Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (1/82)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

circumambulate the House” (1)), and examples of this are numerous, unlike the case of an imam when he is obeyed (2).

His successors after him, insofar as they carry out his commands and prohibitions, are like his deputies during his lifetime. Thus, whoever issues a command and must be obeyed [in that matter] (3) is merely carrying out the command of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This is because Allah sent him to mankind and made obedience to him obligatory for them—not because he was an imam possessing power and supporters, nor because someone else had appointed him to the imamate [or for any other reason] (4). Obedience to him therefore does not depend upon the conditions on which obedience to other imams depends, such as designation by a predecessor, the assent of those who wield power (5), or anything else. Rather, obedience to him [may Allah bless him and grant him peace] (6) is obligatory even if no one stands with him and all mankind rejects him as a liar.

Obedience to him was obligatory in Mecca before he had supporters and helpers (7) who would fight alongside him. Thus, he (8) is as Allah—Glorified is He—said [concerning him] (9):

“Muḥammad is only a messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels will not harm Allah in the least, and Allah will reward the grateful.”

[Surah Āl Imrān: 144] (10)

He made clear—

(1) The hadith of Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—is found in al-Bukhārī, 2:159 (Book of Hajj, chapter: “A Menstruating Woman Completes the Rites”). (2) “When he is obeyed” is omitted from A, B, and M. (3) “In that matter” is omitted from N and M. (4) “Or for any other reason” is added in A and B. (5) B reads: “or his assent, or power”; or: “the assent of those who wield power.” 1 (6) “May Allah bless him and grant him peace” is added in A and B. (7) A and B read: “helpers and supporters.” (8) N and M read: “and he.” (9) “Concerning him” is added in A and B. (10) N and M read: “on your heels,” to the end of the verse.

تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ» (١) ] ، وَأَمْثَالُ هَذَا كَثِيرٌ بِخِلَافِ الْإِمَامِ إِذَا أُطِيعَ (٢) . وَخُلَفَاؤُهُ بَعْدَهُ فِي تَنْفِيذِ أَمْرِهِ، وَنَهْيِهِ كَخُلَفَائِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ، فَكُلُّ آمِرٍ بِأَمْرٍ يَجِبُ طَاعَتُهُ [فِيهِ] (٣) إِنَّمَا هُوَ مُنَفِّذٌ لِأَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -؛ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ، وَفَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَاعَتَهُ لَا لِأَجْلِ كَوْنِهِ إِمَامًا لَهُ شَوْكَةٌ، وَأَعْوَانٌ، أَوْ لِأَجْلِ أَنَّ غَيْرَهُ عَهِدَ إِلَيْهِ بِالْإِمَامَةِ، [أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ] (٤) ، فَطَاعَتُهُ لَا تَقِفُ عَلَى مَا تَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ طَاعَةُ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ عَهْدِ مَنْ قَبْلَهُ، أَوْ مُوَافَقَةِ ذَوِي الشَّوْكَةِ (٥) ، أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، بَلْ تَجِبُ طَاعَتُهُ. [- صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -] (٦) ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَهُ أَحَدٌ، وَإِنْ كَذَّبَهُ جَمِيعُ النَّاسِ. وَكَانَتْ طَاعَتُهُ وَاجِبَةً بِمَكَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَصِيرَ لَهُ أَنْصَارٌ، وَأَعْوَانٌ (٧) يُقَاتِلُونَ مَعَهُ، فَهُوَ (٨) كَمَا قَالَ. سُبْحَانَهُ [فِيهِ] (٩) : {وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ} [سُورَةُ آلِ عِمْرَانَ: ١٤٤] (١٠) بَيَّنَ

(١) الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا - فِي: الْبُخَارِيِّ ٢/١٥٩ (كِتَابُ الْحَجِّ، بَابُ تَقْضِي الْحَائِضُ الْمَنَاسِكَ.) . (٢) إِذَا أُطِيعَ: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (أ) ، (ب) ، (م) . (٣) فِيهِ: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) . (٤) أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (٥) ب: أَوْ مُوَافَقَتِهِ أَوِ الشَّوْكَةُ؛ أَوْ مُوَافَقَةِ ذُوي الشَّوْكَةِ. ١ (٦) صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ " زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (٧) أ، ب: أَعْوَانٌ وَأَنْصَارٌ. (٨) ن، م: وَهُوَ. (٩) فِيهِ: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (١٠) ن، م: أَعْقَابِكُمْ، الْآيَةَ.