We entered upon 'Ubada bin As-Samit while he was sick. We said, "May Allah make you healthy. Will you tell us a Hadith you heard from the Prophet (ﷺ) and by which Allah may make you benefit?" He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) called us and we gave him the Pledge of allegiance for Islam, and among the conditions on which he took the Pledge from us, was that we were to listen and obey (the orders) both at the time when we were active and at the time when we were tired, and at our difficult time and at our ease and to be obedient to the ruler and give him his right even if he did not give us our right, and not to fight against him unless we noticed him having open Kufr (disbelief) for which we would have a proof with us from Allah."
Afflictions and the End of the World - Sahih al-Bukhari 7055, 7056
The noble hadith transmitted by 'Ubada bin As-Samit contains fundamental principles governing the Muslim community's relationship with its leadership. The Prophet (ﷺ) established these conditions during the pledge of allegiance, emphasizing obedience to authority even during hardship and personal difficulty.
Conditions of the Pledge
The pledge encompasses obedience during both active and tired states, in difficult and easy circumstances. This comprehensive requirement demonstrates that obedience to legitimate authority is not conditional upon personal comfort or convenience but constitutes a religious obligation.
The condition to "give him his right even if he did not give us our right" establishes the principle that the ruler's rights upon the subjects remain binding even if the ruler fails in some duties. This prevents societal chaos and maintains political stability.
Limitations on Obedience
The sole exception to obedience is when the ruler commits open Kufr (disbelief) with clear evidence from Allah. Scholars clarify this refers to clear, manifest disbelief, not mere sin or injustice. The requirement for "proof from Allah" indicates the evidence must be from Quran or authentic Sunnah.
This restriction prevents arbitrary rebellion while maintaining Islamic principles. The condition ensures that removal of obedience occurs only for matters fundamentally contradicting Islamic creed, not political disagreements or administrative failures.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam An-Nawawi explains this hadith establishes the obligation of obeying Muslim rulers in matters not involving disobedience to Allah. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani emphasizes that the "open Kufr" must be unequivocal and established through clear textual evidence.
This teaching preserves community unity and prevents the fitnah (tribulation) of civil strife. The wisdom lies in prioritizing collective stability while maintaining theological boundaries, demonstrating Islam's balanced approach to political authority.