If the ruler forces the subjects to commit sin, is it permissible to rebel against him?
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The questioner : There is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator, and a ruler has no authority if he is a disbeliever.
The Shaykh : No, if he is a disbeliever, provided the condition of the ability to remove him is also met.
The questioner : If the ruler forces the subjects to commit sin...
The Shaykh : That is, if he compels them. It must be examined: if he considers it permissible while knowing it is a sin, then there is no harm [in rebelling]. But if he does not consider it permissible and he knows it is a sin, then it is not permissible [to rebel]. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only permitted [rebellion] when the disbeliever was in explicit disbelief, where there is clear proof from Allah. If he does not consider it permissible, it is not permissible to rebel against him. You say he compels them, but as long as he believes it is a sin, we say he committed the act but he is not a disbeliever.
The questioner : There occurred trials, such as the trial of Ibn al-Ash'ath, the trial of Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah, and the trial of 'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad. Did not some of them rebuke others? And did not some of them declare others to be innovators? Is the one who interprets [the ruling] in such a case excused?
The Shaykh : It is never permissible, because even if someone rebels against someone else, between us is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.
The Shaykh : No, if he is a disbeliever, provided the condition of the ability to remove him is also met.
The questioner : If the ruler forces the subjects to commit sin...
The Shaykh : That is, if he compels them. It must be examined: if he considers it permissible while knowing it is a sin, then there is no harm [in rebelling]. But if he does not consider it permissible and he knows it is a sin, then it is not permissible [to rebel]. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only permitted [rebellion] when the disbeliever was in explicit disbelief, where there is clear proof from Allah. If he does not consider it permissible, it is not permissible to rebel against him. You say he compels them, but as long as he believes it is a sin, we say he committed the act but he is not a disbeliever.
The questioner : There occurred trials, such as the trial of Ibn al-Ash'ath, the trial of Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah, and the trial of 'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad. Did not some of them rebuke others? And did not some of them declare others to be innovators? Is the one who interprets [the ruling] in such a case excused?
The Shaykh : It is never permissible, because even if someone rebels against someone else, between us is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.