Hadith No. 20
After the Prophet, there is a ruler who must be honored, and he is Allah’s ruler on Earth.
رَوَى ابْنُ أَبِي عَاصِمٍ [ت287هـ] فِي «السُّنَّةِ»[1]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْبَزَّارِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو تَوْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُهَاجِرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ حَلْبَسٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي سُلْطَانٌ، فَأَعِزُّوهُ، مَنِ الْتَمَسَ ذُلَّهُ ثَغَرَ ثُغْرَةً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، وَلَمْ يُقْبَلْ مِنْهُ تَوْبَةٌ حَتَّى يُعِيدَهَا كَمَا كَانَتْ.
Translation:
Ibn Abi Asim [d. 287 AH] has narrated in the book al-Sunnah, (in this manner that) he has said: Hasan ibn al-Bazzar narrated to us, (he said:) Abu Tawbah narrated to us, (he said:) Muhammad ibn Muhajir narrated to us, from ibn Halbas, from Mu‘awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, from Abu Dharr, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah 
say:
There will be a ruler after me, so honor him. Whoever seeks to humiliate him has created a rift in Islam, and his repentance will not be accepted until he restores it to its former state.
Attestation No. 1
وَرَوَى ابْنُ أَبِي عَاصِمٍ [ت287هـ] فِي «السُّنَّةِ»[2] أَيْضًا، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا رَاشِدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ جُنَاحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا نُصَيْرٌ مَوْلَى خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي سُلْطَانٌ، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ ذُلَّهُ ثَغَرَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ ثُغْرَةً، وَلَيْسَتْ لَهُ تَوْبَةٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يَسُدَّهَا، وَلَيْسَ يَسُدُّهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ».
Translation:
Also, ibn Abi Asim [d. 287 AH] has narrated elsewhere in the book al-Sunnah and said: Abu Bakr Rashid ibn Sa‘id narrated to us, (he said:) Walid ibn Muslim narrated to us, (he said:) Marwan ibn Junah narrated to us, (he said:) Nusayr—the freed slave of Khalid—narrated to us from Abu Dharr, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “There will be a ruler after me. Whoever desires his humiliation creates a rift in Islam, and there will be no repentance for him until he closes it, but he will not close it until the Day of Judgment.”
Attestation No. 2
وَرَوَى ابْنُ أَبِي عَاصِمٍ [ت287هـ] فِي «السُّنَّةِ»[3] أَيْضًا، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنِ الْعَوَّامِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، قَالَ: حَمَلْتُ لِأَبِي ذَرٍّ شَيْئًا، فَقَالَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّهُ كَائِنٌ بَعْدِي سُلْطَانٌ، فَلَا تُذِلُّوهُ، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُذِلَّهُ خَلَعَ رِبْقَةَ الْإِسْلَامِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ، وَلَيْسَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ تَوْبَةٌ حَتَّى يَسُدَّ ثُلْمَتَهُ الَّتِي ثَلَمَ، وَلَيْسَ بِفَاعِلٍ».
Translation:
Also, ibn Abi Asim [d. 287 AH] has narrated elsewhere in the book al-Sunnah and said: Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah narrated to us, (he said:) Yazid ibn Harun narrated to us from Awwam ibn Hawshab, (who said:) Qasim ibn Awf al-Shaybani narrated to us from a man, who said: I carried something for Abu Dharr. He then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Indeed, there will be a ruler after me, so do not humiliate him; for whoever desires his humiliation has removed the tie of Islam from his neck, and his repentance will not be accepted until he fills the gap he has created, but he will not be able to do so.”
Consideration
قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ لَهُ شَوَاهِدُ كَثِيرَةٌ، وَالسُّلْطَانُ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ وَأَمَرَ بِإِعْزَازِهِ هُوَ سُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَلَيْسَ سُلْطَانَ النَّاسِ.
Translation:
Mansoor 
said: This is an authentic Hadith, and there are many attestations for it. And the ruler whom the Prophet has informed of and commanded to be honored refers to Allah’s ruler on Earth, not the ruler of people.
Attestation No. 3
كَمَا رَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ [ت279هـ] فِي «سُنَنِهِ»[4]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ كُسَيْبٍ الْعَدَوِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ أَهَانَ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَهَانَهُ اللَّهُ»، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى[5]: «مَنْ أَكْرَمَ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ أَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ أَهَانَ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ أَهَانَهُ اللَّهُ».
