Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan on Political Coups & Revolutions
Question:
Are political coups, insurgences, and revolutions from the characteristics of Islaam and are they forms of Jihaad?
Answer:
The question should more appropriately be, “Is chaos and the causes of bloodshed without right from Islaam?” because this is the meaning of such things. Such actions are the most severe factors that destroy Islaamic lands. If we look at the disbelievers, for example the Jewish country (Israel), which contains resources and support from all over the world, we find that not once did a political coup occur. We do not find, during these times, coups and revolutions in the major nations of the east and west. No one supports and starts political coups and insurgences except for the one that has no concern for the well-being of his own nation or for its security. These are ways of jeopardizing the very existence of a nation, cultivating enmity among its people, spilling blood, and allowing its enemies to gain control over it. The evil of such tactics are obvious, yet the good of them is rare and minute and most of the time nonexistent. The first coup to occur regarding the Muslims was the insurgency against ‘Uthmaan (رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ) which eventually resulted in his murder. All of the Companions unanimously agreed upon the evil of that action. Therefore, it is compulsory upon every single Muslim to free himself and abstain from these affairs. When the Prophet (صَلَّى الله عَلَيهِ وَ سَلَّم) was asked about the leaders, he commanded that everyone must listen to and obey them, and he forbade division and disunity. Also, when a group of senior scholars from Baghdad (during the Abbasid rule) came to Imaam Ahmad speaking ill of the Abbasid ruler, he became angry with them and warned them from such things. So, these are evil despised actions and the good lies only in following the Salaf.
Source: From the cassette “al-Jihaad wa Dhawaabituhu ash-Shar’iyyah.”
This is a free Publication from Tarbiyyah Bookstore Publishing & Distribution. Permission is given to reproduce and distribute electronically or otherwise for Da’wah purposes only. But, no part of this publication may be changed by any means possible without the explicit written approval of Tarbiyyah Bookstore Publishing & Distribution.