The Imam Ahmad’s School of Jurisprudence Regarding Supplication for the Ruler
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
His Eminence the Shaykh: Is it established from Imam Ahmad that he said: “When you see a man supplicating for the one in authority, know that he is a follower of the Sunnah”?
By Allah! I do not know, but if it is not established from him with a chain of narration, it is his school of jurisprudence in reality; because it is narrated from him and from al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (may Allah have mercy on them both) that they said: “If I knew that I had a supplication that would be answered, I would direct it to the ruler, so it is not far-fetched that this is the case; because the one who does not supplicate for the ruler has in him an innovation from among ugly innovations,and she: the Khawarij (rebellion against the imams) — and if I were sincere to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the imams of the Muslims, and the common people, I would supplicate for the ruler; because if the ruler is righteous, the people are righteous, whereas some people, when they see deviation in their ruler, are told: “Supplicate to Allah to guide him,”He said: No, no, Allah will not guide him, but I supplicate to Allah to destroy him! How will Allah not guide him? Did Allah not guide some of the imams of disbelief?! He guided them. Then, if it is decreed that Allah destroys him, as you now wish, who will take over after him? Who is the alternative? Now, ask the people of the countries about the Arab peoples who rose in revolution: Which is better: when the countries were monarchies, or when they were revolutionary? They will say with one voice, at one time, standing and sitting and on their sides: When they were monarchies, it was a thousand times better, and this is a clear matter.
By Allah! I do not know, but if it is not established from him with a chain of narration, it is his school of jurisprudence in reality; because it is narrated from him and from al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (may Allah have mercy on them both) that they said: “If I knew that I had a supplication that would be answered, I would direct it to the ruler, so it is not far-fetched that this is the case; because the one who does not supplicate for the ruler has in him an innovation from among ugly innovations,and she: the Khawarij (rebellion against the imams) — and if I were sincere to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the imams of the Muslims, and the common people, I would supplicate for the ruler; because if the ruler is righteous, the people are righteous, whereas some people, when they see deviation in their ruler, are told: “Supplicate to Allah to guide him,”He said: No, no, Allah will not guide him, but I supplicate to Allah to destroy him! How will Allah not guide him? Did Allah not guide some of the imams of disbelief?! He guided them. Then, if it is decreed that Allah destroys him, as you now wish, who will take over after him? Who is the alternative? Now, ask the people of the countries about the Arab peoples who rose in revolution: Which is better: when the countries were monarchies, or when they were revolutionary? They will say with one voice, at one time, standing and sitting and on their sides: When they were monarchies, it was a thousand times better, and this is a clear matter.