The Rights of the Governors and the People
Governors or rulers are all those who are responsible for any organization in the government , regardless of its size or importance, Any person who is in charged with certain affairs in an Islamic state is considered a responsible for his authority and must maintain an excellent , honest and smooth operation thereof. People who work with such an authorized person are entitled to certain rights that must be maintained, honored and never overlooked
The essential rights of people upon their governors are the assurance of their active role in fulfilling all positive aspects of their entrusted responsibility. They must demonstrated loyalty to their people, sincere advice, honest judgment and proper guidance following the straight path of the prophet, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam, and his rightly guided companions who led the Muslim Amah to great success and victory. In fact, this path fulfill both worldly pleasure and sound relationship with the Lord, Almighty that guarantees a sound position in the hereafter. Rulers must strive to follow the straight Path of the believers assuring happiness in both worlds and the pleasure of the people as well. This Path also assures the obedience of the people to their rulers, the fulfillment of their commands and directions and the protections of their trust. It is indeed a general rule that he who fears the Lords, Allah, the Almighty, the people will like him and fear him as well. It is also a general rule that he who attempt to please Allah, the Almighty will be able to please his people, as the hearts of all people are in the Hands of Allah, the Almighty, and He, the Almighty steers the way He, the Almighty likes
As for the rights of the governors upon the people, the governors must offer them the best possible advice in their general and private affairs. They must remind them to do their best in everything they do. They must pray Allah, the Almighty, to keep them on the straight path if the governors deviated from this path. They must obey their commands as long as these commands do not conflict with the teachings of Islam and the commands of Allah, the Almighty, and His prophet, in particular. If the governed people elected to disobey the commands of their governors / leaders, great chaos and a state of confusion and disorder may spread within the society. Therefore, for this very reason, Allah, the Almighty, required the general public to obey the commands and instructions of their leaders. Allah, the Almighty stated in the glorious Quran
“O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you”. 4:59
Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam is reported to have said: ”A Muslim individual must listen and obey the commands (of the governors / leader) regardless if he/ she liked or disliked such a command as long as the commands does not conflict with the clear verse of the glorious Quran or an authentic statements of the Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam, then he/she does not have to listen or obey such an order or command from his leaders.” This Hadith is reported by both Bukhari and Muslim
Abdullah bin Omar, Radhi Allahu Anhu reported also that: “Once we were traveling along with Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam. At one point during the journey, we dismounted our animals for rest. A man who was delegated by Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam announced the call fro the congregational prayer. We gathered around Allah’s Apostle , Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam who said: “ There was never a Prophet of Allah , the Almighty , who was commissioned as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah, the Almighty, except that it was made obligatory unto him to guide his nation to the best matters he was taught and warn them of the worst matters that he was aware, Your nation is cured from such diseases in the first generation of early Muslim . However, later generation will be afflicted with many problems no matter that you know not. A believer then said: “This affliction will wipe me out.” Afflictions however come one after the other. Another believer will say: “May-be this affliction will wipe me out.” He whosever likes to be removed from the fire and enter the paradise of Allah, the Almighty , let him face His lord in a state of full faith complete belief in the Day of Judgment .Let such a believer do to others what he likes others to do unto him. If a believer commits him self to a leader, offering him his pledge of allegiance, and the fruit of his heart (belief in him), let him obey such governor / leader. If such a governor threatened by removed from authority by force, let such a remover be beheaded (by you committed believers who gave their pledge of allegiance to the existing governor.” This Hadith is reported by Muslim
In another hadith, a man asked Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam: “O prophet of Allah! What if we were governed by leaders who demand their rights (obedience, respect, loyalty) but deny our rights (freedom of worship, speech, voting, education?) what do you command us to do in such a case? Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam turned away from the man and did not give him an answer. The same man persisted and again asked the same question .Upon that, Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam said: “Listen ( to your leaders) and obey them . They will be responsible for what you do.” This hadith is reported by Muslim
The general public must assist their governors in achieving their missions and fulfilling their tasks and duties. Each and every citizen must know the importance of his role in the society, and consequently in the government in general. If individuals fail to realize their duties and responsibilities, the situation will turn into chaos and confusion again. Similarly, if the governors are not properly assisted by their constituents, confusion within the society will increase
It is only natural to have the commitment of the people and public for the administration to lead a decent government. Islam requires the full support of the general public for the governor. We can vividly see this in the various text of the glorious Quran and the Sunah practices and statements of Allah’s Apostle, Sallalahu Alaihi wa Sallam
This proves that Islam agrees with the intelligent rules of nature, as nature is created, governed, ruled and organized by the same Creator Who created man and knows what benefits man and what harms him. Islam is the religion of the pure, innate nature that helps man leads a very stable, clean, organized and intelligent life