The True Jihad
Non-Violence and Islam
~ 58 ~
Imam An-Nawawi, commenting upon some
traditions as set forth by
Sahih Muslim
(
Kitab al-
Ima
rah) observes: “You should not come into
conflict with the rulers in matters of their power.
Even if you find them going against express Islamic
injunctions, you should attempt to make the truth
clear to them solely through words of wisdom and
advice. So far as revolt and war against them in
order to unseat them is concerned, that is totally
unlawful according to the consensus of the
ulama
,
even when the rulers are
zalim
and
fasiq
(tyrants and
corrupt).” (
Sahih Muslim, bi
sharh an-Nawawi,
12/229)
This command of the Prophet,
as clearly expressed above,
was based on extremely
important considerations. In
actual fact, in the early phase
of Islam (as well as in the later
phase)
da‘wah
and reform
works had to be performed,
without which the history of
Islam would not have been
complete. If the
ulama
of the
The Prophet
forbade any
uprising against
political
institutions. The
resulting absence of
strife permitted the
uninterrupted
propagation of
Islam.
