What is the ruling on one who does not consider the pledge of allegiance to the ruler obligatory? And he excuses himself by the multiplicity of Islamic states?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Shaykh: In a question I wished to ask about, which is the ruling on one who does not consider the pledge of allegiance to the ruler obligatory, if that leads to rebellion?
The Shaykh : The one who does not consider the pledge of allegiance to the ruler obligatory dies the death of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because he has no imam. It is well known that the pledge of allegiance establishes the authority of the imam if the people of authority and decision pledge to him. We cannot say that the pledge of allegiance is a right for every individual of the Muslim community. The evidence for this is that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) pledged allegiance to the first caliph, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and that was not from every individual of the Muslim community, but from the people of authority and decision. If the people of authority and decision pledge to a man and make him their imam, he becomes an imam. And it is obligatory for one who rebels against this pledge to return to the pledge so that he does not die the death of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, or he should refer his matter to the ruler to look into what he sees, because such a principle is a dangerous and defective principle that leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evils.
So we say to this man, advising him: Fear Allah in yourself, and fear Allah in your community. It is obligatory for you to pledge allegiance to the ruler or to believe that he is an imam, because he is an established imam, whether you pledged or did not pledge, because the matter of the pledge of allegiance is not for every individual of the people, but for the people of authority and decision.
The questioner : And if his excuse is the multiplicity of Islamic states, and the pledge of allegiance is for one single imam?
The Shaykh : This is a false excuse that contradicts the scholarly consensus of the Muslims. The multiplicity of Islamic caliphates has existed since the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and they have been multiple up to this day. The imams of the people of the Sunnah and the community are all agreed that the pledge of allegiance is for the imam or the governor under whose jurisdiction they are, and no one denies that. And what he said is a deception from Satan. Otherwise, it is well known that the path of all Muslims up to this day is to pledge allegiance to the one who has authority over their region, and they consider obedience to him obligatory.
And we ask this man: If you do not consider the pledge of allegiance valid except for one single imam over all Muslims, that means that people now have all become without an imam. This is an impossible and unfeasible thing. If we adopted this opinion, affairs would become chaos, with every person saying: No one has authority over me. And it is not hidden what is in this statement of great evil.
The Shaykh: In a question I wished to ask about, which is the ruling on one who does not consider the pledge of allegiance to the ruler obligatory, if that leads to rebellion?
The Shaykh : The one who does not consider the pledge of allegiance to the ruler obligatory dies the death of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because he has no imam. It is well known that the pledge of allegiance establishes the authority of the imam if the people of authority and decision pledge to him. We cannot say that the pledge of allegiance is a right for every individual of the Muslim community. The evidence for this is that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) pledged allegiance to the first caliph, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and that was not from every individual of the Muslim community, but from the people of authority and decision. If the people of authority and decision pledge to a man and make him their imam, he becomes an imam. And it is obligatory for one who rebels against this pledge to return to the pledge so that he does not die the death of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, or he should refer his matter to the ruler to look into what he sees, because such a principle is a dangerous and defective principle that leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evils.
So we say to this man, advising him: Fear Allah in yourself, and fear Allah in your community. It is obligatory for you to pledge allegiance to the ruler or to believe that he is an imam, because he is an established imam, whether you pledged or did not pledge, because the matter of the pledge of allegiance is not for every individual of the people, but for the people of authority and decision.
The questioner : And if his excuse is the multiplicity of Islamic states, and the pledge of allegiance is for one single imam?
The Shaykh : This is a false excuse that contradicts the scholarly consensus of the Muslims. The multiplicity of Islamic caliphates has existed since the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and they have been multiple up to this day. The imams of the people of the Sunnah and the community are all agreed that the pledge of allegiance is for the imam or the governor under whose jurisdiction they are, and no one denies that. And what he said is a deception from Satan. Otherwise, it is well known that the path of all Muslims up to this day is to pledge allegiance to the one who has authority over their region, and they consider obedience to him obligatory.
And we ask this man: If you do not consider the pledge of allegiance valid except for one single imam over all Muslims, that means that people now have all become without an imam. This is an impossible and unfeasible thing. If we adopted this opinion, affairs would become chaos, with every person saying: No one has authority over me. And it is not hidden what is in this statement of great evil.