What is the criterion for obeying the rulers?
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The questioner : What is the criterion for obeying the ruler in matters other than disobedience to Allah, and what about the ministers and princes...?
The Shaykh : The criterion, as I said, for obeying the ruler in matters other than disobedience to Allah is that if he orders a disobedience, he is not to be obeyed. For example, if he says, "Do not pray in congregation, do not pray until after the time has passed, shave your beards, drink intoxicants," or the like, it is said: "No obedience and no compliance." It is obligatory for everyone who is ordered to commit a disobedience by the ruler to reject it, because the command, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: his ruling is more deserving of being followed.
As for a matter that does not involve disobedience, it is obligatory for a person to obey the ruler, and obeying the ruler in that is obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:59] And if we were to say that a person is not obligated to obey the ruler except in what Allah has commanded, the matter would become chaos. As for the ministers, princes, managers, and heads, they are deputies for the ruler, so their command is like the command of the ruler; they are to be obeyed in matters other than disobedience to Allah.
The questioner : If he orders a personal benefit... meaning he orders the demolition of a house wall or a planting...?
The Shaykh : If he orders you to demolish the wall of your house, is it defective?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Well, in the first place, even if he does not order you, it is obligatory for you to withhold harm from the Muslims and danger from the Muslims. Demolish the wall. If you do not demolish it and it falls on someone, you are liable.
As for the issue of planting in front of the house: if the planting is inside the house, you are not obligated to obey him, because the inside of your house is among your specific rights. But if it is outside the house, such as on the sidewalk, for example, it appears that you are obligated to obey him, because this is among the public interests if the ruler wants the appearance of the town to be uniform.
The Shaykh : The criterion, as I said, for obeying the ruler in matters other than disobedience to Allah is that if he orders a disobedience, he is not to be obeyed. For example, if he says, "Do not pray in congregation, do not pray until after the time has passed, shave your beards, drink intoxicants," or the like, it is said: "No obedience and no compliance." It is obligatory for everyone who is ordered to commit a disobedience by the ruler to reject it, because the command, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah's judgment is more deserving
قضاء الله أحقAs for a matter that does not involve disobedience, it is obligatory for a person to obey the ruler, and obeying the ruler in that is obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْThe questioner : If he orders a personal benefit... meaning he orders the demolition of a house wall or a planting...?
The Shaykh : If he orders you to demolish the wall of your house, is it defective?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Well, in the first place, even if he does not order you, it is obligatory for you to withhold harm from the Muslims and danger from the Muslims. Demolish the wall. If you do not demolish it and it falls on someone, you are liable.
As for the issue of planting in front of the house: if the planting is inside the house, you are not obligated to obey him, because the inside of your house is among your specific rights. But if it is outside the house, such as on the sidewalk, for example, it appears that you are obligated to obey him, because this is among the public interests if the ruler wants the appearance of the town to be uniform.