PATIENCE OVER OPPRESSION FROM LEADERS

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

Paradise is surrounded by trials that are hard to withstand. But with solid trust, belief in Allaah and strict adherence to the Sunnah, we can endure the situation in order to get there by Allaah's favour. One of such trials is the trial of bad leadership and the obligation of patience on any form of hardship emanating therefrom. To refrain from criticising, rebelling or protesting against leaders, no matter how bad they are is a bitter pill to swallow. But it must be swallowed because that is the Sunnah (and the way of the pious predecessors). The bitter pills should be swallowed submissively without any haraj (discomfort, ill feeling, bad thought or grumbling) in our hearts against the instruction of Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in this regard. Allaah says:

(فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا)

But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission. [Surat An-Nisa' 65]

In a hadith reported by Usaid bin Hudair رضي الله عنه, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was reported to have said, 

"After me you will see rulers not giving you your right (but you should give them their right) and be patient till you meet me." [Saheeh Bukhari]

This hadith is an indication that this our world weighs nothing in front of Allaah. The hereafter is the most important thing for us to target. In a hadith, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, if this world were to weigh more than the wing of a mosquitoe, Allaah wouldn't have allowed the disbelievers to have access to a sip of water. But as we can see, He, سبحانه وتعالى grant even the disbelievers enormous wealth on the surface of the earth. In fact, the disbelievers and the mischief makers are the richest people in the world. This means the world means nothing to Him. This world is like a paradise for the evil doers and mischief makers. They hold on to it at all cost due to their ignorance of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. 

As for the true believers, they prefer the hereafter and guard it jealously with sound eeman and good deeds. They are not freaked by worldly things. They endure hardships from leaders and ask Allaah for their rights. How many days or years do we have to spend on the surface of the earth that worth the sacrifice of our faith ? A lot of people are sacrificing their faiths for enjoyments that would soon come to an end. We would all die and we shall be questioned about the enjoyments. The harship of the grave would cause its occupant to forget all the enjoyments he had on earth. May Allaah save us from it. One day, one of our Ustadhs, Dr. Yahya AbdulBaaqi (Abu Zakariyyah) حفظه الله ورعاه taught me this poem in his office long time ago (forgive my poor translation please). He said:

ولو كنت الدنيا سوى الخضر جنة **  لكان ملوك الدهر فيها مشفع

If this world is like paradise, the Kings of past generations would have remained there on account of intercession

ولكنها ميت وميتت لحمها ** وأخبارنا فيها تضيع وتقطع

But the world is mortal (it will end) and it is like the meat of an unslaughtered animal, and our gist about it would lose value and cut off

May Allaah make it easy for us to prioritize the hereafter in all our affairs.