As for people of knowledge, religion, and virtue, they do not permit anyone, under any circumstances, to commit what Allah has forbidden: disobeying those in authority, deceiving them, or rebelling against them. This is well known from the longstanding practice of the people of the Sunnah and religion, past and present, and from the conduct of others.

It is established in the Sahīh, on the authority of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A banner will be erected at the rear of every traitor on the Day of Resurrection, commensurate with his treachery.”

He said: “This is among the gravest forms of treachery”—meaning treachery against the leader of the Muslims. Abdullah ibn Umar related this when some people of Medina rose to renounce obedience to their ruler and break their pledge of allegiance to him.

In Sahīh Muslim, Nāfiʿ said:

“Abdullah ibn Umar came to Abdullah ibn Mutīʿ when the events of al-Harrah took place, during the reign of Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiyah. Ibn Mutīʿ said, ‘Put down a cushion for Abū Abd al-Rahmān.’ He replied, ‘I have not come to sit down. I have come to relate a hadith to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: “Whoever withdraws his obedience will meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection with no argument in his defence. Whoever dies without being bound by a pledge of allegiance dies a death like that of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.”’”

In the two Sahīh collections, Ibn Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever sees something in his ruler that he dislikes should bear it patiently, for anyone who withdraws from the ruler’s authority by even a handspan and dies in that state dies a death like that of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever renounces obedience and separates from the community, then dies, dies a death like that of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. Whoever fights under a banner of blind allegiance, becoming angry out of partisan loyalty,