The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If a man takes an oath of allegiance to a leader, and puts his hand on his hand and does it with the sincerity of his heart, he should obey him as much as possible. If another man comes and contests him, then behead the other one. The narrator 'Abd al-Rahman said: I asked: Have you heard this from the Messenger of Allah ? He said: My ears heard it and my heart retained it. I said: Your cousin Mu'awiyah orders us that we should do this and do that. He replied: Obey him in the acts of obedience to Allah, and disobey him in the acts of disobedience to Allah.
Hadith Text & Context
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "If a man takes an oath of allegiance to a leader, and puts his hand on his hand and does it with the sincerity of his heart, he should obey him as much as possible. If another man comes and contests him, then behead the other one." The narrator 'Abd al-Rahman said: I asked: "Have you heard this from the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "My ears heard it and my heart retained it." I said: "Your cousin Mu'awiyah orders us that we should do this and do that." He replied: "Obey him in the acts of obedience to Allah, and disobey him in the acts of disobedience to Allah."
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the fundamental Islamic principle of political allegiance and obedience to legitimate authority. The hand-to-hand bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) signifies a binding covenant between ruler and ruled, requiring sincere fulfillment.
The command to "behead the other one" refers to the challenger who seeks to disrupt established leadership without legitimate cause, as such rebellion leads to civil strife (fitnah) and division within the Muslim community.
The qualification "as much as possible" indicates obedience is required within the bounds of Islamic law. The subsequent exchange clarifies this crucial limitation: obedience to rulers is conditional upon their commands aligning with Allah's ordinances. When rulers command disobedience to Allah, their authority in that matter becomes void.
Legal Rulings & Applications
Scholars derive from this hadith that rebellion against established Muslim leadership is prohibited unless the ruler commits clear disbelief (kufr bawwah).
The obligation to obey includes matters of governance, public policy, and military service when lawful.
The limitation "in obedience to Allah" establishes the principle that there is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator, protecting both religious integrity and preventing tyranny.
Historical Context
This teaching was particularly relevant during periods of political transition, such as the early caliphates, where multiple claimants to leadership emerged.
The specific mention of Mu'awiyah reflects the historical reality of the Companions dealing with differing opinions among legitimate authorities while maintaining Islamic principles.