What is the ruling on a soldier evading the performance of his duty?

Question:
May Allah answer you. Sometimes we receive orders from the senior leadership to stand guard and remain at our posts within the camps, but unfortunately, there are people who are absent after becoming aware of that order. What is the ruling on that in your view, Your Eminence?

Answer:
It is obligatory for the Muslim soldier, whether he is an officer or not, to adhere to orders, comply with orders, and take care to execute them in all circumstances. It is not permissible to neglect one’s duty, whether by a soldier or by anyone else; execution of the duty is obligatory. Allah the Exalted says: and I warn you to obey the rulers. The necessary order is . He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: because obedience to the commanders is obedience to those in authority. Through this, affairs are rectified, conditions become stable, and orders are executed. The enemy retreats, security is established, and affairs settle. However, with disobedience and violations, affairs are lost, the order of society is disrupted, security is not maintained, and disasters occur due to discord. Therefore, it is obligatory for the soldier and every Muslim to listen and obey. These matters are like what is known: in obedience, or rather in what is beneficial for people, in what they have planned and made difficult for them, they must comply and obey, unless they know that the matter is a sin against Allah. No one is to be obeyed in sin. If someone says, “Mix the wine,” do not obey in drinking wine. If someone says, “Disobey your father,” do not obey in disobeying his parents. If someone says, “Commit zina,” do not obey in zina. Thus, no one is to be obeyed in sin; obedience is only in what is right. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And the one who neglects his duty deserves to be disciplined; he deserves to be subjected to discretionary punishment, except in a lawful jihad.