DICTATOR
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
“Dictator”- Neither Is The Meaning of This Word Nor The Manner In Which To Deal With The One Who Deserves The Description Decided For Us By Secularists, Regime Change Proponents, Demagogues, Ideologues and Rabble-rousers.
One of the general fundamental principles (in Islaam) is to know that words are two types: words that are mentioned in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, therefore, it is obligated on every believer to affirm them – affirm what Allaah and His Messenger have affirmed and negate what Allaah and His Messenger have negated. The words affirmed by Allaah is truth and the ones Allaah negated are (negated) in truth, because indeed Allaah speaks the truth and guides to the straight path. The words of the Sharee’ah are sanctified and it is from perfection in knowledge that one seeks after the meanings which the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] intended by them, in order to affirm what he affirmed and negate the meanings he negated, because it is obligated on us to believe and bear witness to everything he has stated and follow him in everything he has commanded.
As for the words that are neither found in the Qur’am and Sunnah, nor did the pious predecessors hold a consensus regarding whether they are negated or affirmed, it is not incumbent on anyone to agree with the one who negates them or affirms them until its intended meaning is explained. So, if its intended meaning agrees with the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, it is affirmed; but if its intended meaning is in opposition to the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, it is rejected. (1)
What is a dictator in the English language? They say that it is a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force; a leader who has complete power in a country and has not been elected by the people; a person granted absolute emergency power; one holding complete autocratic control: a person with unlimited governmental power; one ruling with absolute power and often in an oppressive way; a dictator is a ruler who has complete power in a country, especially power which was obtained by force and is used unfairly or cruelly.
Observations:
Firstly, in Islam, the ruler is not elected through a democratic process; rather, he is elected based on that which Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him] stated as follows: “After the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] died, there were differences of opinion about how the Muslims should be led and who should be given the leadership and authority. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) agreed that only the Qur’aan and Sunnah had the authority to tell the people what to do. They decided after looking into the Sunnah that Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him) should be their leader – and that he would rule over them in accordance to the Qur’aan and Sunnah. So he was the first Caliph. The second Caliph, Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed by Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). The third Caliph, ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen by a committee of the major disciples of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who were appointed by ‘Umar before he passed away. The fourth Caliph, ‘Ali Ibn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed by the major Companions after the assassination of ‘Uthmaan. ‘Ali gave his pledge of allegiance to the previous three Caliphs and supported them fully. He even named his children after them”. https://www.abukhadeejah.com/sunni-and-shiah-islam-islam-1-13/
Secondly, in Islam, both the ruler and subjects are commanded by Allaah [The Exalted] and His final Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] to submit to the Sharee’ah without any reservation and judge by it. Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُكُمۡ أَن تُؤَدُّواْ ٱلۡأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمۡتُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحۡكُمُواْ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦۤۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً
Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer. O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayaat 58-59]
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: The scholars say that the first verse was revealed regarding the rulers – that it is obligated on them to render back the trusts to those whom they are due and that when they judge between the people they do so with justice. And the second verse was revealed regarding those under the ruler’s authority, the armies and other than them- that it is obligated on them to obey the rulers who establish justice in their distributions, rulings, military expeditions and other affairs, except when they command one to commit an act of disobedience to Allaah, because there cannot be obedience to the creation in disobedience to Allaah. And if they differ in any matter, they should return to the book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. If the rulers do not do this, then they are only obeyed in that which is in agreement with obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, their rights are fulfilled just as Allaah and His Messenger commanded and they are aided in righteousness and piety, but not in sin and transgression. (2)
