The Best Way To Admonish A Leader!

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

The best way to advise or call a leader to order is to talk to him privately and not exposing his faults in public for everyone to see. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:   

"Whoever wants to advise a sultaan (leader/ruler) on a matter, should not do it outwardly, but let him take him by the hand and go into seclusion with him. If he accepts it from him then that (is good) and if not then he (the adviser) has fulfilled that which was upon him (to do)." (Musnad of Ahmad, as-Sunnah of Ibn Abee Aa'sim. Authenticated by al-Albaanee رحمه الله).

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was also reported to have said: 

"Whoever disgraced the sultaan of Allaah in the earth, Allaah will disgrace him." (at-Tirmidhee, authenticated by Imaam al-Albaanee رحمه الله)   

And the fact that the scholars who understand the Sunnah and stand by it do not attack leaders in public or on the pulpit does not mean they don't advise them in seclusion. They are not bound to come out and tell the world what they have discussed with leaders in privacy.  In a narration, Shaqeeq رضي الله عنه reported that it was said to Usaamah bin Zayd رضي الله عنهما:

"Will you not enter upon Uthmaan رضي الله عنه and talk to him?"  So he (Usaamah bin Zayd) said: "Do you see that i don't talk to him except that I make you to hear (what I say to him)? By Allaah I have spoken to him in manner which was between me and him without opening an affair that I do not love to be the first one to open it." (Bukhaaree #3267)

So, those of you who accuse scholars of cowardice, hypocrisy and all sort of things, for not attacking leaders from the pulpit, would be the ones to stand before Allaah to defend your allegations. The flesh of the scholars is poisonous, yet you consume it the way you like.