The Categories of Speech Regarding the Ruler
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : The categories are three. The first is to mention the ruler with criticism and blame, violating his honor and exposing his defects. This is forbidden and not permissible, whether regarding the ruler or anyone else.
The second is to mention the defects and blame in him to those who can convey it to him, so that he may reform. This is sincere advice to the leaders of the Muslims, and it is part of the religion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
The third is to mention the ruler in the way of correction. Here, one must balance between the good and the evil; one mentions the good and mentions the evil. This is only for the defense of the ruler if one hears in the gathering someone criticizing and blaming the ruler. In any case, this is part of the forbidden category, as we said earlier. Here, one says: if there is in the ruler the defect you are speaking of, then there is in him such-and-such good. For this is justice. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:8].
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : I do not say that if I see someone speaking with criticism about the ruler, here we need correction. Otherwise, what is the need and what is the benefit of correction? There is no benefit in it.
The second is to mention the defects and blame in him to those who can convey it to him, so that he may reform. This is sincere advice to the leaders of the Muslims, and it is part of the religion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
The third is to mention the ruler in the way of correction. Here, one must balance between the good and the evil; one mentions the good and mentions the evil. This is only for the defense of the ruler if one hears in the gathering someone criticizing and blaming the ruler. In any case, this is part of the forbidden category, as we said earlier. Here, one says: if there is in the ruler the defect you are speaking of, then there is in him such-and-such good. For this is justice. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness
يا أيها الذين آمنوا كونوا قوامين لله شهداء بالقسط ولا يجرمنكم شنآن قوم على ألا تعدلوا اعدلوا هو أقرب للتقوىThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : I do not say that if I see someone speaking with criticism about the ruler, here we need correction. Otherwise, what is the need and what is the benefit of correction? There is no benefit in it.