a difference in value and with the hand-over postponed—together with countless other acts of disobedience committed by the populace—yet they still expect their leaders to conduct themselves like Abu Bakr and ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both). Such an expectation is misplaced.

Rulers have duties: they must, to the best of their ability, offer sincere counsel for Allah’s sake and for those whom Allah has placed under their authority. By the same token, the people owe their rulers tremendous rights that they are obliged to fulfill.

One of the matters many neglect is respect for the honour of those in authority. The favourite pastime of their gatherings—may Allah grant us and them well-being and guide us all—is to speak ill of the rulers. Were such talk genuinely useful and conducive to reform we would say, “Very well, no harm in it.” But it is of no benefit; it does nothing to improve the situation. All it does is stir up resentment against the rulers, whether they be scholars or governors.

You now see some people who cannot enjoy a sitting unless they attack a scholar, a minister, a provincial ruler, or someone higher still, disparaging his reputation. This is wrong. If speaking in this manner actually achieved results, we would be the first to encourage it, for wrongdoing should be removed and mistakes corrected. Yet it achieves nothing; it merely breeds rancour, alienates the rulers from the populace, alienates the scholars from the populace, and yields no benefit whatsoever.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) uttered a concise, all-encompassing statement—may Allah reward him—