Translation:
Similarly, al-Tirmidhi [d. 279 AH] has narrated in his Sunan and said: Bundar narrated to us, he said: Abu Dawud narrated to us, he said: Humayd ibn Mihran narrated to us, from Sa‘d ibn Aws, from Ziyad ibn Kusayb al-Adawi, from Abu Bakrah, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever humiliates Allah’s ruler on Earth, Allah humiliates him.” And in another narration, it has been stated: “Whoever honors Allah’s ruler, Allah honors him. And whoever humiliates Allah’s ruler, Allah humiliates him.”
Attestation No. 4
وَرَوَى أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الْبَزَّارُ [ت292هـ] فِي «مُسْنَدِهِ»[6]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ حِرَاشٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ؛ وَأَخْبَرَنَاهُ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمِقْدَامِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ قَوْمٍ مَشَوْا إِلَى سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ لِيُذِلُّوهُ إِلَّا أَذَلَّهُمُ اللَّهُ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ».
Translation:
Also, Ahmad ibn Amr al-Bazzar [d. 292 AH] has narrated in his Musnad and said: Muhammad ibn Ma‘mar narrated to us, he said: Dahhak ibn Makhlad informed us, he said: Kathir ibn Abi Kathir informed us, from Rib‘i ibn Hirash, from Hudhayfah, from the Prophet ; and also, Ahmad ibn Miqdam informed us, he said: Muhammad ibn Bakr informed us, he said: Kathir ibn Abi Kathir informed us, from Rib‘i, from Hudhayfah, from the Prophet who said: “There is no group that takes a step toward Allah’s ruler with the intention of humiliating him unless Allah humiliates them before the Day of Judgment.”
Attestation No. 5
وَرَوَى ابْنُ أَبِي عَاصِمٍ [ت287هـ] فِي «السُّنَّةِ»[7]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ اسْتَعْمَلَ عَامِلًا عَلَى قَوْمٍ، وَفِي تِلْكَ الْعِصَابَةِ مَنْ هُو أَرْضَى لِلَّهِ مِنْهُ، فَقَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَخَانَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَانَ جَمِيعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَمَنْ مَشَى إِلَى سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيُذِلَّهَ، أَذَلَّ اللَّهُ رَقَبَتَهُ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ مَا ذَخَرَ لَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ ».
Translation:
Also, ibn Abi Asim [d. 287 AH] has narrated in the book al-Sunnah and said: Wahb ibn Baqiyyah narrated to us, (he said:) Khalid ibn Abdullah narrated to us, from Husain ibn Qays, from Ikrimah, from ibn Abbas, who said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever appoints an agent over a people when there is someone among them better than him in the sight of Allah has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and all Muslims. And whoever goes to Allah’s ruler with the intention of humiliating him, Allah humiliates his neck before the Day of Judgment, in addition to a punishment that He has kept in store for him.”
Consideration
قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: لَقَدْ جَاءَ فِي آخِرِ الْحَدِيثِ: «سُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ كِتَابُهُ وَسُنَّةُ نَبِيِّهِ»، وَهِيَ زِيَادَةٌ مُنْكَرَةٌ، أَظُنُّهَا مِنْ قَوْلِ عِكْرِمَةَ؛ فَقَدْ كَانَ يَرَى رَأْيَ الْخَوَارِجِ[8]، وَسُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَتُهُ فِيهَا، وَإِنَّمَا يُقَالُ لَهُ سُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَهُ دُونَ النَّاسِ، وَلَا يُقَالُ لِمَنْ نَالَ سُلْطَانًا بِتَغَلُّبٍ مِنْهُ أَوْ رَأْيٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ سُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ؛ كَمَا رُوِيَ أَنَّ جَعْدَةَ بْنَ هُبَيْرَةَ قَالَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ لِعُوَّادِهِ وَجُلَسَائِهِ: «هَذَا السُّلْطَانُ سُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ، جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ، وَلَيْسَ أَنْتُمْ تَجْعَلُونَهُ»[9]، وَكَانَ مِنْ شِيعَةِ عَلِيٍّ، وَرُوِيَ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ يَوْمًا لِمَنْ عِنْدَهَا: «كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَاعِيَانِ: دَاعٍ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَدَاعٍ إِلَى سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ؟» فَقَالُوا: «نُجِيبُ الدَّاعِي إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ»، فَقَالَتْ: «لَا، بَلْ أَجِيبُوا الدَّاعِيَ إِلَى سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ مَعَ سُلْطَانِهِ»[10]، وَصَدَقَتْ وَبَرَّتْ؛ فَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّهُمَا لَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَى الْحَوْضِ»، وَأَجَابَ الْخَوَارِجُ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَخَالَفُوا سُلْطَانَهُ، فَضَلُّوا ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا.
