What Defines the Relationship Between Scholars, Rulers, and the Masses in a Muslim Society?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
What defines the relationship between scholars, rulers, and the masses in a Muslim society? What are their rights and responsibilities toward one another, and who holds rulers accountable if they deviate?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
It is the duty of believers to hold their rulers accountable if they fail to fulfill their responsibilities towards the people or violate Allah’s laws.
Advice must be delivered appropriately for it to be effective. When Allah sent Musa (peace be upon him) and Harun (peace be upon him) to Firawn, He instructed them to choose the softest words despite Firawn being a great tyrant. The manner in which we communicate makes a significant difference.
Several examples from the lives of the Rightly Guided Caliphs show how people approached them directly to express their objections.
Fudayl Ibn Iyad said, “If I had a supplication that would be answered, I would not make it except for the ruler. Because when the ruler becomes righteous, the towns and the people become safe and secure.” [Hilyat al-Awliya]
How many of us include our rulers in our supplications? How many of us earnestly pray for their steadfastness and guidance? And how many of us make an effort to advise them when they err?
Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said, “Verily, I supplicate for the ruler, for his correctness, success, and support – night and day – and I see this as an obligation upon me.”
It is advised to address misguided leaders privately if possible. ‘Iyad Ibn Ghanam reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has advice for the ruler, let him take him by the hand and give it privately. If he accepts it, then he accepts it. If he rejects it, the duty upon him has been fulfilled.” [Ibn Abi ‘Asim, al-Sunna]
The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), also forbade us from supplicating against Muslim rulers. Anas Ibn Malik reported, “The esteemed among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah prohibited us, saying, ‘Do not curse your leaders, do not deceive them, and do not harbor hatred towards them. Fear Allah and be patient, for the matter is close at hand.’” [Ibn Abi ‘Asim, al-Sunna]
We believe that scholars, in particular, and the general populace have the right to correct their rulers when they act oppressively. Others’ misguidance can certainly affect those who are guided if they neglect their responsibility to encourage good and prohibit evil.
May Allah (Most High) guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
