SALAF IN REGARD TO THE OPPRESSIVE 
AND SINFUL RULER

That is; concerning the correct and appropriate  attitude we are to have towards them  

[Taken from "The Creed of Imam al Bukhaaree" published by Salafi Publications.  Translated by Dawud Burbank and Amjad Rafiq  

Take note my Brothers and Sisters in Islam - This article refers to the correct attitude that we, as Muslims, are to have towards the oppressive and sinful ruler - whereas the issue of the ruler who rules by other than what Allah (Ta'aala) has revealed, or who replaces some of His Laws with the laws of men (e.g. American, French, English or even his own laws) is a completely different issue which requires a completely different approach... for the ruling of the Salaf concerning this issue go to the following address:    

And that we do not contend with or attempt to take away the command from those assigned with it (i.e., the rulers) due to the saying of the Messenger MUHAMMAD (salallaahu'alayheewasallam),   "There are three things towards which the heart of a Muslim never shows hatred or  rancour: Making ones action sincerely for the sake of Allah, giving obedience to the  rulers (wulatul-amr) and sticking to the Group (Jama'ah) for verily, their supplication  encompasses those who are behind them (i.e. those whom they rule over)." This hadeeth has been reported from a group among the Companions and see Sunan at Tirmidhee (no. 2657), al Musnad (4/80, 82 183), Jaami' ul Usool (1/265) and Majma'uz Zuwaa'id (1/137-139).  

This is confirmed in His (ALLAHTA'AALA'S) saying: 
  "O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and  those of you (Muslims) who are in authority."  [An-Nisaa (4):59] 

And that the sword is not to be raised against (any of) the Ummah of Muhammad (salallaahu'alayheewasallam). 

And Al-Fudayl said, "If I had a supplication that would be answered, I would not make it except for the leader (Imam) because when the leader becomes righteous, the towns and servants become safe and secure." 

Ibn al Mubaarak said (in reference to the above saying of al-Fudayl), 
"O teacher of goodness, who would show boldness towards this besides you?" 

Imam al Barbahaaree (d. 329H) said, "Whoever rebels against a Muslim ruler is one of the Khawaarij, has caused dissent within the Muslims, has contradicted the narrations and has died the death of the days of ignorance." (Sharhus-Sunnah [p.42])  

The Khawaarij are a group who first appeared in the time of 'Alee (radiallaahu'anhu). They split from his army and began the grave innovation of takfeer (i.e. declaring Muslims, rulers or the ruled who are guilty of major sins, to be disbelievers). The Prophet MUHAMMAD (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) warned against them in many authentic Ahaadeeth, "The Khawaarij are the dogs of Hellfire."  (Reported by Ahmad and it is Saheeh.) 

MUHAMMAD (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) also informed us that they would continue to appear until the end of this world, saying, "A group will appear reciting the Qur'an, it will not pass beyond  their throats, every time a group appears it will be cut off,  until the Dajjal appears within them."  (Reported by Ibn Maajah and it is Hasan.) 

Al Barbahaaree (d. 329H) also said, "It is not permissible to fight the ruler or rebel against him even if he oppresses. This is due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) to Abu Dharr al Ghifaaree,  "Have patience, even if he (i.e. the Ameer) is an Abyssinian slave,"  (Reported by Muslim.) 

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) saying to the Ansaar,  "Have patience until you meet me at the Pool," (Reported by Bukharee from Usayd ibn Hudayr.) 

There is no fighting against the ruler in the Sunnah. It causes destruction of the Religion and the worldly affairs." 
[Sharhus-Sunnah, (p. 43).]  

Abu Bakr al Aajurree (d. 360H) said in ash Sharee'ah (p. 28), "It is not fitting for the one who sees the uprising of a khaarijee who has revolted against the Imam, whether he is just or oppressive - so this person has revolted and gathered a group behind him, has pulled out his sword and has made lawful the killing of Muslims - it is not fitting for the one who sees this, that he becomes deceived by this person's recitation of the Qur'an, the length of his standing in the prayer, nor his constant fasting or his good and excellent words in knowledge when (it is clear to him that) this person's way and methodology (madh-hab) is that of the Khawaarij." 

And Ibn al Qayyim (d. 751H) said in Miftaah Daaris Sa'aadah (1/119), "And as for Imam Maalik, then Ibn al Qaasim said,  "I heard Maalik say, 'Indeed there are a people who desire worship but squander the Knowledge (being deprived of it) so they revolt against the Ummah of Muhammad (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) with their swords. And if they had followed the Knowledge, then it would have prevented them from doing that." 

