Sheikh Muhammad Abdulwahhab al Banna (rahimahullaah)
regarding the Muslim leaders
Translated by Abdulilah Lahmami
All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds, what is before you is a sitting of questions and answers with one of the eldest scholars alive today, Sheikh Muhammad Abdulwahhab al Banna hafidahullaah. This sitting was on Sunday night 17th Shawal 1422, 30th December 2001 in his house.
Question
Some say that the ahadeeth pertaining to obedience to the rulers are not to be applied since they pertain to the ameer al Mumineen and now we have many leaders?
Answer
The foundation of the issue is that the leader should only be one but Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi sallam both mentioned that the Muslims will have many leaders in different lands as Allaah says “And if two groups of believers fight each other then seek rectification between them.” This shows that there is more than one group of Muslims (with different leaders) and also the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi sallam said, “there will be after me leaders not taking my guidance as guidance and not following my sunnah…” The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi sallam himself here mentioned leaders (plural – umaraa instead of ameer) and on top of that he told us to obey them unless they ordered us to disobey Allaah. Similarly, he forbade us from revolting against them. That we do not kill them and try to ambush them. We do not defame them as many people do today even with the best of the leaders that are present. The best of them today without a doubt are the leaders in Saudi Arabia, they are even better than the general public These people establish Tawheed, establish the main aspects of the religion and they help in that regard, so this is transgression and sinfulness that has nothing beyond it in justice . What do these people want? Do they want this country to turn like Egypt, Jordan, Syria or something like Bahrain. Some people say that the country does not allow women to have freedom. What do they want? Do they want women to go out into the streets (meaning not dressed properly such that they are harmed).