Majmu' al-Fatawa - Ibn Taimiya - (3/250)

Majmu' al-FatawaIbn Taimiya

we would speak the truth—or uphold it—wherever we might be, fearing no one’s reproach for Allah’s sake.”

Thus, he took their pledge upon these “three comprehensive principles”: obedience in what constitutes obedience to Allah, even if the person giving the command is unjust; refraining from disputing authority with those who hold it; and upholding the truth without fear of created beings. Allah, glorified be He, has commanded in His Book that when the Ummah disputes, the matter be referred to Allah and His Messenger. He did not command recourse to any particular thing at all in the event of a dispute.

The leading scholars have said that those in authority are of two kinds: scholars and rulers. This includes religious shaykhs and Muslim kings. Each is to be obeyed within the sphere entrusted to him. The former are obeyed regarding the acts of worship they are commanded to observe, and are consulted concerning the meanings of the Quran and hadith and what they convey concerning Allah. The latter are obeyed in jihad, the enforcement of prescribed punishments, and other duties they carry out which Allah has commanded them to perform. When they agree on a matter, their consensus constitutes conclusive proof, for the Ummah of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—does not agree upon misguidance. If they dispute, recourse is to the Book and the Sunnah.

Various things have occurred in this affair which this is not the place to recount. Through your conversations and letters, you conveyed to me what you conveyed from the shaykh. You have seen and heard my agreement to everything that constitutes obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and my disregard for demanding my own entitlements or retaliating against those who harm me. You have become certain of this about me. What more, then, can be required of a Muslim? You advised me to set aside fear and adopt a gentle manner, and I am willing to comply with all of this.

Al-Fattāh came first and said, “The deputy sends you his greetings.” He also said, “How long will you remain

نَقُولَ - أَوْ نَقُومَ - بِالْحَقِّ حَيْثُمَا كُنَّا لَا نَخَافُ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ} ". فَبَايَعَهُمْ عَلَى هَذِهِ " الْأُصُولِ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْجَامِعَةِ " وَهِيَ الطَّاعَةُ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ الْآمِرُ ظَالِمًا، وَتَرْكُ مُنَازَعَةِ الْأَمْرِ أَهْلَهُ، وَالْقِيَامُ بِالْحَقِّ بِلَا مَخَافَةٍ مِنْ الْخَلْقِ. وَاَللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ قَدْ أَمَرَ فِي كِتَابِهِ عِنْدَ تَنَازُعِ الْأُمَّةِ بِالرَّدِّ إلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، لَمْ يَأْمُرْ عِنْدَ التَّنَازُعِ إلَى شَيْءٍ مُعَيَّنٍ أَصْلًا. وَقَدْ قَالَ الْأَئِمَّةُ: إنَّ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ صِنْفَانِ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَالْأُمَرَاءُ. وَهَذَا يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ مَشَايِخُ الدِّينِ وَمُلُوكُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ: كُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ يُطَاعُ فِيمَا إلَيْهِ مِنْ الْأَمْرِ. كَمَا يُطَاعُ هَؤُلَاءِ بِمَا يُؤْمَرُونَ بِهِ مِنْ الْعِبَادَاتِ وَيَرْجِعُ إلَيْهِمْ فِي مَعَانِي الْقُرْآنِ وَالْحَدِيثِ، وَالْإِخْبَارِ عَنْ اللَّهِ، وَكَمَا يُطَاعُ هَؤُلَاءِ فِي الْجِهَادِ وَإِقَامَةِ الْحَدِّ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ: مِمَّا يُبَاشِرُونَهُ مِنْ الْأَفْعَالِ الَّتِي أَمَرَهُمْ اللَّهُ بِهَا. وَإِذَا اتَّفَقَ هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَى أَمْرٍ فَإِجْمَاعُهُمْ حُجَّةٌ قَاطِعَةٌ فَإِنَّ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَجْتَمِعُ عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ وَإِنْ تَنَازَعُوا فَالْمَرَدُّ إلَى الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ. وَهَذِهِ الْقَضِيَّةُ قَدْ جَرَى فِيهَا مَا جَرَى مِمَّا لَيْسَ هَذَا مَوْضِعَ ذِكْرِهِ. وَكُنْت تُبَلِّغُنِي بِخِطَابِك وَكِتَابِك عَنْ الشَّيْخِ مَا تُبَلِّغُنِي. وَقَدْ رَأَيْت وَسَمِعْت مُوَافَقَتِي عَلَى كُلِّ مَا فِيهِ طَاعَةُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَعَدَمَ الْتِفَاتِي إلَى الْمُطَالَبَةِ بِحُظُوظِي أَوْ مُقَابَلَةَ مَنْ يُؤْذِينِي وَتَيَقَّنْت هَذَا مِنِّي فَمَا الَّذِي يُطْلَبُ مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِ فَوْقَ هَذَا وَأَشَرْت بِتَرْكِ الْمَخَافَةِ وَلِينِ الْجَانِبِ وَأَنَا مُجِيبٌ إلَى هَذَا كُلِّهِ. فَجَاءَ الْفَتَّاحُ أَوَّلًا فَقَالَ: يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْك النَّائِبُ. وَقَالَ: إلَى مَتَى يَكُونُ الْمُقَامُ