Is the legitimate ruler the one to whom all the Muslims have pledged allegiance?
Question:
Is it correct to say that the ruler is the one upon whom all the Muslims, all over the land, from the east to the west, unite upon (i.e. give a pledge of allegiance to)?
Answer:
These are the words of the Khawaarij. The Imaam is the one upon whom the Muslims of status and rank (from the ulemaa and the heads of the tribes) unite upon, and it is necessary for everyone else to obey. And it is not binding upon everyone, all the men and women, from the east to the west to give him a pledge of allegiance. This is not the manhaj of Islaam regarding the pledge of allegiance to the ruler.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Al-Ijaabaat al-Muhimmah fee Mashaakil il-Mudlahimmah, by Muhammad bin Fahad al-Husayn.
Translated by Abul-Irbaad Abid Zargar
