بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Narrated upon the authority of Abu Huraira:
The Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said, “Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah. Whoever obeys the leader has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the leader, disobeys me. The leader is a shield who is fought behind and safety is by way of him. Therefore, if he orders people to fear Allah (by being dutiful to Him) and rules justly, then he is rewarded. However if he says contrary to that, he will be responsible for it.” (1)
Concerning the Messenger’s -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- statement, “Whoever obeys the leader has obeyed me” Imam An-Nawawi said, “He -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said similar as it relates to disobedience, since Allah ordered obedience to the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam-, and he (in turn) ordered obedience to the (Muslim) leader, thus they are inseparable.” (2)
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih Al Uthaymin said, “In this particular narration the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- makes apparent that obedience to him is obedience to Allah. Allah says:
من يُطِعِ الرسولَ فقد أطاع الله
‘Whoever obeys the Messenger, then undoubtedly he has obeyed Allah’ [An-Nisa: 80]
The Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- only issued orders in accordance with revelation, and the legislation in which Allah has ordained for him and his nation. Thus, when he issues a directive, in reality it is Allah’s -glorified and exalted is He- legislation. Hence whoever obeys him, undoubtedly obeys Allah and whoever disobeys him, undoubtedly disobeys Allah.
If a person obeys the Muslim leader, he certainly obeys the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- because he ordered, on many occasions, obedience to the Muslim ruler. He -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said, ‘Hear and obey even if your back is smited and your wealth is seized’ he also said, ‘Hear and obey even if an Ethiopian slave is placed in authority over you’ in addition he said, ‘Binding upon the Muslim is hearing and obeying during adversity and prosperity, when pleased (and willing) and displeased (and unwilling).’ The narrations, as it pertains to this subject, are many. He -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- commanded obedience to the Muslim ruler. So if you obey him you have consequently obeyed the Messenger, and if you obey the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- accordingly, you obey Allah.
Therefore this narration, that which precedes it, and that which the author (Imam An-Nawawi) has not mentioned, all indicate the obligation of obedience to the Muslim ruler except as it relates to disobeying Allah. That is due to good, safety, stability, absence of chaos, and the quelling of desires (becoming rampant and widespread throughout society) being found in (and resulting from) obedience to him.
On the other hand, chaos, the opinionated being deluded by his opinion, instability, corruption, and an increase in disturbances all result, if the Muslim ruler is disobeyed in a matter that necessitates obedience. For this reason, it is binding upon us to hear and obey our Muslim leaders, except if we are ordered to commit sin. If this is the case, then our and their Lord is Allah, to Him belongs the judgement. So we do not obey them, on the contrary, we say ‘Incumbent upon you is to obey Allah, so how would you command us to disobey Him?’ Thus we neither hear nor obey them in that regard.
In addition, as we have stated previously, the ruler’s edicts are divided into 3 categories.
- That which Allah commands -e.g., when he commands us to establish congregational prayers in the masjid, or enactment of righteous deeds and abandonment of evil, etc. This is obligatory from two perspectives. The first is that it is compulsory fundamentally (as Allah orders it), the second is due to the Muslim ruler commanding it (‘s implementation).
- They instruct us to disobey Allah. This is not permissible for us to obey, no matter what. For instance, they issue the order to not pray in congregation, to cut the beard, to lower the garments below the ankles (for the men), or to oppress Muslims by seizing their wealth and assaulting them, etc. These commands are not obeyed and it is not permissible to do such, however binding upon us is to advise the ruler. So we say, ‘Fear Allah! This edict is not permissible, it is not allowed for you to order Allah’s servants with disobedience to Him.’
- They instruct us to enact an order that is neither from Allah nor His Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam. Likewise it is not something prohibited. In this case it is binding upon us to obey in this regard. Like laws they enact that do not conflict with Allah’s legislation. (3) Thus it is obligatory for us to obey and follow as it pertains to these enactments.” (4)
Compiled by Najeeb Ibn Yusuf Al Anjelesi
1. Al-Bukhari 2657 and Muslim 1835.
2. Sharh Sahih Muslim
3. e.g. a speed limit, environmental protection laws, etc.
4. Sharh Riyadh-us-Saaliheen