WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:09.779 *Riyadh al-Salihin* from the words of the Master of the Messengers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:19.760 Chapter: The obligation upon rulers to show gentleness, sincerity, and compassion to their subjects, 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:23.760 and the prohibition against deceiving them, being harsh with them, 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:28.760 neglecting their welfare, and being heedless of them and their needs. 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:32.549 Allah Almighty said: 00:00:32.549 --> 00:00:36.549 “And lower thy wing (in kindness) unto those believers who follow thee.” (26:215) 00:00:36.549 --> 00:00:38.649 And He Almighty said: 00:00:38.649 --> 00:00:44.649 “Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.” (16:90) 00:00:44.649 --> 00:00:48.649 “Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.” (16:90) 00:00:48.649 --> 00:00:52.649 "He admonishes you so that you may take heed." 00:00:52.649 --> 00:00:57.929 On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: 00:00:57.929 --> 00:01:01.929 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 00:01:01.929 --> 00:01:07.930 "Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you is responsible for his flock. 00:01:07.930 --> 00:01:11.959 The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:16.959 the man is a shepherd over his family and is responsible for his flock; 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:22.989 the woman is a shepherdess in her husband's home and is responsible for her flock; 00:01:22.989 --> 00:01:28.989 the servant is a shepherd over his master's wealth and is responsible for his flock; 00:01:28.989 --> 00:01:32.989 indeed, every one of you is a shepherd and responsible for his flock." 00:01:32.989 --> 00:01:34.989 Agreed upon. 00:01:34.989 --> 00:01:40.250 And on the authority of Abu Ya'la Ma'qil ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:01:40.250 --> 00:01:45.250 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 00:01:45.250 --> 00:01:49.250 "No servant is entrusted by Allah with the care of a flock, 00:01:49.250 --> 00:01:53.250 and dies on the day he dies while having been deceitful toward his flock, 00:01:53.250 --> 00:01:57.250 except that Allah forbids Paradise for him." 00:01:57.250 --> 00:01:59.310 Agreed upon. 00:01:59.310 --> 00:02:03.310 And in another narration: "and does not encompass them with his sincere counsel, 00:02:03.310 --> 00:02:06.469 he will not even perceive the fragrance of Paradise." 00:02:06.469 --> 00:02:08.469 And in a narration by Muslim: 00:02:08.469 --> 00:02:12.469 "No ruler is appointed over the affairs of the Muslims, 00:02:12.469 --> 00:02:15.469 and then fails to strive diligently on their behalf and advise them sincerely, 00:02:15.469 --> 00:02:18.469 except that he will not enter Paradise with them." 00:02:18.469 --> 00:02:21.110 "Entrusted with the care of" (*yustar'ihi*) 00:02:21.110 --> 00:02:25.110 means delegating to him the guardianship and governance of his subjects. 00:02:25.110 --> 00:02:27.210 "Deceitful" (*ghashsh*) 00:02:27.210 --> 00:02:30.210 means betraying them and neglecting their rights. 00:02:30.210 --> 00:02:33.300 “They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.” (5:72) 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:37.300 That is, he will not enter it alongside the successful ones at the very beginning, 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:42.530 or not at all, if he deemed deceiving and betraying the Muslims to be lawful. 00:02:42.530 --> 00:02:44.530 "Does not encompass them" 00:02:44.530 --> 00:02:47.530 means he did not protect them or safeguard their rights. 00:02:47.530 --> 00:02:49.689 "Fails to strive diligently on their behalf" 00:02:49.689 --> 00:02:52.689 means he does not exert himself for their sake. 00:02:52.689 --> 00:02:56.810 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:02:56.810 --> 00:02:58.810 The fundamental duty of rulers 00:02:58.810 --> 00:03:00.810 is to exert every effort in offering sincere advice to the Ummah, 00:03:00.810 --> 00:03:04.810 guiding it toward the obedience of Allah Almighty, 00:03:04.810 --> 00:03:07.810 and helping them establish the Sacred Law of Allah Almighty 00:03:07.810 --> 00:03:11.259 within themselves and among their families. 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:14.259 A definitive warning and a severe threat 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:16.259 against tyrannical rulers 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:19.259 who neglect the rights of their subjects, 00:03:19.259 --> 00:03:25.500 betray the interests of their Ummah, and bring them to ruin. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:28.500 On the authority of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:32.500 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:34.500 say in this house of mine: 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:38.500 "O Allah, whoever is given authority over any affair of my Ummah 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:42.539 and makes things difficult for them, make things difficult for him; 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:45.539 and whoever is given authority over any affair of my Ummah 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:48.539 and is gentle with them, be gentle with him." 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:52.430 Transmitted by Muslim. 