The Fundamental and Objective Principles Influencing the Obligation to Obey the Guardian

Abstract

This study aims to: establish the foundations for the obligation of obeying the ruler، clarify the relationship of legal-theoretical (uṣūlī) and maqāṣidī principles to this obligation، identify the uṣūlī principles influencing the duty to obey the ruler، highlight the maqāṣidī principles related to this obligation، and explain the Sharīʿah-based regulations governing obedience to the ruler. The study employed several methodologies، namely: the inductive method، the descriptive method، the analytical method، the foundational method، and the applied method. The research is structured into: an introduction، a preamble، four chapters، a conclusion، and general indexes. The study reached several findings، the most important of which are: that obedience to the ruler is a firmly established Sharīʿah principle grounded in the revealed texts; it is supported by numerous uṣūlī and maqāṣidī principles indicating its obligation except in disobedience to Allah. Moreover، obeying the ruler is a means of fulfilling the higher objectives of the Sharīʿah، such as preserving public order، safeguarding religion، life، intellect، wealth، and honor. Neglecting certain uṣūlī principles in understanding the relationship with the ruler leads to juristic confusion، misapplication of texts، the opening of the door to chaos، and misinterpretation. Understanding obedience to the ruler from an uṣūlī perspective helps reinforce societal stability and directs the jurisprudence of contemporary issues in a Sharīʿah-compliant manner governed by sound principles and regulations. The study also put forward several recommendations، most notably: giving due attention to studying the uṣūlī and maqāṣidī principles influencing Islamic political jurisprudence، linking them with practical applications in public governance، encouraging researchers to broaden their study of the jurisprudence of obeying the ruler through the objectives of Sharīʿah in order to clarify the connection between obedience to the ruler، achieving public interests، and preventing harms. It further recommends that universities and research centers prepare comparative studies among the various schools of Islamic law regarding obedience to rulers، to show the unity of foundational principles and the diversity of derivative rulings based on ijtihād. It stresses the necessity of connecting uṣūl al-fiqh with contemporary social reality and its relation to the jurisprudence of sound governance (al-siyāsah al-sharʿiyyah)، as well as giving special care to editing and publishing works that discuss the ruler’s actions and obedience to him—particularly those authored by Ḥanbalī scholars—since they constitute a primary source in understanding this issue and in linking it with uṣūlī and maqāṣidī principles.