Is it permissible to ask for authority?
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Question:
Q: Is it permissible to ask for authority?
Answer:
Authority, as you heard in the hadith, should not be sought unless the public interest requires it. The default ruling is that it should not be sought, because it is a danger. Authority, the judiciary, and similar matters involve trusts and the rights of people. However, if one is afflicted with it, Allah will help him with it. If one is afflicted with it without having sought it, Allah will help him with it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Abd al-Rahman:Sunan an-Nasa'i 5384Sahih (Darussalam) meaning: It is likely that he will not be successful in it if he took it by asking for it. But if he took it because it was imposed on him and he did not seek it, he is likely to be helped and guided.
But if the public interest requires that he seek it, the most precise scholars among the people of knowledge have established the permissibility of doing so for the sake of the public interest. If he sees the interest of the Muslims and the good for the Muslims in seeking it, because he sees himself as qualified for it, and sees that affairs are being neglected, and that those in charge are not qualified for it, or that this matter or this position is being left unattended, there is no harm in asking for it for the sake of the public interest. They argued for this with the story of Yusuf; that Allah mentioned it and approved it: [Yusuf:55] meaning: He appointed him over the finances, as minister of finance, and then he took over the kingdom after that. So he sought this for the interest of the Muslims, so that the funds would be spent in the approved manner.
Likewise, the story of Uthman ibn Abi al-'As al-Thaqafi when he said to the Messenger of Allah: Make me the leader of my people. He said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 672Sahih (Darussalam), so that was not condemned; because Uthman saw the public interest in it. He saw the public interest in being the guardian of the people of Ta'if, to rectify their affairs and take charge of their matters.
So if a person is in a village or a tribe and sees that others are not fulfilling the obligation, and that it is incumbent upon him specifically to fulfill the obligation, and he says to the one in authority: Make me their leader, so that he may take charge of their interests and look into their affairs, and his intention is not the worldly life, nor the desire for what people have, but rather his intention is the face of Allah and the Hereafter, and his intention is nothing but reform; this person is rewarded, and there is no blame on him. It is hoped that he will be helped because of the sincerity of his intention and the reasons that led him to it. This is a specific case, this is an exception.
Q: Does authority include administration?
A: Even if it is over two people.
Q: Administration of schools?
A: Generally, and even if they call it administration, it is authority.
Q: Is he allowed to ask for the judiciary?
A: From this perspective, if he sees the religious public interest.
Q: The prohibition of asking for authority?
A: The default ruling regarding the prohibition is that it is forbidden.
Q: Is it permissible to ask for authority?
Answer:
Authority, as you heard in the hadith, should not be sought unless the public interest requires it. The default ruling is that it should not be sought, because it is a danger. Authority, the judiciary, and similar matters involve trusts and the rights of people. However, if one is afflicted with it, Allah will help him with it. If one is afflicted with it without having sought it, Allah will help him with it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Abd al-Rahman:
For if it is given to you because of asking, you will be left to your own devices
إنَّك إن أُعطيتها عن مسألةٍ وُكِلْتَ إليهاBut if the public interest requires that he seek it, the most precise scholars among the people of knowledge have established the permissibility of doing so for the sake of the public interest. If he sees the interest of the Muslims and the good for the Muslims in seeking it, because he sees himself as qualified for it, and sees that affairs are being neglected, and that those in charge are not qualified for it, or that this matter or this position is being left unattended, there is no harm in asking for it for the sake of the public interest. They argued for this with the story of Yusuf; that Allah mentioned it and approved it:
[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."
قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَى خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌLikewise, the story of Uthman ibn Abi al-'As al-Thaqafi when he said to the Messenger of Allah: Make me the leader of my people. He said:
You are their Imam, so consider the weakest among them
أنت إمامهم واقتدِ بأضعفهمSo if a person is in a village or a tribe and sees that others are not fulfilling the obligation, and that it is incumbent upon him specifically to fulfill the obligation, and he says to the one in authority: Make me their leader, so that he may take charge of their interests and look into their affairs, and his intention is not the worldly life, nor the desire for what people have, but rather his intention is the face of Allah and the Hereafter, and his intention is nothing but reform; this person is rewarded, and there is no blame on him. It is hoped that he will be helped because of the sincerity of his intention and the reasons that led him to it. This is a specific case, this is an exception.
Q: Does authority include administration?
A: Even if it is over two people.
Q: Administration of schools?
A: Generally, and even if they call it administration, it is authority.
Q: Is he allowed to ask for the judiciary?
A: From this perspective, if he sees the religious public interest.
Q: The prohibition of asking for authority?
A: The default ruling regarding the prohibition is that it is forbidden.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.