How do we understand the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : How do we understand the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah: "Indeed, Allah supports the just state even if it is a disbeliever, and He does not support the oppressive state even if it is Muslim"?
The Shaykh : Did he use the word "supports"?
The questioner : Some people attribute this to him. Look at the text.
The Shaykh : In any case, what we know in this matter is not that Allah supports [them], but it is known from the divine cosmic laws that any state that applies justice lives in peace and harmony, and the people do not rise against it, regardless of its religion and creed. And the opposite is the opposite: when a state is perfectly unified in its creed, with a Salafi tawhid that is more complete than any other, but it oppresses the nation and does not provide them with their rights, this oppression will be a cause for the people to rise against this Muslim ruler who holds the correct creed, because he does not apply justice to the people over whom he rules. And there is nothing that prevents this at all. In fact, there is perhaps a verse that points to this meaning, so help us recall it. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh, is it permissible...
The student : Help us.
The Shaykh : Of course, a verse, and its people are reformers. What is the beginning?
The student : And your Lord was not...
The Shaykh[Hud 11:117] Yes, indeed [Hud 11:117] The word was interpreted to mean "not oppressive" [Hud 11:117], although the meaning we understand is broader than that: "reformers" means complete reform, i.e., Muslims, because Islam and oppression are not conceivable together, as we explained earlier regarding some individuals who should hold fast to Islam. In them, justice will be realized, just as correct or good character is realized in them, and just as the correct creed is realized in their selves and hearts.
The Shaykh : Did he use the word "supports"?
The questioner : Some people attribute this to him. Look at the text.
The Shaykh : In any case, what we know in this matter is not that Allah supports [them], but it is known from the divine cosmic laws that any state that applies justice lives in peace and harmony, and the people do not rise against it, regardless of its religion and creed. And the opposite is the opposite: when a state is perfectly unified in its creed, with a Salafi tawhid that is more complete than any other, but it oppresses the nation and does not provide them with their rights, this oppression will be a cause for the people to rise against this Muslim ruler who holds the correct creed, because he does not apply justice to the people over whom he rules. And there is nothing that prevents this at all. In fact, there is perhaps a verse that points to this meaning, so help us recall it. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh, is it permissible...
The student : Help us.
The Shaykh : Of course, a verse, and its people are reformers. What is the beginning?
The student : And your Lord was not...
The Shaykh
And your Lord
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَAnd your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَand its people were reformers
وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَAnd your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.