34: It is neither permissible to fight the ruler or to rebel against him, even if he oppresses.

It is neither permissible to fight the ruler or to rebel against him, even if he oppresses. This is due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah to Abu Dharr al-Ghifaaree, “Have patience, even if he is an Abyssinian slave”[1] and his saying to the Ansaar, “Have patience until you meet me at the Pool.”[2] There is no fighting against the ruler in the Sunnah. It causes destruction of the religion and the worldly affairs.[3]

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NOTES

1. Its like is reported by Muslim (Eng. trans., vol.3. nos.4525, 4526).

2. Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans., vol.5, no.136) from the hadeeth of Usayd ibn al-Hudayr.

3. Hudhaifah (radiallaahu anhu) reports, in a longer hadeeth, that the Messenger of Allah said, “There will come leaders who will not follow my guidance and will not follow my Sunnah. There will be amongst them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of humans.” He (Hudhaifah) asked, “What shall I do, O Messenger of Allah, if I reach that?” He replied, “You should hear and obey the ruler, even if he flogs your back and takes your wealth, then still hear and obey.” Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 3/1029/no.4554).

Al-Khallaal reports, in as-Sunnah (no.87), that: Abu Bakr related to us, saying, “I heard Abu ‘Abdullah (Imaam Ahmad) ordering that bloodshed be avoided and he strongly forbade rebellion.”

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