The Muslim's Position Toward One Who Mocks the Ruler and Accuses Him
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The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, here is a large group of questions on various topics. If you see fit, we will present the questions that are related to the lecture.
The Shaykh:
Yes, that is so.
The questioner:
A questioner says: What is our position toward one who mocks the ruler, accuses him of stealing money, and speaks of this in public?
The Shaykh:
You heard some speech on this matter: it is not permissible to work toward corruption regarding the ruler, even if he errs. Even if he errs, for he is not infallible; mistakes may occur from him. The remedy for this is not to speak in gatherings, because this stirs up fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), fills hearts with resentment, and spreads evil.
But the one who has knowledge should advise the ruler. He advises him in secret, between himself and the ruler, either by speaking directly, by writing, or by instructing someone who has contact with the ruler to convey the advice to him.
As for speaking about their mistakes in gatherings, this is not permissible. It does not achieve a benefit; rather, it causes harm, creates differences among people, leads to bad suspicion of one another, and spreads fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). So this speech is not permissible, and it is one of the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[An-Nisa 4:83] They spread it among the people. The people have no solution or wisdom; they broadcast it. [An-Nisa 4:83] So the one who has advice for the rulers presents it to them in secret and does not spread it among the people or publicize the mistakes. It is not permissible to publicize mistakes among the people. Rather, one advises the one who erred among the people without publicizing it and without blaming him. How much more so with the ruler? The ruler is more deserving of this, so that his mistakes are not publicized. Perhaps you are the one who erred, and the ruler is correct, because you do not know the aspects of the matters, nor do you know the causes, nor do you know.
So you must consult with the ruler through advice, so that his mistakes are not publicized. Perhaps you are the one who erred, and the ruler is correct, because you do not know the aspects of the matters, nor do you know the causes, nor do you know. So you must consult with the ruler through advice and convey to him what you see. Then the responsibility lies with him. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Honorable Shaykh, here is a large group of questions on various topics. If you see fit, we will present the questions that are related to the lecture.
The Shaykh:
Yes, that is so.
The questioner:
A questioner says: What is our position toward one who mocks the ruler, accuses him of stealing money, and speaks of this in public?
The Shaykh:
You heard some speech on this matter: it is not permissible to work toward corruption regarding the ruler, even if he errs. Even if he errs, for he is not infallible; mistakes may occur from him. The remedy for this is not to speak in gatherings, because this stirs up fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), fills hearts with resentment, and spreads evil.
But the one who has knowledge should advise the ruler. He advises him in secret, between himself and the ruler, either by speaking directly, by writing, or by instructing someone who has contact with the ruler to convey the advice to him.
As for speaking about their mistakes in gatherings, this is not permissible. It does not achieve a benefit; rather, it causes harm, creates differences among people, leads to bad suspicion of one another, and spreads fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). So this speech is not permissible, and it is one of the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread
وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُواBut if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it.
وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْSo you must consult with the ruler through advice, so that his mistakes are not publicized. Perhaps you are the one who erred, and the ruler is correct, because you do not know the aspects of the matters, nor do you know the causes, nor do you know. So you must consult with the ruler through advice and convey to him what you see. Then the responsibility lies with him. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-33-حقوق الراعي والرعية|صالح الفوزان|العام|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (42:16)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.