In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

[وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنً۬ا وَٱرۡزُقۡ أَهۡلَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ مِنۡہُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۖ – And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day]. [Surah Al-Baqara. Aayah 126]

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah protect him] stated: Indeed, he [Ibraaheem-peace be upon him] gave priority to security (in his supplication) over seeking sustenance, because security is a necessity. Security is a necessity and the people cannot enjoy sustenance alongside fear; rather sustenance cannot be reached in the presence of fear. This is what the enemies desire – those who try to destabilise the Muslim societies. They wish to disassociate the Muslims from their unity behind their Muslim rulers. This is what they desire and they do not desire good advice for the Muslims. [They wish to disassociate the Muslims from their unity behind their rulers] in name of actualizing beneficial affairs, rectification, removal of oppression and the likes. All of this is lies and false pretences, because if ruler ship slips away chaos will be at large, corruption will spread and the beneficial affairs which they say will be actualized will be non-existent. Corruption will be at large and there will not be rectification. Therefore, for this reason there has to be ruler ship upon which the Muslims unite. And even if (such ruler ship) has shortcomings and negligence, the (people) should exercise patience, because there is prevention of that which is more severe and harmful through patience. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is not known of a group that rose against their Muslim ruler, except that their state of affairs after his removal was more evil than their state of affairs whilst he was present”. This is something experienced at present. The rulers and heads of state who have been removed, what is the state of affairs of their countries after they were (removed)? There has not ceased to be fear, anxiety, chaos, bloodshed etc. (1)

This emphasises the fact that safety is an important affair needed by a person, otherwise Ibraaheem [peace be upon him] would not have been eager to repeat his request to Allaah to make it a reality in this land. Look at the lands where a system that (guarantees) safety has been lost! You will find that the people are unable to pursue affairs of their daily lives- their schools and markets are shut, everyone stays in the houses and those among them who have the ability would hasten to leave this land to go somewhere else. And if you ask one of them, you will find him saying that he is unable to live with his people and family in that place in which safety has been lost.

Security cannot be established properly except by way of two affairs: Implementation of Allaah’s Laws and obedience to the rulers. Indeed, the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] clarified this affair that is needed by a Muslim in his life. Irbaad Saariyah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, “The Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] gave us an admonition after the morning prayer – an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. So, a man said, ‘Indeed, is this a farewell sermon, so what do you advise us?’ He said, ‘I enjoin you to have fear of Allaah and that you listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave (is made a ruler over you), for indeed he among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So, beware of newly invented matters (in the religion) because indeed it is misguidance. And whoever among you witnesses that, then it is obligated on him to adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khulafaa, adhere to it with your molar teeth'”. [Reported by Ahmad 3/126]

This hadeeth establishes the foundations of security in Islaam and they are: Firstly, Taqwallaah [Fear of Allaah (The Most High)] based on its complete and comprehensive meaning. Secondly, obedience to the rulers (in what is good). Fear of Allaah rectifies a Muslim’s relationship with Allaah, his neighbours and everything around him; whereas in the absence of Allaah’s Sharee’ah, destruction and depravity will occur. Indeed, Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] warned the one who abandons His Sharee’ah and is disobedient to His Messenger. Allaah said:

وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ

And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well content; its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste the extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad) which they (its people) used to do. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 112]

By listening to the rulers and obeying them (in good), all the affairs of the person’s life in his society will be a state of normality. Listening to the rulers and obeying them (in good) is included in the subject matter of Taqwa [fear of Allaah]. Al-Hasan Al-Basri [may Allaah have mercy upon him] used to say, “Indeed, Al-Hajjaaj is the punishment of Allaah, so do not repel the punishment of Allaah with your own hands; rather you must submit and show humility because Allaah] The Most High] said: [وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْعَذَابِ فَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ – And Indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allaah) with submission to Him]. [Surah Al-Muminoon. Aayah 76]

So, you find a person who knows what security is and his understanding regarding it increases due to fear of Allaah, and he is eager to obey the rulers (in good); but when he falls short (in Taqwa), his perception of security becomes deficient. When Taqwa is actualised, he will receive the promise Allaah has mentioned (as follows):

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). [Surah An-Noor. Aayah 55]

The absence of obedience to the ruler and putting oneself before him is one of the greatest causes of corrupting the land and the people, and turning away from the path of guidance and uprightness. Al Hasan Al Basri [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “By Allaah! The religion cannot be established except by way of rulers – even if they commit tyranny and oppression- due to the many affairs that Allaah rectifies through them more than what they corrupt”. http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

Ibn Rajab [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “There is great advantage in the worldly life when rulers are obeyed. And by way of it, the beneficial affairs related to the livelihood of the people are established and they utilise them as an aid through which they manifest their religion and obey their Lord”. http://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/

Disobedience to the rulers and putting oneself before them through fighting or other than that is tantamount to disobeying Allaah and His Messenger, and an opposition to that which Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah were upon – the pious predecessors. Preservation of security leads to brotherhood and mutual alliance between the Muslims. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said: [إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ – The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So, make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy]. [Surah Al-Hujuraat. Aayah 10]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf, and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar; they perform As-Salat and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [Surah At-Tawbah. Aayah 71]

Eemaan (faith) is neither wishful thinking nor mere claims, rather it is what settles in the heart and actions testify to it. A person cannot be a true believer until he loves for his Muslim brother what he loves for himself and until he deals with the people in a manner he loves to be dealt with! It is well known that security is something sought after by everyone; therefore it is the responsibility of a Muslim that he is eager for the security of others in order that he can receive security and safety for himself. Also, preserving security in the land necessitates the fulfilment of trusts, whereas bringing about a state of insecurity is tantamount to treachery. Allaah [The Most High] said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amaanaat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you). And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward. O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty. [Surah Al-Anfaal. Aayaat 27-29] (2)

Shaikhul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “They [i.e. Ahlus Sunnah] know that Allaah sent Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] for the benefit of the slaves [i.e. humankind and Jinn] in this life and the next, and Allaah commands rectification and not corruption”. (3)

Believer’s Bahaviour Towards Muslim Rulers – [Supplicates For Them etc]: https://salaficentre.com/2021/02/10/believers-bahaviour-towards-muslim-rulers-advise-given-in-private-supplicate-for-them-and-refrain-from-rebellion-so-beware-of-spiteful-foreign-instigators-and-some-dangerous-social-media-networ/

[Ref 1: Source: Excerpt From a Juma-ah Khutbah: Khutbah Number 1: dated 1432-03-15: http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13208%5D

[Ref 2: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Silsilah Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Manhajiyyah Fin-Nus’hi Wal-Irshaad Wat-Taw’iyah’. Pages 7 – 27 slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Silsilah Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Manhajiyyah Fin-Nus’hi Wal-Irshaad Wat-Taw’iyah 28-30. slightly paraphrased]