth.” (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that “worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him” is such a mandatory command that it is obligatory upon all addressed people in every situation. The statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that “hold firmly to the rope of Allah” — the rope of Allah means the Book of Allah, and this command is obligatory upon some addressed individuals; they need to act upon it in certain situations, which may arise at times and not at others. And “obey the one whom Allah has appointed as your leader” — here the words are general, but there are two types of specification in it: one is that a person is commanded in matters in which (Allah’s) pleasure is found, and the second is that a person is commanded only in what he is able to do, and not commanded in what is beyond his ability.