—then the resulting harm is enormous. We ask Allah to guide our leaders, to guide their subjects to what is required of them, and to grant every one of them success in fulfilling his obligations.

9/671 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah. Whoever obeys the ruler has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the ruler has disobeyed me.” Agreed upon.

11/673 – Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say, ‘Whoever belittles the ruler, Allah will belittle him.’” Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who graded it ḥasan (sound).

There are many other authentic reports on this subject in the sound collections, some of which have already been cited in earlier chapters.

Explanation
These two hadiths complete the chapter on the obligation to obey the authorities in everything that does not entail disobedience to Allah. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah… Whoever obeys the ruler has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys the ruler has disobeyed me.”

In this ḥadith the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies that obedience to him is obedience to Allah. The Exalted says, “Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah” (Q 4:80). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—