The Offices of Commander and Qadi

A commentary on the hadith from Mishkat al-Masabih 3664

Textual Analysis

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental Islamic principle of political obedience to legitimate Muslim rulers. The phrase "hearing and obeying" encompasses both listening to commands and implementing them in action.

The specification "both regarding what he likes and what he dislikes" indicates that obedience is not conditional upon personal preference or worldly benefit, but rather upon the authority of the ruler within Islamic parameters.

Conditions and Limitations

The crucial exception "as long as he is not commanded to perform an act of disobedience to God" establishes the boundary where obedience to creation ends and obedience to the Creator takes precedence. This is the Islamic principle of "لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالق" - no obedience to any creature in disobedience to the Creator.

When such disobedience is commanded, the Muslim "must neither hear nor obey" - meaning he should neither accept the command internally nor implement it externally.

Scholarly Interpretation

Imam an-Nawawi explains in his commentary on Sahih Muslim that this hadith applies to matters of worldly administration and governance, not matters of clear religious innovation or sin.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes in Fath al-Bari that disobedience to God includes both major and minor sins, and that the prohibition applies regardless of whether the ruler is righteous or otherwise, as long as he maintains the basic framework of Islamic governance.

Practical Application

This principle maintains social order while preserving religious integrity. It prevents anarchy while ensuring that Islamic values remain supreme over temporal authority.

The scholars have clarified that disobedience in such cases should be through peaceful means and proper channels, avoiding public rebellion that causes greater harm to the Muslim community.