Faith in the Objective and Obedience to the Leader (Ameer)
Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils within ourselves and the wrongs of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can mislead; and whomever He lets go astray, none can guide. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and we bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
The history of human development shows that since the beginning of the world, the struggle between truth and falsehood has existed—and it will continue until the end of time. This struggle, which arises from beliefs, interests, injustices, and the pursuit of rights, was initially personal but gradually evolved into conflicts among groups, tribes, and religious denominations as human society expanded.
The reason for this expansion lies in the fact that as human society grew—and given that humans are social beings—people began to recognize commonalities among themselves. Thus, by holding on to those shared values, they were able to live peacefully. However, whenever these commonalities were threatened or harmed, members of society would begin to harbor hostility toward one another.
Those who shared common beliefs, interests, and goals realized that achieving their objectives required more than just individual efforts; collective action was necessary. As a result, they exerted great effort to bring about change in the world. Some succeeded in achieving desirable outcomes, while others failed. But why did some succeed and others not? The answer lies in two essential conditions for victory:
1.Belief in the goal
2.Obedience to leadership
These two are fundamental requirements for the success and realization of any movement or initiative.
Belief in the Goal:
Every member of a group or party must have complete faith and conviction in the principles and foundations of that group. This belief must deeply penetrate their hearts and minds, because belief and faith precede everything else. True belief arises only when a person reaches intellectual and emotional conviction and satisfaction—otherwise, it is not belief at all.
Faith is the foundation and standard by which actions are measured. Therefore, the success of any group or movement depends on the degree of faith its members have in its principles. The stronger the faith among members, the greater their chances of success and longevity. Conversely, the weaker the faith and belief in the members, and the more disorder and hypocrisy infiltrate their ranks, the more the group is endangered by collapse and destruction.
Obedience to Leadership (Lawfulness):
All members of the group or party must be law-abiding and follow the established rules. Thus, whoever is appointed as the leader or commander of the movement, their orders must be executed and obeyed.
These two conditions—belief in the goal and obedience to leadership—are vital for the success of any movement or uprising. No system, whether military, political, or social, can reach its objective or maintain its existence without these two essentials.
In the course of history, there has never been a movement led by cowardly, hypocritical, disobedient, or rebellious individuals that has succeeded or whose success endured. You don’t even need to study history to verify this claim; just imagine: if the soldiers of an army lack faith in their government, refuse to obey their commander, do not follow military discipline, and make no move when ordered to attack—how can anyone expect this army to achieve victory?
This example clearly illustrates the essential role of faith in the goal and obedience to leadership—these two elements are the spirit and essence of every movement. If members of a movement lack belief in their mission or obedience to their leader, the movement will fail and eventually perish. It is impossible for a group infected with hypocrisy, wickedness, rebellion, defiance, and irresponsibility to achieve its objectives.
Islam recognizes the importance of this matter and considers obedience to leadership both necessary and obligatory. Allah Almighty says:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا” (An-Nisa: 59) Translation: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.” [Surah An-Nisa: 59]
In this verse, after commanding obedience to Allah and His Messenger, Allah also commands obedience to Muslim leaders. By stating, “if you believe in Allah and the Last Day” and “that is best and most appropriate in outcome,” He emphasizes the obligation of this obedience.
Likewise, numerous verses and hadiths indicate that a Muslim leader—so long as they are upholding justice and issuing righteous orders—must be obeyed, and their commands must be carried out.
Thus, in Islam, obedience to the leader—even if he leads only ten people—is highly emphasized. However, this obedience is conditional on the leader not issuing orders that contradict the truth. As stated in the principle: “لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ”(Musnad Ahmad: 3757) Translation: “There is no obedience to the created in disobedience to the Creator.”
That said, the matter of obedience requires careful consideration. It must be in accordance with both religious guidelines and societal interests. The obedience that Islam calls for is conscious and voluntary—not forced. While it is legally permissible for someone to comply under duress, such coerced obedience can lead to long-term problems and eventually disobedience. For this reason, blind and unthinking obedience has no place in Islam.
A leader must clearly explain their commands to those under them and emphasize their importance. Obedience accompanied by understanding and satisfaction is better and more lasting than blind obedience without comprehension.
In Islam, only those commands are to be obeyed which are rationally evaluated and publicly accountable. Orders that involve sin or wrongdoing must be rejected.
It is narrated that a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), appointed as a commander over a group, once lit a fire and ordered his soldiers to jump into it. They refused, choosing instead to assess the command against truth and reason. The Prophet (PBUH) praised them, saying: “لَوْ دَخَلْتُمُوهَا، لَمْ تَزَالُوا فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَقَالَ لِلآخَرِينَ: خَيْرًا” (Sunan an-Nasa’i: 8400)
Translation: “Had you entered it, you would have remained in it until the Day of Resurrection. Those who refrained acted wisely.”
A commander must therefore issue reasonable and executable orders so that his soldiers do not rebel or disobey.
Every person has the right to choose whether to join a system or not. Thus, before joining, one must make a rational and conscious decision. If, after joining, they deviate from the group’s principles—whether wholly or partially—and refuse to follow its rules and regulations, their presence will not contribute to the group’s success but instead tarnish its reputation and cause its failure. Such individuals lack belief in the cause.
Moreover, because the revival of the Islamic system is the greatest threat to disbelievers, they and their allies have spared no effort in plotting against the Mujahideen and Islamic callers. These conspiracies can be observed in countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and others. Despite all their plotting, they have failed to destroy the cause.
