The Limits of Dissension

What is Peace? front of an oppressive ruler. (Sunan At Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2174; Sunan Abu Dawud, hadih No. 4344; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 4011) The Prophet is also said to have declared that a person who sees something in his ruler that he does not like should exercise patience with regard to that matter. (Al Bukhari, Hadith No. 7143; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1849) Likewise, in a hadith contained in the Sahih Muslim, the Prophet is said to have declared that one should listen to one’s ruler and obey him, even if he whips one on one’s back and seizes one’s wealth. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1847) These hadith reports appear to provide two different commandments. On the one hand, we are told that if we see something wrong with our rulers, we should openly announce it. On the other hand, we are also told that if we see something wrong with our rulers, we should exercise patience in that regard and that even if he oppresses us, we should tolerate it. These prescriptions clearly indicate the distinction between announcing something, on the one hand, and taking action on it, on the other. It is a desirable thing that if you see something wrong with your rulers, you should announce it in the form of exhortation and wellwishing. But as far as taking practical steps as a reaction are concerned, one should completely abstain from them. One must distinguish between the politics of exhortation and that of confrontation. Using the legitimate right