In our time, some say: “We are the masters of our own affairs; it is the scholars who are in charge, not the head of state, because of the faults he has!”

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. A questioner says: Among the Muslims in our time, some say, “We are the masters of our own affairs; it is the scholars who are in charge, not the head of state, because of the faults he has.” What is the ruling on this statement, and what is your guidance regarding it?

Answer:
This is the position of the Khawarij, may Allah protect us from that. The Companions included scholars, and they obeyed Abu Bakr, and they obeyed 'Umar, and 'Uthman, and 'Ali. They did not say, “Our imam is so-and-so the scholar.” No Muslim has ever said, “Our ruler is so-and-so the scholar.” They say, “Our imam in knowledge is so-and-so,” but as for our imam in obedience and submission, no Muslim has ever said that. So, no one says this except a fool who has no mind or no religion. Yes.