The narration "Whoever among you saw a tyrant ruler who ...."
Fatwa No: 267724

Question

Assalamualaikum sheikh i would like to if this hadeeth is saheeh????and possible explanation of this hadith Whoever among you saw a tyrant ruler that permits the Hurumaat of Allah, negates the covenant of Allah, governs the people by other than what Allah revealed, and he did not strive against him (the ruler) with a word or action it is upon Allah to have him enter the same entrance as the ruler."

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

This Hadeeth is not authentic. It is cited, though, in many books of Arabic literature and sermons that it was mentioned by Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali in one of his speeches upon feeling the imminent betrayal of the people of Iraq. It is narrated in At-Tabari's Taareekh that: "Abu Mikhnaf reported on the authority of ‘Uqbah ibn Abi Al-‘Eezaar that Al-Husayn delivered a speech once in Al-Baydhah in front of his companions and the supporters of Al-Hurr ibn Yazeed. He expressed gratitude to Allaah and praised Him and then said, ‘O people! The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever among you saw a tyrant ruler who deems allowable what Allaah has deemed unlawful, breaks the covenant of Allaah, governs the people by other than what Allaah revealed, and he did not strive against him (the ruler) with a word or deed, then it is upon Allaah to have him enter the same (final) destination as him (the tyrant ruler).”

Abu Mikhnaf is Loot ibn Yahya; Ath-Thahabi said about him, ‘He is not a reliable reporter; he is known for narrating unauthentic reports. Abu Haatim and others rejected the reports narrated by him. Ad-Daaraqutni classified him as a weak reporter. Ibn Ma‘een underlined that he is not a trustworthy narrator; he said once, ‘Reports narrated by him are rejected’. Ibn ‘Adiyy said about him, ‘He is a fanatic Shi‘ite who narrates their reports only.’ [Lisaan Al-Meezaan 6/430]

Limiting the scope of change to words and deeds implies neglecting a considerable means of forbidding an evil when the person is unable to forbid it by words or deeds. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, and he is able to change it with his hand, then let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim]

When the person is unable to forbid the evil deed by means of his hand and tongue, he is allowed to opt for the last means, that is, disliking it in his heart. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When sin is committed on the earth, he who sees it and disapproves of it will be regarded as one who has not witnessed it, but he who is not present and approves of it will be regarded as one who has witnessed it.” [Abu Daawood; Al-Albaani: Hasan]

He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “You will have rulers some of whom you approve and some of whom you will disapprove. He who dislikes them will be safe, and he who expresses disapproval will be safe, but he who is pleased and follows them...” [Muslim] As-Suyooti said, “It means that he will be punished for it.” [Ad-Dibaaj]

Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr underlined in his book At-Tamheed that it means that he who is unable to change the evil by his hand or tongue is obliged to change it by his heart; if he does not dislike and feel averse to such a misdeed, he is regarded just like the person who accepts it and is pleased with it.

Ibn Rajab commented on the Hadeeth, “This is because approving sins and misdeeds and being pleased with them is one of the most hideous forbidden acts; by doing so, one has failed to denounce the evil deed by his heart which is obligatory upon all Muslims, and this religious obligation is never waived under any given circumstances.” [Jaami‘ Al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam]

Allaah Knows best.

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