The Rulers and the Wrath of Allah

Allah’ last and final Messenger, Muhammad, be peace and blessings of Allah upon him, is reported to have said: “The worst of the rulers is one who is bad tempered, neither has tenderness nor clemency for his people.” (Agreed upon) Bad governance with no concern about the problems and grievances of the people is an ugly mark of the worst rulers. Utmost duty of a ruler is to protect the Faith, moral attributes and faculties of mind of the people from being spoiled; saving their lives, properties and honour from any internal or external offensive and defend the territories of the country from any foreign aggression and internal disorder and chaos. Averting any inroads into the solid ideological and cultural traditions of the community is also a major responsibility of the rulers.

Achieving the goal of material prosperity and creative and productive activities mostly depends on to what extent the rulers guarantee the inhabitants of the country of a safe and a peaceful condition of living. These are the basic terms and real spirit of the mandate given to any person or a party to rule. If the person (s) or the party fails to fulfill their responsibilities, they lose their mandate and logically their right of governing goes null and void. We find the examples in history that when a Muslim military commander or a governor would feel safeguarding of the life, properties and honour of the people of a conquered land impossible for him, he would return back the amount of tribute received against the assurance of protecting the people of that land from any transgressors.

Addressing the problems and removing the causes of the difficulties faced by the people depends on how much deep the rulers keep the roots in the hearts of the people and soil of the land where they claim the authority of rule. The people are unfortunate in most of the Muslim countries to have over their heads, having no ideological and cultural link with masses. The rulers have huge fortunes in their lands but show a little interest to keep the lands free, sovereign and honoured countries. They keep the interests of their ‘masters’ prior to the good their own people and the cause of making their countries geographically more safe and protected piece of land on the earth.

The Prophet of Allah, be peace and blessings of Allah upon him, had advised while saying: “Give importance and honour to the enjoinments of Allah, SWT, He will bestow honour upon you.” (Ad-Delmi) The ruling elites give the will of their foreign masters much more priority than the commandments of Allah and the desires and needs of their people. Their lifestyle, thoughts and ideas match more with the principles and ideals of the powers whom they show their servitude. The Holy Prophet, SAW, had said: “The one who imitates with and follow (the traits of) a group of people, he is to be counted one of them.” (Abu Dawud)

We take the instance of the present regime in Pakistan. From the prime minister to the chief minister of a province and some ministers with very important portfolios are ‘Sayyeds’ (claiming to be from the linage of the Holy Prophets, SAW) and holders of the spiritual seats of some very prominent saints, who lived for the noble cause of Islam and worked throughout their lives to save the people going astray from the right path. But indulged in the marsh of dishonest political game and having dirty stains of corruption, these descendants of the saints seem to have little respect for the Words of Allah and the teachings of the Holy Prophet, be peace and blessings upon him, and even the spiritual legacy of the saints they claim to be their successors.

Their simple minded and duped political and spiritual followers vainly think about them to be very close to Allah and their invocations are definitely heard in the heavens, but if closely watched they hardly come up to the level of an ordinary Muslim. They rely more on America than their true Lord, Allah, in their personal and political matters and private and public life. Allah says: “Let not the believers take the disbelievers as helpers and supporters (Auliya) instead of the believers…” (Al-Imran: 28) In Surah Al-Maidah, verse 51 the subject has been made more clear and open to get warned: “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as friends and protectors (Auliya), they are but friends of each other. And if any amongst you takes them as friends, then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are wrongdoers (who ignore the warning of Allah not to take the Jews and the Christians as friends).

What is their inner psychological ailment? The Quran exposes them by saying: “And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease, they hurry to their (Jews and Christian) friends, saying: We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may not befall us.” (Al-Maidah: 52) Actually they are less worried about any disaster befalling their countries and communities but more concerned about their personal and family interests they count on the goodwill to a great extent of their western masters. They, very obediently, do much more than required by the big powers they are fear-stricken and care a little what their Lord, Allah wants them do. Their existence itself is now a reason for Wrath of Allah upon us.