Question: Is attacking rulers from the pulpits (Minbars) and judging them with Kufr (disbelief) and Fusuq (open sinfulness) without establishing the proof (Hujjah) part of the methodology of the Salaf As-Salih (Pious Predecessors)?
The Answer: The Messenger (SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa ‘ala alihi wa sallam) says: “Whoever among you sees an evil (Munkar), let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; if he is not able, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.” As for the Hadith: “Whoever has advice for one in authority, let him advise him privately,” indeed, it is a weak (Da’if) Hadith.
The issue of incitement in all countries – we do not want revolutions. We do not want a revolution in Libya; we want Allah to make it easy for a bullet to hit the forehead of Qaddafi – may Allah strike him with calamity! – and for the Libyan people to be relieved of him. We do not want a revolution in Libya, nor do we want a revolution in Iraq – this, by Allah, is my ‘Aqidah (creed) – nor do we want a revolution against the Nusayri Hafiz Al-Assad.
So, the matter of inciting people to rise against the rulers is a matter of foolishness. What happened, my dear brothers, when they killed Sadat? A dog worse than the first dog came. When they killed Sadat – I went down to Egypt during Sadat’s time, Ma sha Allah, we would walk about and the Masjids would be full – may Allah not bless him (Sadat) nor reward him with good, for they wanted to arrest me there – but it was better than the situation that came thereafter.
Therefore, the important point is that revolutions and coups are not to be called for. If a Munkar (reprehensible act) is found, you denounce it. Democracy? You tell them it is Taghut-based (tyrannical/based on false deities). And when the Sana’a government came to the Southerners (South Yemen) and handed them positions, we said to it: “You have erred, O Sana’a government!” And likewise, partisan elections. But we are not callers to revolutions or coups. Rather, even if it were the president and we knew he was calling for bloodshed, we would release tapes against him in refutation of him or others. What good has ever come from revolutions and coups? Afghanistan, which sacrificed – in what was considered a correct Jihad in its initial phase – one and a half million souls, now they fight amongst themselves. And they bring to them Rabbani, in whom is every affliction; and before Rabbani, Sibghatullah Mojaddedi – a Sufi, a Shi’i, an agent of America, in whom is every affliction.
So, the issue is one of Tarbiyah (nurturing and moral upbringing) and Ta’lim (education). And the impetuous, reckless youth must be ‘cooled down.’ If you see an impetuous youth, you give him a ‘cooling tablet,’ cool him down, and calm him. They are the cause of the setbacks for the Da’wahs (Islamic calls).
Thus, the clarification (Bayan) is clear, and denounce the Munkar. But do not call for revolutions and coups.
From the tape: (Al-Ajwibah Al-Hadramiyyah ‘ala Masaa’il Da’awiyyah).
(Translated for academic purposed by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna.)
Saheehus-Seerah 