The Ruling on Deviating from the Methodology of the Salaf in Dealing with Rulers
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His Eminence the Shaykh: You mentioned in your speech regarding the Salafiyyah, so the question is: there is a man who appears to follow the Salaf and his creed is sound, and he has many good deeds, but he deviated from the Salaf in the methodology of dealing with the ruler. Does this make him leave the Salafiyyah and become an innovator?
There is no doubt that the methodology of the Salaf is to be patient with the harm of the rulers, to make du'a for them, and to establish Jumu'ah and the festivals with them, as Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah: "It is the way of the people of the Sunnah and the community to establish Jumu'ah, the festivals, Hajj, and jihad with the rulers, whether they are righteous or wicked."
And just as Imam Ahmad and other imams dealt with the rulers by what the situation required, such as making du'a for them, asking for guidance for them, and not disclosing their faults to the people. Silence regarding error is a mistake, and spreading error is a mistake. The truth between this and that, as it is in all things, is the middle path.And the middle path is best: [Al-Furqan: 67] .
As for the issue of whether he leaves the Salafiyyah or does not leave it, that is another matter. The point is that the madhab of the Salaf is patience with the rulers, making du'a for them, not inciting the people against them, and settling matters.Rather, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Listen and obey, even if they beat your back and take your wealth) In this issue about which the question was asked, this man has deviated from the madhab of the Salaf in dealing with the rulers, but he may be upon the madhab of the Salaf from another aspect.
This issue is among the most dangerous things for the common people, for the rulers, and for everyone; because if people's hearts are filled with hatred for the rulers, they become corrupt and begin to rebel against his command and oppose him. They see his good deeds as bad, and they spread the bad deeds while hiding the good ones. If this is added to belittling the scholars, then the religion also becomes corrupt. The people's rebellion against the rulers is a disruption of security, and the people's rebellion against the scholars is a corruption of the Shari'ah; because if people do not trust their scholars regarding the Shari'ah of Allah, then in whom will they trust, the ignorant? Or will every person follow his own head and issue fatwas for himself? This does not stand.
There is no doubt that the methodology of the Salaf is to be patient with the harm of the rulers, to make du'a for them, and to establish Jumu'ah and the festivals with them, as Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah: "It is the way of the people of the Sunnah and the community to establish Jumu'ah, the festivals, Hajj, and jihad with the rulers, whether they are righteous or wicked."
And just as Imam Ahmad and other imams dealt with the rulers by what the situation required, such as making du'a for them, asking for guidance for them, and not disclosing their faults to the people. Silence regarding error is a mistake, and spreading error is a mistake. The truth between this and that, as it is in all things, is the middle path.And the middle path is best:
And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَاماًAs for the issue of whether he leaves the Salafiyyah or does not leave it, that is another matter. The point is that the madhab of the Salaf is patience with the rulers, making du'a for them, not inciting the people against them, and settling matters.Rather, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Listen and obey, even if they beat your back and take your wealth) In this issue about which the question was asked, this man has deviated from the madhab of the Salaf in dealing with the rulers, but he may be upon the madhab of the Salaf from another aspect.
This issue is among the most dangerous things for the common people, for the rulers, and for everyone; because if people's hearts are filled with hatred for the rulers, they become corrupt and begin to rebel against his command and oppose him. They see his good deeds as bad, and they spread the bad deeds while hiding the good ones. If this is added to belittling the scholars, then the religion also becomes corrupt. The people's rebellion against the rulers is a disruption of security, and the people's rebellion against the scholars is a corruption of the Shari'ah; because if people do not trust their scholars regarding the Shari'ah of Allah, then in whom will they trust, the ignorant? Or will every person follow his own head and issue fatwas for himself? This does not stand.