00:03:52.430 --> 00:03:56.430 "Makes things difficult for them" means he constricts and burdens them unduly, 00:03:56.430 --> 00:03:59.620 unjustifiably, whether in word or deed. 00:03:59.620 --> 00:04:03.620 "Is gentle" means he is soft-hearted and compassionate toward them, 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:07.620 safeguarding their rights in word and deed. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:11.259 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:13.259 Recompense corresponds to the nature of the deed: 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:17.259 if a ruler burdens his Ummah and brings hardship upon them, 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:20.259 Allah will inflict worldly hardships upon him 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:22.259 by setting his enemies over him, 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:25.259 and with various forms of torment in the Hereafter. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.779 The Prophet's eager concern, peace be upon him, 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:33.779 for the well-being of his Ummah after him and his compassion toward them. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:38.990 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:04:38.990 --> 00:04:42.990 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 00:04:42.990 --> 00:04:46.990 "The Children of Israel were governed by prophets; 00:04:46.990 --> 00:04:50.990 whenever a prophet passed away, another prophet succeeded him. 00:04:50.990 --> 00:04:53.990 But indeed, there is no prophet after me, 00:04:53.990 --> 00:04:56.990 and there will be caliphs after me, and they will be numerous." 00:04:56.990 --> 00:04:59.990 They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, 00:04:59.990 --> 00:05:01.990 what do you command us to do?" 00:05:01.990 --> 00:05:05.990 He said: "Fulfill the pledge of allegiance to the first, then the next. 00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:08.990 Give them their due rights, 00:05:08.990 --> 00:05:11.990 and ask Allah for what is rightfully yours, 00:05:11.990 --> 00:05:14.990 for Allah will question them about what He entrusted to their care." 00:05:14.990 --> 00:05:18.699 Agreed upon. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:21.699 "Governed them" (*tasusuhum*) means caring for their affairs. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:25.759 "They will be numerous" means their numbers will multiply. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.920 "Fulfill the pledge of allegiance to the first" 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:30.920 means adhere to the allegiance given to him, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.920 and fulfill his right of obedience by fighting whoever rebels against him 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:37.529 and defies his authority. 00:05:37.529 --> 00:05:39.529 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:05:39.529 --> 00:05:43.750 The subjects must have a leader who attends to their affairs, 00:05:43.750 --> 00:05:46.750 steers them along the straight path, 00:05:46.750 --> 00:05:50.170 and protects them from the evil of oppressors. 00:05:50.170 --> 00:05:52.170 Those in authority (*ulu al-amr*) in this Ummah 00:05:52.170 --> 00:05:55.170 are the caliphs and the scholars, 00:05:55.170 --> 00:05:59.170 because there is no prophet after Muhammad, peace be upon him; 00:05:59.170 --> 00:06:03.170 thus, they are the ones who govern and care for the Ummah, 00:06:03.170 --> 00:06:07.620 enveloping it with sincere counsel and guidance. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:11.620 The subjects have the right to ask their rulers for gentleness 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.620 and for exertion of effort in looking after their welfare. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:19.129 Giving priority to religious matters over worldly matters, 00:06:19.129 --> 00:06:22.129 because the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:06:22.129 --> 00:06:25.129 commanded fulfilling the right of the ruler 00:06:25.129 --> 00:06:28.129 for the sake of elevating the word of the religion 00:06:28.129 --> 00:06:30.610 and suppressing civil strife (*fitnah*). 00:06:30.610 --> 00:06:34.610 The pledge of allegiance is only obligatory to the single leader of the Muslim community. 00:06:34.610 --> 00:06:39.149 It is not permissible to contract the pledge of allegiance to two caliphs at the same time; 00:06:39.149 --> 00:06:42.149 rather, it is binding only for the first. 00:06:42.149 --> 00:06:44.149 Whoever rises to contest his authority, 00:06:44.149 --> 00:06:48.149 he must be executed, whomever he may be. 00:06:48.149 --> 00:06:50.759 The immense responsibility of the ruler, 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:56.759 for Allah will question him concerning his governance and his subjects. 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:02.110 This hadith is among the signs of his prophethood, peace be upon him, 00:07:02.110 --> 00:07:05.110 as it foretells what would occur within this Ummah 00:07:05.110 --> 00:07:07.110 regarding the multiplicity of rulers, 00:07:07.110 --> 00:07:10.110 their disputes, and their rivalry. 