Thirdly, it not permissible to seek leadership or rebel against a Muslim ruler whether he is pious or sinful. Imaam Al-Bukhaari [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “’Chapter: If somebody does not seek authority of ruling, then Allaah will surely help him [if he is given such authority].’’ Narrated Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Samura: The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, ‘’O Abdur-Rahmaan! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking [for it], then you will be helped [by Allaah] in it. If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, Number 7146]
The one who seeks authority and receives it will not be helped. It is well known that to be in authority is accompanied by difficulties, so the one who does not receive help from Allaah will be trapped within it and thus loses both his Dunyah and Aakhirah. Therefore, the sensible person does not ask for authority, but if he is suitable and it is given to him without him asking for it, then indeed the truthful and trustworthy one [i.e. The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wsallam)] has promised him that Allaah will help him. (3)
Therefore, there is no such thing as democratic elections in Islam, rather this would violate the command that one is not allowed to seek leadership. Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah protect him] stated, “How many violations against the religion are committed by way of elections, such as having alliances with atheist parties, communist and innovated parties and what that necessitates with regards to destruction of Al-Walaa Wal Baraa (loyalty and disassociation for the sake of Allaah)? How much money is spent and stolen from the Muslims in the the name of Islam? And the Muslims spend it bribing those who will vote for them by lying and falling into sin”. (4)
Al-Allaamah Saaleh al-Fawzaan [may Allaah protect him] stated, “And as for the elections (that are) well-known (and implemented) today in the various nations, then they are not from the Islamic order. Chaos, personal aspirations enter into them, as do greed and favouritism (bias). Tribulations and the shedding of blood result from them and the desired goal is not attained by them. Rather, they are just a ground for bids (i.e. campaigns), buying and selling and false claims”. (5)
Al-Allaamah Badiyuddeen Shah Sindee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Did the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] give us this ideology (i.e. democratic elections), did the rightly guided Khulafaa give us this ideology, or did the four Imaams give us this ideology? Who gave us this ideology? An ideology emerged from Europe and you accepted, you deemed the path of the Messenger deficient! Let me ask you one question. Are there any opposing political parties in the Sharee’ah. If the government was established for the sake of Allaah, and someone stood in opposition of it, what would become of him? There would be hostility everywhere. Democracy safeguards these hostilities, and this is why evil is given a chance to exist. It is for this reason that these people who are starving for power attempt to win power and fight (amongst each other). Has Islaam not taught you how to run the governments? Did the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] not establish an Islamic government in the midst of the kingdom of disbelief (i.e. whilst the disbelievers were present and had been in charge prior to that)? How did the Messenger establish this government? He acted upon Allaah’s guidance and he was successful, Allaah gave him victory and success. All forces were in opposition to the Messenger and they still are- the forces of these selfish maulvis (religious leaders), the forces of saints (peers), and the forces of the wealthy. All of these groups are against each other but are united against Allaah’s Messenger. The time came when the Messenger was given victory, and he announced on the hill of Safaa, “There is none worthy of worship except Allaah alone, and He aided His salve, and completed His promise, and He by Himself defeated the forces”. This is Islaam, and this is our methodology, and this is our leader (i.e. Muhammad – peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)]”. (6)
Al-Allaamah Muhammand Amaan Al-Jaami [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated during his lifetime: “We neither live in this country under parliamentary majority rule in which is found numerous partisan parties nor do we live under a dictator who rules by the sword; neither are we ruled by an individual nor by a group. We are ruled by the Laws of Allaah. The rulers of this country are only considered to be authorities who implement (the Islamic laws) and they are not considered to be those who have authority over the Islamic laws. There cannot be found among us those who have authority over the Islamic law and its existence is not permissible; rather it is not permissible to find among the muslims those who have authority over the Islamic laws, who legislate alongside Allaah. We rule by the laws of Allaah in this country and this is something well known, even to the man who works in the market”. (7)
How do we deal with the Muslim rulers when they are oppressive? Read article on this link by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah: https://abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/
Rebellion against a Muslim ruler is forbidden and the one who seeks to rebel must be fought.
‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Abd Rabbil-Ka’bah said: “I came to ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin ‘As when he was sitting in the shade of the Ka’bah, and the people were gathered around him, and I heard him say: ‘While we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, he stopped to camp and some of us were pitching tents, some were competing in shooting arrows and some were taking the animals out to graze them. Then his caller called out: “As-Salatu Jami’ah (prayer is about to begin).” So we gathered, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and addressed us. He said: “There has never been a Prophet before me who was not obliged to tell his nation of what he knew was good for them, and to warn against what he knew was bad for them. With regard to this nation of yours, soundness (of religious commitment) and well-being has been placed in its earlier generations and the last of them will be afflicted with calamities and things that you dislike. Then there will come tribulations which will make the earlier ones pale into significance, and the believer will say: ‘This will be the end of me,’ then relief will come. Then (more) tribulations will come and the believer will say: ‘This will be the end of me,’ then relief will come. Whoever would like to be taken far away from Hell and admitted to Paradise, let him die believing in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat people as he would like to be treated. Whoever gives his oath of allegiance to a ruler and gives a sincere promise, let him obey him as much as he can, and if another comes and challenges him, let them strike the neck (i.e., kill) the second one.'” He the narrator said: “I raised my head among the people and said: ‘I adjure you by Allah, did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?’ He (‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As) pointed with his hand to his ears and said: I heard it directly from him and memorized it.'” [Sunan Ibn Maajah 3956]
However, if a person comes along and fights – even though rebellion is forbidden – until he overcomes others and establishes authority in the land, he should be obyed. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “I command you to have fear of Allaah, and to listen and obey even if a slave is placed in charge of authority over you…”. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said regarding the statement of the Prophet, “Even if a slave is placed in charge of authority over you”; this is from an angle of giving an example – meaning the ruler is not belittled regardless who he is, even if he is a slave. As long as he is a leader of the Muslims, his personality is not belittled; rather his position and rulership is given consideration. As long as he has authority and the oath of allegiance has been given to him, then indeed it is obligatory to obey him [in good], even if he has mistakes….” [An Excerpt from Al-Mirhatur Rabbaaniyyah page 224]
Imaam Ibn Rajab [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The rulers and the leaders of the believers are to be obeyed and listened to [i.e. in good], whether he is a pious person or a wicked sinner, as well as whoever takes over the khilaafah and the people unite behind him and are pleased with him, and the one who overcome the people with the sword until he became the Khaleefah and is named leader of the Believers“. [UsoolAs-Sunnah. Riwaayatu Abdoos. Page 64]
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “It is obligatory to obey the leader even if he is not king. It is well known that the Muslim Ummah – since the early era – have had a Khaleefah and king, and there are leaders of countries. Therefore, if it is obligatory to obey a leader, then more so a king is to be obeyed”. [Sharh Arba’een. Page 279]
How to Advise The Muslim Ruler: 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/
Indeed, neither do the spiteful militant secularists want Muslim governments to employ robust safeguards against misinformation internally and external unless it benefits them nor prosecute their stooges in the Muslim lands, because this is one of those paths through which they destabilize Muslim societies. In addition to this, many of us have witnessed the double standards of some owners of social networking websites and microblogging sites when they – sometimes – refuse to remove the accounts of those associated with social unrest in Muslim societies, but would instead accuse Muslim authorities of dictatorship. However, when citizens of their nations seek to destabilize their countries, they permanently remove the accounts of those people considered to be rabble rousers as well as the accounts of those influential personalities who discredit and question the integrity of their important political and social institutions- one rule for themselves and another for other countries. Read here: Importance of Safety In The Lands – [A Brief Rebuttal Against Initiators of Protests, Revolutions And Regime Change]: https://salaficentre.com/2021/01/18/importance-of-safety-in-the-lands-a-brief-rebuttal-against-initiators-of-protests-revolutions-and-regime-change/
