—on affirming this particular chapter of the Sunnah. 1

Imam Abu Ismaʿil al-Sabuni said: “The scholars of hadith hold that the Friday prayer, the two ʿEid prayers, and every other congregational prayer are to be performed behind any Muslim leader, whether upright or corrupt; that jihad against the unbelievers is to be waged alongside those rulers even if they are tyrannical sinners; that supplication should be made for their reform, success, rectitude, and for justice to be extended among their subjects; and that it is not permissible to rise against them with the sword—even when one sees them deviating from justice to oppression. They further maintain that a rebellious faction is to be fought until it returns to obedience of the just imam.” 2

Al-Taymi said: “A section pertaining to the creed and doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah… Obedience to those in authority is obligatory; it is among the most emphatic of the Sunan, established by the Book and the Sunnah. There is no obedience to any created being when it entails disobedience to the Creator.” 3

And the citations from Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaʿah affirming this foundational principle—