an oppressive ruler,’ for if the ruler is just, a word of truth will not harm the one who utters it; he will accept it. The tyrant, however, may take revenge on the speaker and cause him harm.

We are therefore dealing with four possible situations:

1. A word of truth before a just ruler—this is easy.
2. A word of falsehood before a just ruler—this is dangerous, for you may tempt the just ruler with the finery you adorn your words with.
3. A word of truth before a tyrannical ruler—this is the finest form of jihād.
4. A word of falsehood before a tyrannical ruler—this is the worst imaginable.

These are four categories, yet the most virtuous of them is to speak the truth in the presence of an oppressive ruler.

We ask Allah to make us among those who proclaim the truth, both outwardly and inwardly, concerning themselves and others.

197 – Fourteenth ḥadīth: Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O people, you recite this verse: ‘O you who believe, guard yourselves; those who have gone astray cannot harm you once you have been rightly guided’ (Q 5:105). Yet I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) say: ‘When people see a wrongdoer and do not restrain him, it is close to the time that Allah will encompass them all with a punishment from Him.’” Recorded by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasāʾī with sound chains.