for the common people. The ordinary masses merely follow the people of resolution and authority; once those notables have concluded the pledge, the person to whom allegiance is given becomes the imam, the guardian ruler whose commands must be obeyed in everything that does not entail disobedience to Allah. Whoever dies convinced that he has no guardian ruler over him and that no pledge binds him dies the death of pre-Islamic ignorance. We ask Allah for well-being and protection; Allah is the One who grants success.

4/666 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Listen and obey, even if a black Abyssinian slave is placed over you whose head looks like a raisin.” Narrated by al-Bukhari.

5/667 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “You must listen and obey in hardship and in ease, in enthusiasm and in reluctance, even when others are given preference over you.” Narrated by Muslim.

Explanation
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—cites these hadiths in the context of the obligation to obey those in authority.

He transmitted the saying of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave whose head looks like a raisin is appointed over you.”

“Listen and obey” means: hold fast to hearing and obedience—hearing and obeying whom? The rulers, even if the one appointed over you is an Abyssinian slave. Here the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is addressing the Arabs, saying: even if a slave