We said that if the benefit becomes apparent to the Imam, he is not obligated to consult, and there may be no benefit in it.
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The student: ... The benefit may become apparent to him in something, yet there is no benefit in it?
The Shaykh : He is a trustee; the original state is that he is a trustee. If he intends to betray the trust, the consultation is prevented, even if he needs it.
The Shaykh : This is in his responsibility, because if we said that the one in authority must consult on everything, that would be a problem and the situation would not function. It would mean that if he writes to the police to detain so-and-so because he misbehaved, we would say: gather the people and consult.
The student: Specific people.
The Shaykh : It does not contradict; specifying individuals does not mean that everyone is to be consulted. If he brings up consultation, do we say that every issue concerning the public must be consulted on? That is impossible. As I just mentioned, I showed you that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the most consultative of the Caliphs, and yet you can barely count his consultations. This is necessary; otherwise, the matter would not be straightened out. Yes.
The Shaykh : He is a trustee; the original state is that he is a trustee. If he intends to betray the trust, the consultation is prevented, even if he needs it.
The Shaykh : This is in his responsibility, because if we said that the one in authority must consult on everything, that would be a problem and the situation would not function. It would mean that if he writes to the police to detain so-and-so because he misbehaved, we would say: gather the people and consult.
The student: Specific people.
The Shaykh : It does not contradict; specifying individuals does not mean that everyone is to be consulted. If he brings up consultation, do we say that every issue concerning the public must be consulted on? That is impossible. As I just mentioned, I showed you that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the most consultative of the Caliphs, and yet you can barely count his consultations. This is necessary; otherwise, the matter would not be straightened out. Yes.