There shall be rulers in charge of you, and you will approve and disapprove. So anyone who approves (their good deeds) shall be absolved, and anyone who forbids (their bad deeds) shall be safe, except for those who are content and comply

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs us that rulers will be appointed to be in charge of us. We will approve some of their deeds for conforming with Shariah, and we will disapprove other deeds for contradicting Shariah. Whoever hates such evil deeds in his heart and is unable to forbid them is absolved of sin and hypocrisy. Whoever is able to forbid evil with his hand or tongue and does so is safe from bearing sin and from participating in it. However, those who are content with their evil deeds and follow them will be doomed just like them. Then, they asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Shall we not fight against such rulers? He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade them from that and said: No, as long as they establish the prayer amongst you.

Benefits

• Among the signs of the Prophet's prophethood is his foretelling about things of the Unseen that will take place in the same manner he foretold.
• It is impermissible to approve of evil or participate in it and it must be forbidden.
• If the rulers introduce something that contradicts Shariah, obeying them in this regard will be impermissible.
• It is impermissible to rebel against the Muslim rulers given the harm, bloodshed, and loss of security that result therefrom; whereas, enduring the wrongdoing of sinful rulers and bearing their harm is the lesser of two evils.
• The great significance of the prayer as it represents the difference between disbelief and Islam.

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