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One of the most important Islamic and biblical injunctions is obedience with goodness to constituted authority and the leaders in the society.
The coming into be of any Government on this planet earth is always being orchestrated by the willed desired of God, He let be situations, He arranges one’s destiny right from His conceived thoughts on the person, for any constituted authority to be in existence, is having the permissive will of Him (God). For any Government in place, good or bad is certainly an interest of God to made his will be done on earth.
The Islamic scholars said it is compulsory to obey and follow leaders and constituted authority as long as they do not command us to disobey Allah and His noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). However, they added, there is no obedience to leaders and constituted authority when they command their followers to disobey Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh).
This is in line with what Allah says in the Qur’an chapter 4:59, “O ye who have believed, obey Allah and obey His Messenger and the people of authority amongst you. And if you disagree over anything, return the matter to Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.”
And it is also in line with the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever obeys me, has indeed obeyed Allah; whoever disobeys me, has indeed disobeyed Allah; whoever obeys the leader, has indeed obeyed me; whoever disobeys the leader, has indeed disobeyed me”. (Bukhari and Muslim).
He (pbuh) also said: “Hear and obey, even if a black, ugly, small-headed black slave is made your leader”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (pbuh) further said: “Hear and obey even if you are beaten (unjustly) and your wealth is wrongly confiscated (by the leader) still obey him.” (Muslim and Abu Dawud)
Because of this, the righteous Muslim predecessors have all agreed that obedience to the rulers is compulsory. They also agreed that it is haram to disobey them, take up arms against them, to undermine their government by publicly demonstrating against their leadership and incite the public against them in whatever method.
Conversely, supplicating for their goodness, their uprightness and guidance is encouraged by Islam, and this was practised by the pious predecessors in Islam.
Imam Al-Fudhayl Ibn ‘Iyadh (RA) said: “If I have a good prayer that will be accepted by Allah, I will make it for the leader. We have been commanded to pray for them with goodness and we have not been commanded to curse them even if they are transgressors and oppressors. This is because their injustice would only be on their necks (as sins) and their being upright (because of good supplications for them) will be for them and for us.” (Alwajeez fee ‘Aqeedah as-Salaf)
Imam Al-Hassan Al-basary (RA) also said: “Go and know, may Allah rectify your affairs, that injustice by a (tyrant) leader is a trial from Allah. And the trial from Allah can’t be removed with sword (violence); it could only be removed by prayers, repentance, regret and staying away from sins. If a trial is faced with sword (violence), it becomes stronger and harder.” (Aadabu Al-Hassan Al-basary of Ibn Al-Jawziy)
It is also said that Al-Hassan Al-basary saw a man cursing Al Hajjaj Ibn Yuusuf (who was one of the tyrant leaders in the history of Islam), and he (Al-basary) said: ‘don’t do that again! May Allah have mercy on you; it is from amongst you that he (Al Hajjaj) was brought out to be your leader. Verily we fear that if he is replaced or he dies, a leader worst than him may be appointed over you (because of your bad behaviours). (Aadabu Al-Hassan Al-basary).
Before now it baffles my mind when He allowed Kings like Darius and Pharaoh (Fir’auna) who ruled the ancient country of Egypt and Babylon respectively to be on history to have recorded them as the most legendary tyrant king with high sense of wickedness, subjecting Nations (Israel and Babylon) under a slavery cruel assignments. Even at that God being a wisdom personified had allowed the sheer wickedness of this two leaders to endured within the space of time,just to prove to the world that He enthrones and deposes kings, He makes alive and He kills at the time He wills and deem Him fit.
In my little religion comparative studies the two dominant religion practice in this country (Christianity and Islam) had instructed the adherents of the two Holy books (Bible and Quran) to pay allegiance to constituted authority, the books exposes all government of whatever type is willed by the plans of Almighty God to be.
I red a portion of the Bible in the book of Romans 13:1-8 (Amplied Version) there in God instructed that :
“Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
“Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
“For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
“for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
“Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
“For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
“Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
My emphasis is in the portion where it stated “let every soul be subject to higher authority (Government) for there is no authority except from God “. So it’s wisdom to give ceaser what belongs to ceaser and give God what belongs to Him (Words of Jesus).
In the book of Ecclesiastis 9:11 clearly revealed that nobody will be anything on earth unless with the supreme permission of God to allow him or her to be. Be all the almighty giant like the Goliath of old, God will tell you little Shepherd Boy like David will shamelessly kill you in the battle field. So God is not a respecter of persons he stands and lives by His words.
Grow up your wealth, name and education to whatever level, in the words of God’s servant (Ecl.9:11)stated that” ” I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”
On researching through the Holy Quran the following verses became nuggets of wisdom to any Man who fears God and it reads that:
“Nothing happens unless ordained by Allah. That includes the good and the bad. The commentary also shows the attitudes that a Muslim needs to adopt in times of hardship and difficulties.
In Surah At-Tawba Allah gives His servants the assurance of His protection. He Says:
Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Mawla (protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.)
Quran (Surah Tawba, Verse 51)5
In Surah Hadid, Allah (SWT) Makes it more explicit that He decides what is to happen in our lives and that He has a purpose for it. He says:
No calamity occurs on earth nor in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.
In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters.1
Quran (Surah Hadid, Verses 22,23)
Ibn ‘Abbâs narrates:
(The saying:) “Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)” was said by Ibrâhîm (Abraham) when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad (s) when they (i.e. hypocrites) said (as mentioned to us in the Quran),
“Verily, the people have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them,” but it (only) increased them in Faith and they said: “Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” Quran (Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 173) (Surah Aal-e-Imran Arabic)
(Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.6, Hadîth No.86).
I will quite understand with those that believes in the other school of thought totally relying in the rule of law and the power of democracy, whereby everything must be within the confines of the law (constitution) with the backing support of freedom of speech. My two searched example of God Holy words from the most dominant religion we profess had enjoins us (Followers) to fear Him (God) by strictly obeying what is in His words, then by his mercy, love and compassion will give us leaders that can solve our problems.
Now I discovered power, honour, lifting and promotion does not come from the west, east, south or north but from God the marker of heaven on earth. God has reiterated in His words believe my prophets (My messengers,servants,leaders) You shall established and believe in their words and you shall have peace.
Yes of course to any leader who will not do the biddings of God to his people (Servants) he will be disgraced like king Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible. (Daniel 4:29-34)
“This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
“That you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
“Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.
“Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
“All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
“At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.
“The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
“While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you.
“You shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass as oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.”
“This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.”
In this comparative analysis is to remind us of what God intended to mankind through our leaders ,Lokoja and Kogi State entirely is never an exceptional, the Executive Governor of the State Gov. Yahaya Bello and Hon Shiru Lawal is another representation of God to the people of not only Lokoja but the whole of Kogi State . God willed them to be, God allowed them to be despite the controversies of politics to suit interest of other people bigger than theres , yet “what has happened, has happened, what will be has been willed right from time unthinkable and what is going to be is going to be ” the early we get the wisdom of praying for our leaders the better shall be for all of us.
– Mubaraq Yasmin
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