Discussion on Obedience to Authority in Islam

Likewise is the description of everyone who calls to the way of the righteous

Salaf regarding not rebelling

against the rulers and not publicly mentioning their faults and shortcomings,

nor disparaging them,

and that hearing and obeying in good is obligatory.

They label them, as the questioner mentioned, as Madkhalis, Jamis, or other names,

to deter people

from following[ them] or those who uphold this view and methodology,

which is the methodology of the Salaf.

And this is the methodology of Ahl al- Sunnah wal- Jama'ah.

When Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, the Imam of Ahl al- Sunnah,

was asked about rebelling against the Abbasid Caliph,

he debated and argued against rebelling, even though he suffered torture,

imprisonment, harm,

and being prevented from praying in congregation and Friday prayers with

the Muslims. But he was patient and believed

that this pledge of allegiance bound him to hear and obey, and that rebelling

against the ruler is one of the greatest calamities,

and one of the greatest sins and major offenses.

Therefore, Shaykh al- Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him,

stated in Majmu' al- Fatawa: He said," No group has ever

rebelled against its ruler..."

except that it caused

many times more evil than what you wanted to remove by this rebellion And therefore,

we find in Islamic history that no group or rebellion arose in any Muslim country

except that what followed it was worse than what preceded it Because the Hadiths,

indeed the texts from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet( PBUH),

commanding obedience to the ruler,

and listening and obeying him in what is right.

And the Prophet( PBUH),

in the Hadith of Al- Irbad bin Sariyah, when he said:" The Messenger of

Allah( PBUH) gave us an admonition from which hearts trembled and eyes shed tears."

So we said:" O Messenger of Allah,

it is as if it were a farewell admonition, so advise us."

So listen to the advice of the Prophet( PBUH) as he bids farewell to his companions.

He said:" I advise you to fear Allah,

and to listen and obey whoever Allah places in authority over you, for indeed,

whoever among you lives will see much conflict."