Authored by: Sheikh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (may Allah preserve him)
Opposing the authority and disobeying the ruler was considered a praiseworthy act among the people of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). Some even thought it was an act of piety. However, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed this belief and instructed the people to be patient with the rulers' injustices, to wish them well, and to adopt an attitude of obedience and respect. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized this matter repeatedly, and the following three instructions are narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in an authentic hadith:
"Allah is pleased with three things for you: that you worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, that you hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and that you offer sincere advice to those whom Allah has placed in authority over you."
[Sahih Bukhari]
Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever dislikes something from their leader should be patient, for whoever departs from the authority by even a handspan will die a death of ignorance (Jahiliyyah)."
[Sahih Bukhari]
Similarly, Junadah ibn Abi Umayyah narrates that they went to visit Ubadah ibn al-Samit when he was sick. They said to him, "May Allah grant you well-being. Please narrate a hadith to us that will benefit us, something you heard directly from the Prophet (peace be upon him)." Ubadah responded, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) called us, and we pledged allegiance to him. Among the matters on which we pledged allegiance was that we would listen and obey (the authority) in all situations, whether in hardship or ease, whether we liked it or not, and even if others were given preference over us. We also pledged that we would not challenge the authority unless we saw clear disbelief with evidence from Allah."
This hadith is authentic, and there are many other hadiths supporting this command. Abandoning these commands results in chaos in both religious and worldly matters.
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (may Allah preserve him)
Opposing the authority and disobeying the ruler was considered a praiseworthy act among the people of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). Some even thought it was an act of piety. However, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed this belief and instructed the people to be patient with the rulers' injustices, to wish them well, and to adopt an attitude of obedience and respect. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized this matter repeatedly, and the following three instructions are narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in an authentic hadith:
"Allah is pleased with three things for you: that you worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, that you hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and that you offer sincere advice to those whom Allah has placed in authority over you."
[Sahih Bukhari]
Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever dislikes something from their leader should be patient, for whoever departs from the authority by even a handspan will die a death of ignorance (Jahiliyyah)."
[Sahih Bukhari]
Similarly, Junadah ibn Abi Umayyah narrates that they went to visit Ubadah ibn al-Samit when he was sick. They said to him, "May Allah grant you well-being. Please narrate a hadith to us that will benefit us, something you heard directly from the Prophet (peace be upon him)." Ubadah responded, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) called us, and we pledged allegiance to him. Among the matters on which we pledged allegiance was that we would listen and obey (the authority) in all situations, whether in hardship or ease, whether we liked it or not, and even if others were given preference over us. We also pledged that we would not challenge the authority unless we saw clear disbelief with evidence from Allah."
This hadith is authentic, and there are many other hadiths supporting this command. Abandoning these commands results in chaos in both religious and worldly matters.
