‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you instruct those of us who live to see that to do?’ He replied, ‘Fulfil the duties you owe, and ask Allah for the rights that are yours.’”

In Sahīh Muslim, Wā’il ibn Hujr, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“Salamah ibn Yazīd al-Ju‘fī asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if rulers rise over us who demand their rights from us but withhold our rights, what do you command us to do?’ He turned away from him. Then he asked him again, and he turned away. Then he asked him a second or third time, whereupon al-Ash‘ath ibn Qays told him: ‘The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Hear and obey, for they are responsible for the duties entrusted to them, and you are responsible for the duties entrusted to you.”’”

Thus, what Allah and His Messenger have commanded—obeying those in authority and giving them sincere counsel—is obligatory upon a Muslim, even if they favour themselves over him. What Allah and His Messenger have forbidden—disobeying them—is forbidden to him, even if he is coerced into it.

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What Allah and His Messenger have commanded of obeying those in authority and giving them sincere counsel is obligatory upon a person, even if he has made no pledge to them concerning it and has sworn no solemn oaths to them. This is just as the five daily prayers, zakat, fasting, pilgrimage to the House, and the other acts of obedience commanded by Allah and His Messenger are obligatory upon him. If he swears an oath to do so, this reinforces and confirms what Allah and His Messenger have commanded of obeying those in authority and giving them sincere counsel. Thus, anyone who swears an oath concerning these