What is the ruling on appointing a leader during travel, with evidence?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: What is the ruling on appointing a leader during travel?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on appointing a leader during travel? Is it obligatory?
The Shaykh : What is the ruling on what?
The questioner : Appointing a leader, appointing a leader.
The Shaykh : Appointing a leader, meaning?
The questioner : Yes, is it obligatory or recommended, with an explanation of the evidence?
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded travelers, if they were three, to appoint one of them as their leader. This is because appointing a leader leads to discipline and prevents disagreement. If they do not have a leader, each one of them will hold his own opinion, and they may dispute and differ, resulting in stubbornness. If they have a leader, the leader is the one to whom they refer in matters of direction. Accordingly, the leader must fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in caring for those with him and those who appointed him over them. He should choose what is best and most beneficial. If a matter is unclear to him, he should consult them regarding it and follow the opinion of those he considers more knowledgeable and understanding. If the people are equal in his estimation in this regard, he should follow the majority.
So the leader's duty, first, is to proceed with the people in the way he sees as most beneficial and best. If a matter is unclear to him, what does he do? Yes? What does he do if it is unclear to him? He consults them. If they differ among themselves, and he sees that some are more understanding than others and more knowledgeable in jurisprudence than others, he takes their opinion. If it is still unclear to him, he takes the opinion of the majority.
If the two sides are equal, two saying this and two saying that, and nothing is stronger in his view, then if possible, he takes the opinion of these people once and those people once. Otherwise, he draws lots between them.
As for whether appointing a leader is obligatory or recommended, the apparent view is that it is recommended, because this falls under the category of guidance and direction, not a form of worship commanded as a right for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Rather, this is a matter of direction and guidance, so this command is for recommendation only. Yes.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : What is the ruling on appointing a leader during travel? Is it obligatory?
The Shaykh : What is the ruling on what?
The questioner : Appointing a leader, appointing a leader.
The Shaykh : Appointing a leader, meaning?
The questioner : Yes, is it obligatory or recommended, with an explanation of the evidence?
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded travelers, if they were three, to appoint one of them as their leader. This is because appointing a leader leads to discipline and prevents disagreement. If they do not have a leader, each one of them will hold his own opinion, and they may dispute and differ, resulting in stubbornness. If they have a leader, the leader is the one to whom they refer in matters of direction. Accordingly, the leader must fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in caring for those with him and those who appointed him over them. He should choose what is best and most beneficial. If a matter is unclear to him, he should consult them regarding it and follow the opinion of those he considers more knowledgeable and understanding. If the people are equal in his estimation in this regard, he should follow the majority.
So the leader's duty, first, is to proceed with the people in the way he sees as most beneficial and best. If a matter is unclear to him, what does he do? Yes? What does he do if it is unclear to him? He consults them. If they differ among themselves, and he sees that some are more understanding than others and more knowledgeable in jurisprudence than others, he takes their opinion. If it is still unclear to him, he takes the opinion of the majority.
If the two sides are equal, two saying this and two saying that, and nothing is stronger in his view, then if possible, he takes the opinion of these people once and those people once. Otherwise, he draws lots between them.
As for whether appointing a leader is obligatory or recommended, the apparent view is that it is recommended, because this falls under the category of guidance and direction, not a form of worship commanded as a right for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Rather, this is a matter of direction and guidance, so this command is for recommendation only. Yes.