Hadith on Imams: Obey Muslim leaders unless they order sin

Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It is a duty upon a Muslim man to listen and obey authorities, whether he likes it or not, unless they command sinful disobedience. If they command sinful disobedience, then there is no listening or obedience to them.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7144, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1839

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

عَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُؤْمَرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَإِنْ أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلاَ سَمْعَ وَلاَ طَاعَةَ

7144 صحيح البخاري كتاب الأحكام باب السمع والطاعة للإمام ما لم تكن معصية

1839 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإمارة باب وجوب طاعة الأمراء في غير معصية وتحريمها في المعصية

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Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
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