We Do Not Rebel Against Our Rulers

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

سبوحٌ قدوسٌ

Holy Holy

Allah says:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَطِیۡعُوا اللّٰہَ وَاَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ وَاُولِی الۡاَمۡرِ مِنۡکُمۡ

O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Apostle, and those in authority among you

(Surah 4, Ayah 59)

Obedience to the government and the ruler is one of the fundamental teachings of Islam.

Sunni orthodoxy highly emphasizes obedience to the Muslim government, even if that government is corrupt or tyrannical. This is because anarchy is worse than tyranny.

The political philosophy of Islam may indeed be characterized as Hobbesian if we want to use modern terminology.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

تَسْمَعُ وَتُطِيعُ لِلأَمِيرِ وَإِنْ ضُرِبَ ظَهْرُكَ وَأُخِذَ مَالُكَ فَاسْمَعْ وَأَطِعْ

“You are to hear and obey the Emir [ruler], even if he beats your back and takes your wealth; hear and obey!”

(Sahih Muslim)

The Sunni Muslims are in consensus on this point that the Believers are required to hear and obey the government, and never raise the sword against it—meaning not to rise up in armed revolt—even if the government is tyrannical.

This point has been enshrined in the text of Al-Tahawiyyah, which is the most authoritative text of creed in Sunni Islam upon which all Sunnis are in agreement:

وَلَا نَرَى الْخُرُوجَ عَلَى أَئِمَّتِنَا وَوُلَاةِ أُمُورِنَا وَإِنْ جَارُوا وَلَا نَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا نَنْزِعُ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ وَنَرَى طَاعَتَهُمْ مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرِيضَةً مَا لَمْ يَأْمُرُوا بِمَعْصِيَةٍ وَنَدْعُو لَهُمْ بِالصَّلَاحِ وَالْمُعَافَاةِ

“We do not rebel against our leaders or those in charge of our affairs, even if they are tyrannical.

We do not supplicate against them, nor withdraw from obedience to them. We view obedience to them as from obedience to Allah glorified, an obligation, as long as they do not order disobedience to Allah. We supplicate on their behalf for righteousness and wellness.”

This is a point that plainly distinguishes orthodox Sunni Islam from most of the schismatic factions and sects that broke away, such as the Kharijites, Shi’ites, Murji’ites, Qadarites, Mu’tazilites, Zaydis, Ibadis, Isma’ilis, Wahhabis, Takfiris, and the modern so-called “Islamist” parties.

All of these disparate sects and parties share the common denominator of holding it permissible and at times obligatory to raise the sword against a tyrannical government.

The modern day terrorism, civil wars, and chaos that is witnessed around much of the Muslim world is due to the activity and propaganda of these non-Sunni sects and parties. Only orthodox Sunni Islam, if understood and practiced correctly, can be a force for stability and order in the Ummah.