DEALING WITH POLITICAL DIFFERENCE
Towards a Peaceful Society
A Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) report (contained in the collections by Abu Dawud, Nasai, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ahmad) relates that the Prophet declared that the best jihad is to speak a word of truth and justice in front of an oppressive ruler. On the other hand, in another Hadith report (contained in the collections by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad) the Prophet is 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. He is also said to have declared that one should obey the ruler, even if he is whipped on his back and his wealth taken away.
These reports seem to talk of two different things. We are told that if we see something wrong with our rulers we should openly speak up against it. We are also told that if we see something wrong with our rulers we should exercise patience in this regard and that even if he oppresses us we should tolerate it.
These two different prescriptions clearly distinguish between announcing something, and taking action on it. It is desirable that if you see something wrong with your rulers, you should state it in the form of good advice and guidance, based on genuine concern for their welfare. But as far as taking practical action to compel rulers to mend their ways or to forcibly change the situation, one should abstain from this completely. In other words, you must distinguish between advice and guidance, and the politics of confrontation. While using your legitimate right to guide and advice your rulers, you must fully abstain from political confrontation.
It is very important to keep this distinction in mind. When people begin to demonstrate and agitate against their rulers, and seek to topple them in the name of ‘reform’, it inevitably leads to violence in society. However, if they abstain from such conflictual politics and remain satisfied with verbal advice and suggestions, societal peace will remain undisturbed and society will be saved from degenerating into a jungle of violence.
