Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (5/464)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

Likewise, if the prayer leader performs the prayer correctly, they follow him in prayer; but if he errs through forgetfulness, they alert him by saying, “Glory be to Allah,” thereby setting him straight when he deviates.

Likewise, if the pilgrims’ guide leads them along the road, they walk behind him; but if he makes a mistake, they set him straight.

After the Messenger, people do not learn the religion from the ruler (1). Rather, the rulers and the entire Muslim community all learn the religion from the Book and the Sunnah.

For this reason, Allah did not command that, in the event of disagreement, the matter be referred to the rulers. Rather, He Most High said:

“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger”—to the end of the verse [Surah al-Nisā: 59].

(2 Thus, He commanded that, in the event of disagreement, the matter be referred to Allah and the Messenger 2) (2), not to rulers and those in authority. He commanded obedience to those in authority only as subordinate to obedience to the Messenger.

For this reason, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Obedience is only in what is right” (3). He also said, “No created being may be obeyed in disobedience to the Creator” (4), and, “Whoever commands you to disobey Allah, do not obey him” (5).

(1) (N) reads: “They learn the religion only from the ruler.” (2) The passage between markers (2–2) is omitted from (H) and (R). (3) This hadith was cited previously at 1/562 and 3/388 (T [0–9]). (4) This hadith was cited previously at 3/388 (T [0–9]). (5) This hadith was cited previously at 3/388 (T [0–9]).

وَكَذَلِكَ إِمَامُ الصَّلَاةِ إِنِ اسْتَقَامَ صَلُّوا بِصَلَاتِهِ، وَإِنْ سَهَا سَبَّحُوا بِهِ فَقَوَّمُوهُ إِذَا زَاغَ. وَكَذَلِكَ دَلِيلُ الْحَاجِّ إِنْ مَشَى بِهِمْ فِي الطَّرِيقِ مَشَوْا خَلْفَهُ، وَإِنْ غَلِطَ قَوَّمُوهُ. وَالنَّاسُ بَعْدَ الرَّسُولِ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُونَ الدِّينَ مِنَ الْإِمَامِ (١) ، بَلِ الْأَئِمَّةُ وَالْأُمَّةُ كُلُّهُمْ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ الدِّينَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ. وَلِهَذَا لَمْ يَأْمُرِ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ التَّنَازُعِ بِرَدِّ الْأَمْرِ إِلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ، بَلْ قَالَ تَعَالَى: {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ} الْآيَةَ [سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ: ٥٩] ، (٢ فَأَمَرَ بِالرَّدِّ عِنْدَ التَّنَازُعِ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ ٢) (٢) لَا إِلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ وَوُلَاةِ الْأُمُورِ، وَإِنَّمَا أَمَرَ بِطَاعَةِ وُلَاةِ الْأُمُورِ تَبَعًا لِطَاعَةِ الرَّسُولِ. وَلِهَذَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: " «إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ» " (٣) ، وَقَالَ: " «لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ» " (٤) ، وَقَالَ: " «مَنْ أَمَرَكُمْ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَلَا تُطِيعُوهُ» " (٥) .

(١) ن: لَا يَتَعَلَّمُونَ الدِّينَ إِلَّا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ. (٢) (٢ - ٢) سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ح) ، (ر) . (٣) سَبَقَ الْحَدِيثُ فِيمَا مَضَى ١/٥٦٢، ٣/٣٨٨ (ت [٠ - ٩] ) (٤) سَبَقَ الْحَدِيثُ فِيمَا مَضَى ٣/٣٨٨ (ت [٠ - ٩] ) (٥) سَبَقَ الْحَدِيثُ فِيمَا مَضَى ٣/٣٨٨ (ت [٠ - ٩] )