The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 551
XII - First Era of Life in Madīnah Comes to an End and the Islāmic System of Government 551 your Amīrs, i. e. , you notice a clear disbelief in a fundamental law of God, for which you have a clear and conclusive argument from God, then you have the right to challenge the leadership of the Amīr. ’” 1 In this Ḥadīth , with regards to the word ‘Kufr’ [i. e. , ‘disbelief’] it should be remembered that this does not only infer a disbelief in religious doctrine; rather, it also implies a divergence from the fundamental principles of the law of government and Sharī‘at. Therefore, it is mentioned in another Ḥadīth that the unlawful killing of an innocent Muslim is also a form of ‘disbelief. ’ 2 Moreover, learned scholars from among the Companions have also declared the unlawful designs of the rebels in the era of Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān ra as constituting ‘disbelief. ’ 3 However, in order to stand up against an Amīr , it is necessary for this disbelief to be absolutely clear and manifest. It should not be the result of an error in judgement or obscure circumstances. Furthermore, there should be no door open for the Amīr to be absolved even as a possibility and his leadership must take on such a dangerous form that it becomes necessary to risk the peace of the country and unity of the nation in order to overthrow such a government. Deposition of a Government is Not Permissible Whilst Living Under its Rule However, even in such a case, Islām does not approve that a person should raise the flag of rebellion, whilst living in the sovereignty of an Amīr in a state of subservience. The purpose of this instruction is to prevent civil war from breaking out in the land and so that the dangerous state does not arise that people begin to stand up against an Amīr whilst living under his rule. Therefore, in extreme circumstances of this nature, the Islāmic practice is that those people who consider the government of an Amīr to be unbearably oppressive, they should migrate from that country. After having left the country, if they believe that it is necessary and appropriate, they should work 1 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Fitan, Bābu Qaulin-Nabiyyi sa “Satarauna Ba‘dī Umūran Tunkirūnahā,” Ḥadīth No. 7056 * Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Imārah, Bābu Wujūbi Ṭā‘til-Umarā’i Fī Ghairi Ma‘ṣiyyatin. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4771 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Fitan, Bābu Qaulin-Nabiyyi sa “Lā Tarji‘ū Ba‘dī Kuffāran. . . . . ,” Ḥadīth No. 7076-7077 3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Fitan, Bābu Idhā Qāla ‘Inda Qaumin Shai’an. . . . . ,” Ḥadīth No. 7114