00:07:10.110 --> 00:07:14.389 On the authority of 'A'idh ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:07:14.389 --> 00:07:18.389 who entered upon 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad 00:07:18.389 --> 00:07:20.389 and said to him: 00:07:20.389 --> 00:07:21.389 "O my son, 00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:26.389 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 00:07:26.389 --> 00:07:29.389 'The worst of shepherds are the cruel and oppressive,' 00:07:29.389 --> 00:07:32.389 so beware of being one of them." 00:07:32.389 --> 00:07:34.389 Agreed upon. 00:07:34.389 --> 00:07:37.579 On the authority of Abu Maryam al-Azdi (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:41.579 who said to Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him): 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:46.579 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:50.579 "Whoever is entrusted by Allah with any affair of the Muslims, 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:55.579 yet conceals himself from their needs, destitution, and poverty, 00:07:55.579 --> 00:08:01.579 Allah will conceal Himself from his needs, destitution, and poverty on the Day of Resurrection." 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:05.740 Thereupon, Mu'awiyah appointed a man to attend to the needs of the people. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:10.100 Transmitted by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi. 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:17.089 "Conceals himself" means he ignores their welfare, hides from their petitions, 00:08:17.089 --> 00:08:21.089 and prevents those in need from reaching him. 00:08:21.089 --> 00:08:25.410 "Their destitution" (*khallatahum*) means their need and poverty. 00:08:25.410 --> 00:08:29.180 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:31.370 Recompense corresponds to the nature of the deed: 00:08:31.370 --> 00:08:37.370 whoever hides himself from the servants of Allah, Allah will conceal Himself from him on the Day of Summoning. 00:08:37.370 --> 00:08:42.779 A warning to rulers against turning away from fulfilling the needs of their subjects 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:45.779 and preventing them from gaining access to them, 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:49.779 because people need a leader to ward off injustice from them, 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:54.779 restore rights to their owners, and alleviate their poverty. 00:08:54.779 --> 00:09:01.330 The swiftness of the Companions in adhering to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:09:01.330 --> 00:09:05.330 and their profound fear of meeting Allah. 00:09:05.330 --> 00:09:09.460 For here is Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with them both): 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.460 when this hadith reached him, 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:18.460 he hastened to appoint a man to oversee and fulfill the needs of the people. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:22.000 An isolated narration (*khabar al-wahid*) is authoritative in itself, 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.000 which is why Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) acted upon it. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:32.419 The hadith contains proof of the believers seeing their Lord on the Day of Resurrection, 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:38.419 for when Allah, Glorified and Exalted, conceals Himself from His enemies so that they do not see Him, 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:41.419 He manifests Himself to His allies so that they gaze upon Him. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:45.419 The confirmation of that is found in the Book of Allah Almighty: 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:51.419 “Nay, but surely on that day they will be covered from (the mercy of) their Lord.” (83:15) 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:57.419 And this verse was cited by al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) as proof for this issue. 00:09:57.419 --> 00:10:03.070 Chapter: The Just Ruler. 00:10:03.070 --> 00:10:10.639 Allah Almighty said: "Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence." 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:17.639 And He Almighty said: "And act justly; indeed, Allah loves the just." 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:21.889 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), 00:10:21.889 --> 00:10:25.889 from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: 00:10:25.889 --> 00:10:31.889 "Seven whom Allah will shade under His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His: 00:10:31.889 --> 00:10:33.919 a just ruler; 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:37.919 a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah Almighty; 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:41.919 a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.919 two men who love each other for the sake of Allah, 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:48.919 meeting for His sake and parting for His sake; 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:53.019 a man who is invited by a woman of noble status and beauty, 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:56.019 yet he says: 'Indeed, I fear Allah'; 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:59.080 a man who gives charity 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:05.080 and conceals it such that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent; 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:10.110 and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes overflow with tears." 00:11:10.110 --> 00:11:12.240 Agreed upon. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:17.620 On the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:21.620 The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:26.659 "Indeed, the just will be with Allah upon pulpits of light: 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:31.690 those who are just in their rulings, toward their families, and over whatever authority they hold." 00:11:31.690 --> 00:11:33.779 Transmitted by Muslim. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:38.649 "In their rulings" means in their judicial decisions. 00:11:38.649 --> 00:11:44.809 "Whatever authority they hold" means whatever has been placed under their governance and stewardship. 00:11:44.809 --> 00:11:48.610 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:11:48.610 --> 00:11:51.830 The virtue of justice and the encouragement toward it. 00:11:51.830 --> 00:11:55.279 Responsibility in the Muslim community is shared, 00:11:55.279 --> 00:12:01.279 and the matter of governance extends to every stewardship, whether large or small, 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:06.279 even reaching a man's care of his family and a woman's care of her household. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:11.730 The exalted status of the just with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. 00:12:11.730 --> 00:12:16.139 The variation in the ranks of the people of faith on the Day of Resurrection, 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:19.139 each according to his deeds. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:24.330 On the authority of 'Awf ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:12:24.330 --> 00:12:29.330 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 00:12:29.330 --> 00:12:35.330 "The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, 00:12:35.330 --> 00:12:39.330 for whom you pray and who pray for you; 00:12:39.330 --> 00:12:45.330 and the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you, 00:12:45.330 --> 00:12:48.330 whom you curse and who curse you." 00:12:48.330 --> 00:12:53.389 He said: We said, "O Messenger of Allah, should we not overthrow them?" 00:12:53.389 --> 00:12:58.389 He said: "No, as long as they establish the prayer among you; 00:12:58.389 --> 00:13:02.389 no, as long as they establish the prayer among you." 00:13:02.389 --> 00:13:04.490 Transmitted by Muslim. 00:13:04.490 --> 00:13:09.620 His saying "you pray for them" means you supplicate for them. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:13.059 Among the lessons of the hadith: 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:17.340 The Ummah must inevitably have a leader, whether righteous or wicked: 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:20.340 as for the righteous one, his benefit is obvious, 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:26.340 As for the wicked ruler, Allah may indeed support this religion through a wicked man, 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:30.340 and through him, legal punishments are established, highways are secured, 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:34.340 the enemy is fought, and war revenues are distributed. 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:37.820 Leaders should be urged to maintain justice among the subjects, 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:40.820 so that mutual harmony may be fostered between them. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:46.269 People should be urged to obey those in authority in matters that do not involve sin. 00:13:46.269 --> 00:13:50.820 It is impermissible to rebel against the authority of the rulers 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:55.820 as long as they uphold the rites of Islam and do not display open disbelief. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:14:01.230 It is recommended to pray for a believing ruler to have success and sound guidance, 00:14:01.230 --> 00:14:07.230 and for a deviant one to receive guidance and righteousness, in an unrestricted prayer, 00:14:07.230 --> 00:14:11.230 without restricting such prayers solely to the Friday sermon or the two Eid sermons, 00:14:11.230 --> 00:14:14.230 for that was an innovation introduced by certain rulers 00:14:14.230 --> 00:14:18.230 to ensure that their subjects remained firmly under their grip. 00:14:18.230 --> 00:14:21.620 Clarifying the vital importance of prayer, 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:25.620 and that it is the pillar of the religion and one of its fundamental pillars. 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:30.799 On the authority of 'Iyad ibn Himar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:35.799 I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:37.799 "The people of Paradise are of three kinds: 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:41.799 A just ruler who is divinely guided to doing good; 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:47.799 a merciful man who is soft-hearted toward every relative and Muslim; 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:51.799 and a chaste, self-restrained man who has dependents." 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:53.799 Narrated by Muslim. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:58.700 Whomever among the rulers Allah Almighty intends good for, 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:01.700 He grants him success in establishing justice among his subjects, 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:04.700 treating them with benevolence, and offering them sincere counsel. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:10.299 Encouraging treating all people with gentleness and kindness. 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:17.139 The virtue of refraining from begging and seeking provision through honest earning. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:23.139 Justice, benevolence, and chastity are noble traits that necessitate entry into Paradise. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:27.870 Riyad al-Salihin.