The existence of a single imam for the Muslims today
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Your Excellency the Shaykh, the questioner asks: Is there today a single imam who is the great imam?
Answer:
Where is he? Some of those who want to cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) claim this; they want fitnah. A single imam has not existed since the fall of the Abbasid state. A single imam did not come to be. The Muslims became states, each state having its own rule and its own jurisdictions. The scholars did not deny this matter, and they did not say, "You must gather." That did not happen.
Each state has its own rule and its own jurisdictions, and it is obligatory for those within it to listen to and obey their imam.[At-Taghabun 64:16] If it is not possible to unite the Muslims under a single imam, then at the very least, they should be Islamic states, each state ruling by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, and establishing Islam in its land. Yes.
The presenter:
Thank you for that, Honorable Shaykh,
Your Excellency the Shaykh, the questioner asks: Is there today a single imam who is the great imam?
Answer:
Where is he? Some of those who want to cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) claim this; they want fitnah. A single imam has not existed since the fall of the Abbasid state. A single imam did not come to be. The Muslims became states, each state having its own rule and its own jurisdictions. The scholars did not deny this matter, and they did not say, "You must gather." That did not happen.
Each state has its own rule and its own jurisdictions, and it is obligatory for those within it to listen to and obey their imam.
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْThe presenter:
Thank you for that, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
شرح كتاب الكبائر للإمام محمد بن عبد الوهاب، تتمة باب ما جاء في الفتن — islamhouse.com (1:13:08)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.