Translation:
Mansoor said: At the end of the Hadith, it has been stated: “Allah’s ruler is His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet.” And this is a rejected addition, which I suspect comes from the statement of Ikrimah; because he shared the view of the Kharijites. And Allah’s ruler on Earth refers to His caliph on it, and he is called “Allah’s ruler” because Allah has appointed him, not people. And one who gains power by force or by popular vote is not called Allah’s ruler; as it has been narrated that Ja‘dah ibn Hubayrah, during the sickness that led to his death, said to his visitors and companions: “This ruler is Allah’s ruler. Allah has appointed him, and you have not appointed him,” and he was among the followers of Ali. And it has been narrated that one day, Umm Salamah said to those who were with her: “How will you be when two callers call you—one calling to the Book of Allah, and the other to the ruler of Allah?” They said: “We will respond to the caller to the Book of Allah.” So she said: “No. Rather, respond to the caller to the ruler of Allah, for the Book of Allah is with His ruler.” And she spoke the truth and said well; because the Messenger of Allah said: “These two will never be separated until they come to me by the Pond.” And the Kharijites responded to (the caller to) the Book of Allah and opposed the ruler of Allah, so they went far astray.
Attestation No. 6
وَرَوَى الطَّبَرَانِيُّ [ت360هـ] فِي «مُسْنَدِ الشَّامِيِّينَ»[11]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْهَيْثَمُ بْنُ خَارِجَةَ؛ وَحَدَّثَنَا الْخَطَّابُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ؛ وَحَدَّثَنَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ الْبَلْخِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، قَالُوا: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ، عَنِ الْوَضِينِ بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «أَلَا إِنَّ رَحَى الْإِسْلَامِ دَائِرَةٌ، فَدُورُوا مَعَ الْكِتَابِ حَيْثُ دَارَ، أَلَا إِنَّ الْكِتَابَ وَالسُّلْطَانَ سَيَفْتَرِقَانِ، فَلَا تُفَارِقُوا الْكِتَابَ، أَلَا إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَرَاءُ يَقْضُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مَا لَا يَقْضُونَ لَكُمْ، إِنْ عَصَيْتُمُوهُمْ قَتَلُوكُمْ، وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ أَضَلُّوكُمْ»، قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، كَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ: «كَمَا صَنَعَ أَصْحَابُ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ، نُشِرُوا بِالْمَنَاشِيرِ، وَحُمِلُوا عَلَى الْخُشُبِ، مَوْتٌ فِي طَاعَةٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ حَيَاةٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ».
Translation:
Also, al-Ṭabarani [d. 360 AH] has narrated in the book Musnad al-Shamiyyin and said: Abdullah ibn Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal narrated to us, (he said:) Haytham ibn Kharijah narrated to us; and also, Khaṭṭab ibn Sa‘d al-Dimashqi narrated to us, (he said:) Hisham ibn Ammar narrated to us; and also, Qasim ibn Yusuf ibn Ya‘qub al-Balkhi narrated to us, (he said:) Ali ibn Ḥujr al-Marwazi narrated to us—(all of them) said: Abdullah ibn Abd al-Raḥman ibn Yazid ibn Jabir narrated to us, from Waḍin ibn Aṭa’, from Yazid ibn Marthad, from Mu‘adh ibn Jabal, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Be aware that the mill of Islam is turning, so turn with the Book wherever it turns (meaning, make the Book your standard). Be aware that the Book and the ruler will be separated, so do not separate from the Book. Be aware that governors will rule over you who decree for themselves what they do not decree for you. If you disobey them, they will kill you; and if you obey them, they will lead you astray.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah! How should we act?” He said: “As the companions of Isa, the son of Maryam, acted. They were sawn into pieces and hanged on the gallows, for death in obedience to Allah is better than life in disobedience to Him.”
