What is the ruling on sit-ins and demonstrations if the ruler permits them and sets regulations for them?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you. Regarding the case where a ruler rules by other than what Allah has revealed, and then he permits or allows some people to hold a demonstration called a sit-in, with regulations that the ruler himself sets, and these people proceed with this action. If this action is denounced to them, they say, "We did not oppose the ruler; we are acting according to the ruler's opinion." Is this permissible in the Shari'ah, given the contradiction of the text? May Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh : You should follow the Salaf. If this existed with the Salaf, it is good; if it did not exist with them, it is evil. There is no doubt that demonstrations are evil because they lead to chaos, whether from the demonstrators or from others. There may be aggression in them, either against honor, or against wealth, or against bodies, because people in the midst of this chaos may be like a drunkard who does not know what he says or what he does. All demonstrations are evil, whether the ruler permits them or not. The permission of some rulers for them is nothing but propaganda. If they returned to what is in their hearts, they would hate them intensely. But they pretend to be, as they say, democratic and that they have opened the door of freedom for people. This is not the way of the Salaf. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. If you permit us, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I say: If you permit us to ask a question that concerns everyone, before my personal question.
The Shaykh : No, just one.
The questioner : It is the Day of 'Ashura, O Shaykh. Has it been established for you when it is?
The Shaykh : No, it has not been established except that the Day of 'Ashura is the tenth of Muharram.
The questioner : No, I did not mean that.
The Shaykh : This is what is established with me; I have nothing else.
The questioner : This is the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : The question that follows.
The Shaykh : You should follow the Salaf. If this existed with the Salaf, it is good; if it did not exist with them, it is evil. There is no doubt that demonstrations are evil because they lead to chaos, whether from the demonstrators or from others. There may be aggression in them, either against honor, or against wealth, or against bodies, because people in the midst of this chaos may be like a drunkard who does not know what he says or what he does. All demonstrations are evil, whether the ruler permits them or not. The permission of some rulers for them is nothing but propaganda. If they returned to what is in their hearts, they would hate them intensely. But they pretend to be, as they say, democratic and that they have opened the door of freedom for people. This is not the way of the Salaf. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. If you permit us, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I say: If you permit us to ask a question that concerns everyone, before my personal question.
The Shaykh : No, just one.
The questioner : It is the Day of 'Ashura, O Shaykh. Has it been established for you when it is?
The Shaykh : No, it has not been established except that the Day of 'Ashura is the tenth of Muharram.
The questioner : No, I did not mean that.
The Shaykh : This is what is established with me; I have nothing else.
The questioner : This is the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : The question that follows.