ISLAMIC LEGAL DISCOURSE ON REBELLION

Abstract

For Muslim jurists, the right to rule the Muslim community was not just a constitutional issue but also it was deeply rooted in the worldview derived from the faith of the Muslim community. Several verses of the Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet (peace be on him) prohibit mischief and disorder and make it obligatory on Muslims to enjoin good and
forbid evil. These verses are used both by government forces and rebels to justify their position. As Muslim history records several events of rebellion and civil wars in the every early stage and the Companions of the Prophet differently conducted themselves during these conflicts– such as obedience to authority, passive non-compliance with the unlawful commands of the rulers, pacific efforts to bring positive change in the system and forceful removal of the unjust ruler or replacing the unjust system – the Muslim heritage shows a rich variety of approaches towards the issue of resistance and revolt against an unjust ruler. This renders the monolithic approach of Orientalists untenable as they preached that Muslim jurists generally adopted the approach of passive obedience to usurpers.