Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "

The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he quoted from al-Zubayr ibn al-Adi, that they came to Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He had lived a long life and remained until about ninety years after the Prophet’s migration. He had encountered some of the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that occurred in his time. So they came to complain to him about what they were experiencing from al-Hajjaj. Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi was one of the governors of the Umayyad caliphs. He was known for his injustice and shedding of blood, and he was a tyrant and stubborn, refuge with Allah. He was the one who besieged Makkah to fight Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) and used to throw projectiles at the Ka'bah with a trebuchet until he destroyed it or part of it. He had harmed the people, so they came to complain to Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). Anas said to them: He commanded them to be patient with the injustice of the rulers. This is because rulers may be empowered over people due to the people’s injustice, as Allah the Exalted said: If you see that the rulers have been unjust, that they have wronged the people in their wealth or their bodies, or that they have prevented them from calling to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or something similar to that, then reflect on the state of the people. You will find that the affliction is fundamentally from the people. They are the ones who deviated, so Allah empowered over them those He empowered from among the rulers. And in the athar (a report from a Companion or successor), and it is not a hadith: It is mentioned that one of the Umayyad caliphs, and I think it was Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan, gathered the prominent people when he heard that the people were speaking about the governorship. He gathered the prominent ones and said to them: “O people, do you want us to be to you as Abu Bakr and Umar were? They said: Yes, we want that. He said: Then be like the men over whom Abu Bakr and Umar were in charge, so that we may be to you as Abu Bakr and Umar were.” This means that the people are upon the religion of their kings. So if there is injustice, that is, if the rulers wrong the people, it is due to the deeds of the people.
A man from the Khawarij (an early sect that declared sinners disbelievers) came to Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: “Why have the people rebelled against you and did not rebel against Abu Bakr and Umar? He said: Because the men of Abu Bakr and Umar were me and those like me, and your men are you and those like you.” This means that if the people wrong, the rulers are empowered over them. For this reason, Anas said: And this is the obligatory thing. The obligatory thing is that a person should be patient. For every hardship, there is a relief. Do not think that things come with complete ease. Evil may come suddenly and as an attack, but it will never prevail over good forever. However, we must be patient and handle matters with wisdom. We do not surrender, nor do we act rashly. We handle matters with wisdom, patience, and deliberation. If you want success, these are its causes and these are its paths: Be patient, be steadfast, keep your station, and fear Allah. Four things, so that you may succeed. Then Anas ibn Malik said: I heard it from your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This means that the Messenger (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: Worse than it in religion. And this evil is not absolute, general evil, but it may be evil in some aspects and good in other aspects, and so on.