And Shaykh Abdul Azeez Ibn Baaz, (hafidhahullaah) was asked, "Is it from the Manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf to criticise the Rulers from the mimbar (the pulpit)? And what is the manhaj of the Salaf with respect to advising the Rulers?"He responded: "It is not from the Manhaj of the Salaf to publicise the faults of the Rulers and to mention such things from the pulpit because that leads to confusion/disorder and the absence of hearing and obeying the ruler in what is good. It also results in (the people) becoming engrossed (with these matters, arguing and debating) which causes harm and produces no benefit.  

The followed Path with the Salaf, however is to give naseehah (advice) with respect to the matters which are between themselves and the leader, writing to him or by reaching him through the scholars who keep in touch with him (to advise him) until the ruler is directed towards the good. Repelling the evil occurs without mentioning the doer of the evil.  

So fornication, drinking of intoxicants and the taking of usury are curbed without mentioning the one who does such things. Warding off the evil and warning and the people against it is sufficient without it being mentioned that such and such a person does it, whether he is a ruler or other than the ruler.  

 And when the fitnah occurred in the time of 'Uthmaan Gani (radiallaahu'anhu), some of the people said to Usaamah ibn Zaid (radiallaahu'anhu), "Will you not speak to 'Uthmaan?" So he replied, "You think that I will not talk to him without letting you know about it (also). Indeed, I will certainly talk to him regarding that which concerns me and him without initiating a matter which I do not love to be the first to initiate."  

 And when they (the Khawaarij) opened up the evil in the time of 'Uthmaan (radiallaahu'anhu) and rejected 'Uthmaan openly, the fitnah, the killing and the mischief, which has not ceased to affect the people to this day, was brought about. And this caused the fitnah to occur between 'Alee and Mu'aawiyyah and 'Uthmaan (radiallaahu'anhu) was killed for these reasons.  

 (Futhermore) a large number of Companions and others besides them were killed due to this open rebellion and the open proclamation of the faults (of the ruler), until the people began to hate the one charged with authority over them and killed him. We ask Allah for success." [These were the words of the Shaykh Abdul Azeez Ibn Baaz,  (hafidhahullaah). Taken from Al-Ma'loom min Waajib il-'Ilaaqah bain al Haakim wal-Mahkoom, (pp. 22-23).]  

It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah Muhammad  (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) in the Ahaadeeth of 'Iyaad Ibn Ghunum who said, "The Messenger of Allaah Muhammad (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) said,  "Whoever desires to advise the one with authority then he should not  do so openly, rather he should take him by the hand and take him into  seclusion (and then advise him). And if he accepts (the advice) from him  then (he has achieved his objective) and if not, then he has  fulfilled that which was a duty upon him." (Reported by Ahmad (3/403) and Ibn Abee 'Aasim  (2/521) with a Saheeh isnaad.) 

When changing the evil of the rulers, then this should be done by the scholars and not openly as is mentioned by a clear Ahaadeeth of the Prophet (salallaahu'alayheewasallam),  "When you wish to correct the sultan then take him by the hand in secret and advise him."  [Aqeedah at Tahawiyah] 

And it is also related by Ibn Sa'ad in Tabaqaatul Kubraa (7/163-165)
A group of Muslims came to al Hasan al Basree (d. 110H) seeking a verdict to rebel against al Hajjaaj [3]. So they said, "O Abu Sa'eed! What do you say about fighting this oppressor who has unlawfully spilt blood and unlawfully taken wealth and did this and that?" 
So al Hasan said, "I hold that he should not be fought. If this is the punishment from Allah (Ta'aala), then you will not be able to remove it with your swords. If this is a trial from Allah (Ta'aala), then be patient until Allah's Judgement comes, and He is the best of Judges." 

So they left Al Hasan, disagreed with him and rebelled against al Hajjaaj - so al Hajjaaj killed them all. 

Hajjaaj was ath Thaqafee, and is well known. Adh Dhahabee said in Siyar A'lamin Nubalaa (4/343) at the end of his biography, "We revile him and do not love him, rather we hate him for Allah (Ta'aala). He had some good deeds, but they are drowned in the ocean of his sins, and his affair is for Allah!" 

About them al Hasan used to say, "If the people had patience, when they were being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allah (Ta'aala) will give them a way out. However, they always rush for their swords, so they are left to their swords. By Allah! Not even for a single day did they bring about any good."