If a matter is disputed as to whether it is obedience or disobedience, and the ruler orders it, is it to be obeyed?
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The questioner : If a matter is disputed as to whether it is obedience or disobedience, and the ruler orders it, is it to be obeyed?
The Shaykh : We mentioned the night before last that the ruler's ruling resolves the disagreement. So if the issue is a matter of independent legal reasoning, the imam is to be followed in his order, because the ruler's ruling resolves the disagreement. For example, if the imam were to order fasting on the day of doubt, fasting on the day of doubt is forbidden, but the scholars disagreed on what the day of doubt is: is it the day when the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban is cloudy or obscured, or is the day of doubt when the night is clear and the crescent is not seen? There is disagreement on this. If he holds the second opinion, he is to be followed, at least outwardly, meaning that the breaking of the fast is not announced. This is why there is a narration from Ahmad on this issue: that the people follow the imam; if he fasts, they fast, and if he breaks the fast, they break the fast.
The Shaykh : We mentioned the night before last that the ruler's ruling resolves the disagreement. So if the issue is a matter of independent legal reasoning, the imam is to be followed in his order, because the ruler's ruling resolves the disagreement. For example, if the imam were to order fasting on the day of doubt, fasting on the day of doubt is forbidden, but the scholars disagreed on what the day of doubt is: is it the day when the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban is cloudy or obscured, or is the day of doubt when the night is clear and the crescent is not seen? There is disagreement on this. If he holds the second opinion, he is to be followed, at least outwardly, meaning that the breaking of the fast is not announced. This is why there is a narration from Ahmad on this issue: that the people follow the imam; if he fasts, they fast, and if he breaks the fast, they break the fast.