subjects and who, on the day of his death, dies while betraying them, but Allah will forbid him the fragrance of Paradise.” (1)
He also commanded the subjects to obey and offer sincere counsel, as established in the authentic hadith (2): “Religion is sincere counsel”—repeating it three times. They asked, “To whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and the Muslims generally.” (3)
He commanded them to remain patient when their rulers favored themselves, and forbade them from fighting the rulers or disputing their authority despite their injustice, because the harm arising from fighting amid civil strife is greater than the harm caused by the injustice of those in authority (4). The lesser of two evils must therefore not be eliminated by means of the greater.
Whoever reflects upon the Book and the authentic sunnah transmitted from the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—and considers this in light of what he finds within (5) himself and in the horizons will recognize the truth of Allah Most High’s words:
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”
[Surah Fussilat: 53].
(1) The hadith narrated by Ma‘qil ibn Yasār—may Allah be pleased with him—is recorded in al-Bukhārī, 9/64 (Book of Legal Rulings, chapter “Whoever Is Entrusted with Subjects but Does Not Counsel Them Sincerely”); Muslim, 1/125 (Book of Faith, chapter “The Governor Who Deceives His Subjects Deserves the Fire”), 3/1460 (Book of Governance, chapter “The Merit of the Just Leader”); Sunan al-Dārimī, 2/324 (Book of Heart-Softening Admonitions, chapter “Justice among Subjects”); and al-Musnad (al-Halabī ed.), 5/25.
(2) The word “hadith” is omitted from B.
(3) The hadith, narrated by several Companions, is recorded in Muslim, 1 (Book of Faith, chapter “Clarification That Religion Is Sincere Counsel”); Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3/217 (Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, chapter “Sincere Counsel”), on the authority of Abū Hurayra. Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a hasan hadith. Reports on this subject have also been narrated from Ibn ‘Umar, Tamīm al-Dārī, Jarīr, Hakīm ibn Abī Yazīd on his father’s authority, and Thawbān.” It is also recorded in al-Musnad (Dār al-Ma‘ārif ed.), 5/96. See the late critical editor’s commentary on this hadith—may Allah have mercy on him.
(4) A and B read: “than the harm caused by those entrusted with public affairs”; R, S, and H read: “than the harm caused by those in authority.”
(5) N, M, A, and B read: “from.”