The Ruling on Speaking About Rulers in Public and Ingratitude for Allah’s Blessings

Question:
A questioner asks: Is it considered ingratitude for Allah’s blessings for university students who were accepted into universities in this blessed country, and who are from among the students from abroad, to speak about the rulers of this country?

Answer:
It is not permissible to speak about the rulers in public. Whoever has advice for an imam, as mentioned in the hadith, should take him by the hand and explain it to him. If he accepts it, praise be to Allah; if he does not accept it, he has fulfilled what is required of him. He takes him by the hand and conveys the observation privately between them. As for publicly announcing the errors of the rulers and the errors of those in authority, this is a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that incites people against the rulers. It may be that he is the one who is mistaken, having understood it incorrectly and attributed that understanding to the rulers. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence the Shaykh,