Consideration
قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: إِنَّمَا قَالَ: «السُّلْطَانَ»، وَلَمْ يَقُلْ: «سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ»، وَالسُّلْطَانُ أَعَمُّ مِنْ سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ، وَلِذَلِكَ قَدْ يُفَارِقُ الْكِتَابَ، وَسُلْطَانُ اللَّهِ لَا يُفَارِقُ الْكِتَابَ، وَمَا أَهْلَكَ أَهْلَ الْحَدِيثِ إِلَّا جَهْلُهُمْ بِهَذَا، إِذْ زَعَمُوا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَرَهُمْ بِطَاعَةِ السُّلْطَانِ، وَمَا أَمَرَهُمْ إِلَّا بِطَاعَةِ سُلْطَانِ اللَّهِ، وَلَيْسَ كُلُّ سُلْطَانٍ سُلْطَانَ اللَّهِ، وَمَا جَهْلُهُمْ بِهَذَا إِلَّا كَجَهْلِ امْرَأَةٍ مُوَسْوَسَةٍ جَاءَتْ إِلَى طَاغِيَةٍ مِنْ بَنِي عَبَّاسٍ، فَقَالَتْ لَهُ: «بِأَبِي أَنْتُمْ، مَا أَكْثَرَ ظُلْمَ النَّاسِ لَكُمْ!» قَالَ: «فِيمَ ذَاكَ؟!» قَالَتْ: «يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْخُلَفَاءَ مِنْكُمْ ظَلَمَةٌ، وَلَوْ كَانُوا كَذَلِكَ مَا وَلَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ خِلَافَتَهُ! أَلَيْسَ يَقُولُ: ﴿لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ﴾[12]؟ فَلَوْ كَانُوا ظَلَمَةً لَمْ يَنَلْهُمْ عَهْدُهُ!»[13] وَلَمْ تَكُنْ هَذِهِ الْغَبِيَّةُ فِي خَبْطِهَا بِأَجْهَلَ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْمَنْسُوبِينَ إِلَى الْعِلْمِ، وَلَوْ رَجَعُوا إِلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ لَبَيَّنُوا لَهُمْ؛ كَمَا رُوِيَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ بَعْضَ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ﴾[14]، وَقَالَ: «أَلَيْسَ قَدْ آتَى اللَّهُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ الْمُلْكَ؟!» فَقَالَ: «لَيْسَ حَيْثُ تَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهِ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ آتَانَا الْمُلْكَ، وَأَخَذَهُ بَنُو أُمَيَّةَ، بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ الثَّوْبُ، فَيَأْخُذُهُ الْآخَرُ، فَلَيْسَ هُوَ لِلَّذِي أَخَذَهُ»[15]!
Translation:
Mansoor said: He has said: “the ruler,” and has not said: “the ruler of Allah.” And the term “ruler” is broader than “ruler of Allah,” and therefore, he may separate from the Book. However, the ruler of Allah does not separate from the Book. And nothing destroyed the people of hadith except their ignorance of this point, when they claimed that the Prophet had commanded them to obey any ruler, while he had not commanded them but to obey the ruler of Allah. And it is not the case that any ruler is the ruler of Allah. And their ignorance of this point is but similar to the ignorance of a deluded woman who came to one of the taghuts of the Abbasids and said to him: “May my father be sacrificed for you! How much people wrong you!” He said: “In what way?” She said: “They claim that the caliphs from among you are oppressors. But if that were true, Allah would not have appointed them to His caliphate! Has He not said: ‘My covenant does not reach the oppressors’? So if they were oppressors, Allah’s covenant would not have reached them!” And this ignorant woman, in her error, was no more ignorant than those individuals attributed to knowledge. And had they referred to true scholars, they would have clarified for them; as it has been narrated that a man asked one of the Ahl al-Bayt about this statement of Allah: “Say: ‘O Allah! You are the Owner of dominion! You give dominion to whomever You will and take dominion from whomever You will,’” and he said: “Is it not that Allah has given dominion to Banu Umayyah?!” So he said: “It is not as you have understood. Allah has given dominion to us, and Banu Umayyah have usurped it—like a man who has a garment and another usurps it, so it does not belong to the one who has usurped it.”
