Refuting the Doubt Regarding Criticizing Rulers in Public Under the Claim of the Method of Dealing
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Question:
The questioner says: Many of those who disparage the scholars and their method say, "We do not disparage the authority, nor obedience and listening, but we disparage the method of dealing with the rulers. Facilitating matters for them and remaining silent about their errors that concern the society. Therefore, we denounce them in public. What is your response to this doubt, especially since it is being spread among the young people?"
Answer:
The rulers, unlike the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), are not infallible. They have errors, and it is obligatory to advise them. However, advising them does not mean speaking about them in gatherings, on pulpits, in audio recordings, or in books that incite people. This is not advice; it is exposing them, stirring up evil, and creating division between the ruler and the subjects. Advice is conveying the counsel to them privately between you and them, either by speaking to them face-to-face, or by writing a private letter delivered directly to their hands, or by instructing someone who has contact with them to convey it to them secretly. The advice should be secret and reach them in a confidential manner. This is what advice is.
The questioner says: Many of those who disparage the scholars and their method say, "We do not disparage the authority, nor obedience and listening, but we disparage the method of dealing with the rulers. Facilitating matters for them and remaining silent about their errors that concern the society. Therefore, we denounce them in public. What is your response to this doubt, especially since it is being spread among the young people?"
Answer:
The rulers, unlike the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), are not infallible. They have errors, and it is obligatory to advise them. However, advising them does not mean speaking about them in gatherings, on pulpits, in audio recordings, or in books that incite people. This is not advice; it is exposing them, stirring up evil, and creating division between the ruler and the subjects. Advice is conveying the counsel to them privately between you and them, either by speaking to them face-to-face, or by writing a private letter delivered directly to their hands, or by instructing someone who has contact with them to convey it to them secretly. The advice should be secret and reach them in a confidential manner. This is what advice is.
Source
شرح فضل الإسلام [ صالح الفوزان ]، باب ما جاء في غربة الإسلام وفضل الغرباء — islamhouse.com (1:02:28)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.