To conclude: firstly, we clearly understand that in Islam rulership is based on the infallible Sharee’ah. Our Creator is the only able to tell us the rights each of us deserves in all circunstances, as Al-Allaamah Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh [may Allaah preserve him] stated, “When a human being wants to give rights to another person, he will not be free from desires, because the one who codifies laws, regardless of what that may be, will include his desires in it. And because of this, you will find that Western man made laws, such as French man made law, American man made law and other man made laws are subject to change from time to time – either because the law was first initiated for the sake of the country’s interests when it was established, or due to the influence of the [influential personalities or leaders etc] in that country in some matters, or because the time changed and thus the circumstances changed. And due to this, Allaah clarified that the pre-Islamic judgement is tantamount to a judgement based on desires. Allaah [Glorified be He] said: [وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ – And so judge (you O Muhammad) between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires]. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 49] Every ruling that contradicts the ruling of the divine Islamic legislation must have been dominated by desires and thus it is prevented from been correct (or upright). And there is no doubt that desires divert people from fulfilling rights in the manner it should be fulfilled. (8)
Secondly, Muslim rulers are not above the Sharee’ah, rather they are commanded by their Creator to judge by the Sharee’ah; but when they err – either due to violating the Sharee’ah or become oppressive, we are commanded to obey them in good and refrain from their transgressions as clarified by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah in this link: https://abukhadeejah.com/the-tyranny-of-the-rulers-a-reason-for-rebellion/
Also read: A Treatise on Ruling by Other than What Allaah has Revealed:
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ05&articleID=MNJ050003&pfriend=
Thirdly, some of the vile journalists always accuse Muslim rulers of dictatorship when they strive to establish the Sharee’ah, even though such a deed is praiseworthy in the Sight of Allaah. Allaah [The Exalted] said:
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَاۚ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَيَخۡشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقۡهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَآٮِٕزُونَ
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur’an) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the prosperous ones (who will live forever in Paradise). And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (), fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones. [Surah An-Noor. Aayaat 51-52]
Therefore, the word (or term) dictator must be examined under the definition of the Sharee’ah and not based on the opinions of modernists, secularists, philosophers, activists or so called political scientists, rather, all the concepts of these people must be critically examined, as we quoted in the beginning of this article that “As for the words that are neither found in the Qur’am and Sunnah, nor did the pious predecessors hold a consensus regarding whether they are negated or affirmed, it is not incumbent on anyone to agree with the one who negates them or affirms them until its intended meaning is explained. So, if its intended meaning agrees with the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, it is affirmed; but if its intended meaning is in opposition to the (revelation, commands, prohibitions etc) conveyed by the Messenger, it is rejected”.
And ponder upon Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan’s statement and do not expect perfection in rulers just as none else should expect perfection in your affairs. The Shaikh stated: “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 in exercising patience. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah 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’. And 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. https://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/ar/node/13208
As for Muslims living in the West, they are commanded to fulfil their covenants and behave well towards everyone. Must read artitcles by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah and Shaikh Abu Iyaadh [may Allaah preserve them]
Living With Non-Muslims In The West: With Fine Conduct
Informing the Authorities of Terrorist Plots—By Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah (may Allaah preserve him)
The Prophet of Islam would not kill diplomats, ambassadors, emissaries or foreign delegations even if they were sent by the worst of his enemies.
[Ref 1: Excerpt from ‘Al-Haqeeqatus Shar’iyyah Fee Tafseeril Qur’aan Al-A’dheem Was-Sunnatin Nabawiyyah’ page 17]
[Ref 2: An Excerpt from ‘As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar’iyyah 16-18]
[Ref 3: An Excerpt: Chapter: (باب من لم يسأل الإمارة أعانه الله عليها )in ‘kitaab al Ahkaam’ Saheeh Al-Bukhaari with Fat-hul Baari]
[Ref 4: Salafitalk.net]
[Ref 5: The Ruling on Elections and Demonstrations Al-Jareedat ul-Jazeerah, Issue 11358, Ramadaan 1424 (3rd September 2003). Translated by salafipublications.com)]
[Ref 6: Salafitalk.net]
[Ref 7: Ad-durar As-saniyyah Fee Thanaa Al-Ulamaa Alal Mamlakati Al-Arabiyyah As-Su’oodiyyah pages 43-44 with the introduction of Al-Allaamah Zayd Bin Haadi and Al-Allaamah Ahmad An-Najmi (may Allaah have mercy upon them)]
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