Reconciling Obedience to the Ruler with Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
There is a difficulty in the minds of some people: how do we reconcile obedience to the Muslim ruler with, at the same time, calling to Allah, enjoining good, and forbidding evil, considering these to be obligatory in the Shari'ah, if the ruler does not permit it?
The Shaykh:
A person enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong according to his ability. He enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong according to his ability, and he prays for the one in authority for success and guidance, and for the rectification of his intention and his actions. This is because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has commanded this. He (Mighty and Majestic) said in His great Book:[At-Tawbah 9:71]. So if he has knowledge and insight, he enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong in the places where he is able to do so and at the times when he is able to do so. However, he must possess forbearance and insight, along with supplication for the rulers for success, guidance, rectification, and righteous action. This is how the believer prays for the rulers: for success, guidance, rectification, and action, and that Allah will help them to carry out His command and leave what He has forbidden. He asks Allah for them righteous advisors who will help them in doing good. And he himself does what he can by calling people to Allah. And [he says]: "Enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and fear Allah as much as you are able. Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear..."
The questioner:
With love.
There is a difficulty in the minds of some people: how do we reconcile obedience to the Muslim ruler with, at the same time, calling to Allah, enjoining good, and forbidding evil, considering these to be obligatory in the Shari'ah, if the ruler does not permit it?
The Shaykh:
A person enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong according to his ability. He enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong according to his ability, and he prays for the one in authority for success and guidance, and for the rectification of his intention and his actions. This is because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has commanded this. He (Mighty and Majestic) said in His great Book:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِThe questioner:
With love.
Source
لقاءات لابن باز - لقاء مع عالم الأمة - ابن باز — archive.org (30:30)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.